The lirst Thre
English books
on America.
Richard Eden.
BANCROFT
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The first Three English books on America.
[? 151 i]-i555 A.D.
7« AI^KK (i-rol. E.), Editor. The first
Three English Books on America. I Of
the new landes [a Tract in English printed at
Antwerp, about 15 11]. II Munster (Seb.) A
Trealyse of the newe India, translated by Richard
El)ENriS53]. Ill Mart\T (Peter) The Decades
of the Jyew Wcrlde, translated by Richard Edkn
1555. Reprinted in full (No. Ill is 320 pages)
with Introduction, Extracts from other Writers
and Notes, forming the volume " An English
Cyclopsedia of the Geographical Knowledge " of
the Age, by Edward Ariikr. large paper (one
of one hundred so printed). Impl. 4°
(jf3 V)
'88s I
The first
Three English books
on
America.
U 15"]— 1555 *•!>•
Being chiefly Translations, Compilations, &c., by
RICHARD EDEN,
From the Writings, Maps, &c., of
PIETRO MARTIRE, of Anghiera (1455-1526),
Apostolical Protonotary, and Councillor to the Emperor Charles V.;
SEBASTIAN MUNSTER, the Cosmographer (1489-1552),
Professor of Hebrew, &'c., at the University of Basle ;
SEBASTIAN CABOT, of Bristol (1474-1557),
Grand Pilot of England :
With Extracts, &c., from the Works of other Spanish,
Italian, and German Writers of the Time.
ED ITED BY
EDWARD ARBER, fsa
Fellow of King's College, London ; Hon. Member of the Virginia and Wisconsin Historical Societies ;
Examiner in English Language and Literature, Victoria University, Manchester;
Professor of English Language and Literature,
Sir Josiah Mason's College, Birmingham.
Editor of English Reprints, English Garner, English Scholar" s Library,
A Transcript 0/ the Registers 0/ the Company 0/ Stationers of London, 1554-1640; &c.
BIRMINGHAM
I MONTAGUE ROAD.
22 June 1885.
{_Atl rights reserved,')
E Ki
I I I I |. /, l\M. Iv W I I I M. h r, I.
To THE Reader.
Ach of the three Texts in this Volume is of
great rarity; the firft two are extraordinarily
fcarce.
The prefent impreffion of them was begun
fo far back as 1870, and was nearly finifhed by
1872 ; when it came to a ftand dill through the
great preffure of other work on all concerned,
but more efpecially on myfelf
For then, there came to me the over-
powering vocation, for the fake of the Literature
of our Golden Age, of attempting (fmgle-handed
though it might be, and when every one elfe forfook it and fled) the printing of A
Tranfcript of the Regijlers of the Company of Stationers of London, 1 554-1646 a.d.
Through the toil and anxiety of the years 1873 to 1877, that great piece of work
was religioufly and accurately accomplifhed, in four Demy 4to volumes, containing in all
fome 2,800//.: and thus the Bibliography of Sidney, Spenfer, Shakcfpeare, Bacon,
Ben Jonfon, and their contemporaries, was fafely fecured from deftruction or oblivion,
to the end of time.
Other circumftances then intervened; fo that it was not till January 1885, on the
occafion of my firfl vifit to Edinburgh (where the book was in hand), that I was able to
refume it. Once, however, the reproduction was again taken up, it was refolutely pufhed
through to its completion.
This Volume cannot fail to intereft the cultivated reader. One is able therem
to look out on the New World as its Difcoverers and firfl Explorers looked upon it.
Now-a-days, this Globe has but few geographical myfleries; and it is lofing its romance as
faft as it is lofmg its wild beafts. In the following Texts, however, the Wonderment of \
its Difcovery in all its frefhnefs, is preferved, as in amber, for all time : and they alfo
contain notices of not a few barbaric civilizations which have long fince paffed away
from off the face of the earth.
B2 »
VI
To the Reader.
But this book has alfo fome very fpecial points of interefl :
It is in many refpects, an Englifh Cyclopaedia of the geographical and fcientific
knowledge of its Age.
No one can read the portion of the Decades of Pietro Martire given herein, without
wifhing to know a great deal more about him and his writings.
A large portion of what little we do know about Sebaftian Cabot, will be found in
the notices of him fcattered through this volume.
It may alfo be regarded as a fitting Literary Monument of one of the Private
Secretaries of Lord Burlegh, and a very worthy Englifhman, Richard Eden : of whom
fome account will be found at //. xxxvii.-xlviii. ; and who was certainly one of the
principal Authors of the reign of Mary Tudor.
It is alfo clear, that from the third Text in this book (Eden's tranfiatlon of the
Decades of Pietro Martire), which was publifhed in 1555, Francis Drake muft have
obtained all the knowledge that Englifh books could give him refpecting the Weft
Indies and the Spanifli Main, before he first went out there, under Captain John
Lovell, in 1565.
Laftly, William Shakefpeare read this third Text alfo, and created the character of
Caliban in the Tempejl out of the defcription of the Patagonian giants given dXpp. 251-2.
But for us Moderns, the chief intereft in thefe three Works may be, that they are
the very beginning of a mighty Literature. The future of Mankind lies with the Anglo-
Saxon race : and of all Englifli books relating to the American portion of that race, the
three reprinted in this volume are the very firjl.
The large initial letters are in the ftyle of the Spanifh defigns of the Bifcayan, Juan
de Yciar (b. 1523), as they are found in the two editions of his Orthographia practica,
Saragoffa, 1548 and 1550, 4to. Yciar, who evidently looked upon them as the gems of
his Work, calls them Letras de Compas para ilhwiviadores.
In conclufion I desire moft gratefully to acknowledge and record the very kind and
cordial help rendered to me in the reproduction of this volume at Edinburgh, by the late
Mr William Burnefs and the late Mr John Stevenfon, with whom it was commenced:
and alfo by Mr James Skinner, of the firm of Meffrs Burnefs & Co., and Mr James
TurnbuU, of the firm of Meffrs Turnbull & Spears, by whom it has been brought to a
succeffful conclufion.
EDWARD ARBER.
Sir Josiah Mason's College,
Birmingham.
Contents.
To the Reader ...,.,..,
Contents . . .
Preface . ^ .....,, .
The First English book on America.
This Text is ike first English book containing tJte word America (Armenica).
li Of the newe landes and of ye people founde by the messengers of the kynge^
of portyngale named Emanuel.
Of the. X. dyuers nacyons cryslened.
Of pope lohn and his landes and of the costely keyes and wonders molodyes
that in that lande is.
[Antwerp, ? 1511,] 4to.
/
[ The voyage round Africa to Indi,
Of the blacke Mores [of Guinea]
[Of the lande of AUago]
Arabia
Of greate Indyen
Of Gutchin \Cochin\ that Kyngedome
Of the X. dyverce cristened nacions ,
The fyrst nacion [ The Latins and Germans\
The seconde nacyon [ The Greeks]
The thyrde nacyon [They of India under Pope John] .
The Life and Labours of Richard Eden
xxvii-xxix.]
xxviii.
xxviii.
xxviii.
xxviii.
xxix.
xxx-xxxi.
XXX.
XXX.
XXX.
The fourth nacyon \The Jacobites ( ? Abyssinians) ]
The fyfth nacyon [ The Nestorians\
The syxte nacyon [ The Maronites\
The seuenth nacyon \The Armenians]
The eyght nacyon [ The Georgians]
The nynthe nacyon [ The Syrians atid Samaritans]
The tenthe nacyon \The Morabites]
V.-Vl.
vii.-x.
xi.-xxiu
xxni-xxxvi.
sxx.
xxxi.
xxxi.
xxxi.
xxxi.
xxxi.
xxxi.
\_An abridgement of the mediaeval Legend of Presterjohn xxxii-xxxvi.]
Of the people named Pygoies , . . xxxiii.
xxxvii-xlviii.
Richard Eden's Contributions to our Literature, during the reigns of Edward VL and Mary, 1553-1555, A.D.
The Second English book on America.
^ A treaty se of the newe India, with other new foitnde landes and I landes, ^
aszvell eastwarde as westwarde, as they are knowen and found in these oure dayes,
after the descripcion of Sebastian Aftmster in his boke of vniversall Cosmographie :
wherein the diligent reader may see the good successe and rewarde of noble and (
honeste enterpryses, by the zohich not only wordly ryches are obtayned, but also
God is glorified, and the Christian fayth enlarged. Translated out of Latin into
Englishe. By Rycharde Eden. [London. 1553.] 8vo. /
(Richard) Eden. [Dedication] To . . . the Duke of Northumberlande, hys Grace .
(Richard) Eden. To the Reader ......
The Table ...........
Of the newe India, as it
[The description of the Navigations from Spain to the new
India, Eastward .....
Of the Diamande stone, called in Latin Adamas
Of the kingdoms and cities of Narsinga and Canonor .
How the Elephantes in India are prepared to warre .
Of the beaste called Rhinoceros
Of Calicut, the most famous market towne of India .
3-42
is knowen and found in these our dayes
Of the maners of the Indians in Calicut .
13] Of Pepper and other spices which growe in the region of Calicut
14 Of byrdes and beastes which are found in the region of
14 Calicut : and of the wyne of the merueylous tree . .
15-16 Of the sundrye kindes of Spices, which are founde in Calicut,
16 and from whence they are brought thyther
16-17 Of 'lis Hand of Zaylon, and of Cinomome found there
5-6
7-1 1
12
13-27
17-18
18
«9
20
20
VI 11
Contents.
Of the cytie of Tamasseri, and the maner of the cytezins there
Of the kingdoms and cities of Pego and Bangella
Of the greate and ryche Ilande of Sumatra, or Samolra, some-
tyme called Taprobana . . . •
Of the Ilande of Bornei ....
Of the Hand of Giaua .....
Of the Hand of laua .....
Of the Hand of Madagascar ....
Of the Hand of Zanzibar
Of the two Handes, in one of the which dwell onely men^ and
in the other onely women ....
20-21
21
22
22
23
23
23
23
24
Of the greate Empyrc of Cathay, being vnder the dominion of
the great Cham (whiche some call the great Can) Emper-
oure of Tartaria, in olde tyme called Scythia , . 24-25
Of certaine Prouinces and regions subiect vndcr the dominion
of the greate Cham Emperour of Cathay , . 25-26
Of the Prouince of Mangi, and merueylous cyties conteyned
in the same ...... 26
Of the region of Tangtit, and of the great desertes, and
voyces of deuylles heard in the same, and of the Sala-
mandra •....., 26-27
C Of the newe India, and Ilandes in the West Ocean Sea, how, when, and by whom they were found, 28-42
[Of the new Islands and India found in the West Ocean sea,
from Spain Westward and South-west . . 28-31, 33-39]
Of the two Ilandes Johanna and Hispatia ... 28
Of the people called Canibales or Anthropophagi, which are
accustomed to eate mans fleshe .... 29
Of the maners of the inhabitantes of the Hand of Hispana and
of suche thynges as are found there ... 29
How Columbus, after he had found new Ilandes, returned
agayne to Spayne, where preparinge a newe nauie, he
toke his viage to ye Canibales .... 29-30
How the Admirall passed manye Ilandes, and what thynges
chaunced to hym and his companie in that viage . 30-31
How the Spaniardes afjused the submission and frendeshippe
of the inhabitantes of the Ilandes . . . . 31
How the Portugals sought new Ilandes in the East partes,
and how they came to Calicut .... 32-33
How Magellanus by a strayght or narrow arme of the sea,
sayled by the west into the East to dyuers Ilandes : where
also he was slayne ..... 33-34
(Richard) Eden. To al aduenturers, and suche as take in hande greate enterpryses
How the Spaniardes came to the Ilandes of Molucca, and of
the people with great hanging eares . .
The thyrde nauigacion of Christophortts Columbus
Howe Pdrus Alonsus soughte newe Ilandes .
Howe Pinzonus, companion to the Admirall, sought newe
Ilandes .......
Of the foure nauigacions of Americus Vesfutius to the newe
Ilandes .......
The fyrste viage of Americus Vesputitts , , .
The seconde viage of Vesputius ....
The thyrde viage of Vesputitts ....
The fourth viage of Vesputius .....
How the king of Portugale subdued certayn places in India :
and of the ryche Cytie of Malacha
Of the Hand of Medera, and the fortunate Ilandes, olherwyse
called the Ilandes of Canaria ....
Whether vnder the ^Equinoctial circle or burninge lyne (called
Torrida zona) be habitable Regions ,
34-SS
35-36
36
36
37
37-38
38
39
39
4C
40-41
41-42
42
The Third English book on America.
T/ie Decades of the newe worlde or west India, conteynyng the naiiigatiotts\
and conquest es of the Spanyardes, with the particular description of the moste
ryche aud large landes and Ilandes lately founde in the west Ocean perteynyng
to the inheritaunce of the hinges of Spayne. In the which the diligent reader
may not only consyder what commoditie may hereby chaunce to the hole christian
world in tyme to come, but also learne many secreates touchynge the lande, the sea, )
and the starres, very necessarie to be knowen to al such as shal attempte any naui-
gations, or otherwise haue delite to beholde the strange and woonderfull woorkes
of God and nature. Wrytten in the La tine tounge by Peter Martyr of
Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden.
Londini, In sedibus Guilhelmi Powell. Anno. 1555. /
43-398
The Table of the Contents of this Booke (besyde the Decades) 45
(Richard) Eden. Latin Epistle to King Philip and Queen Mary ...... 46-48
(Richard) Eden. To the Reader . 49-6o
[Section I. ..... . 61-204.]
(Pietro) Martire's Epistle to the Emperor Charles V., 30 September 1516
C3-64
Contents.
IX
Book I.
Book II.
Book III.
Book IV.
Book V.
Book I.
Book II.
Book III.
Book IV.
Book V.
Book I.
Book 11.
Book III.
Book IV.
Book V.
The First Decade (or Ten Books)
{For confeuts, see fp.
391-3)
(For contents, see pp,
393-4)
(For contents, see fp. 395-7)
65-68
68-72
73-79
79-82
82-87
Book VI. .
BookVir.
Book VIII.
Book IX. ,
Book X. .
The Second Decade
106-111
111-114
114-118
118-120
120-122
Book VI. .
Book VII.
Book Vlir.
Book IX. .
Book X. .
The Third Decade
137-142 Book VI. .
142-145 Book VII.
146-150 Book Vlir.
150-156 Book IX. .
156-160 Book X. .
Of the Landes and Ilandes lately founde
Pope Alexander VT. Bull dividing the New World between the Spaniards and the Portuguese,
4 May 1593 .... In Latin and English.
65-105
87-90
90-93
94-96
96-102
103-105
106-136
122-125
126-129
129 130
130-134
« 34 136
137-18.";
161-165
165-169
170-174
>7S-'78
i78-i«5
186-200
201-204
[Section II. . . . 205-242.]
(Richard) Eden. To the Reader .......
(Gonzalo) Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdds. Epistle to the Emperor Charles V. .
The [Natural] Hystorie of the weste Indies
Of the ordinary nauygation from Spayne to the Weste
Indies ......
Of twoo notable thynges as touchsmg the West Indies :
And of the great rychcsse brought from thense into
Spayne ......
Of the mynes of golde, and the maner of woorkynge in
theym ......
Of the maner of fyshynge for perles
Of the familiaritie which certeyne of the Indians haue
with the deuyll, and howe they reccaiie answere of
hym of thynges to coome ....
Of the temperature of the regions vnder or neare to the
burnt lyne cauled Torrida zona or the Equinocliall :
and of the dyuers seasons of the yeare
Of dyuers particular thynges, as woormes, serpentes,
beastes, foules, trees, etc. ....
Of trees, fruites, and plantes ....
210
211-213
213-215
215-216
217-218
219-225
225227
Of Reedes or Canes .....
Of venemous apples wherwith they poyson theyr arrowcs
Of fysshes and of the maner of fysshynge .
Of th[e]increase and decrease, (that is) rysynge and
faullynge of our Ocean sea and Southe sea caulled the
sea of Sur ......
Of the strayght or narowe passage of thelande lyingc bet wene
the North and South sea, by the whiche spyces may
much sooner and easlyer be brought from the Ilandes
of Molucca into Spayne by the West Ocean then by
that way wherby the Portugales sayle into East India
Of the maners and customes of the Indians of the firme
lande, and of theyr women ....
Oi \}c^& cM\^{& \\xCidL&% Hispaniola xaA Cuba
Of the Ilande of Cuba and other ....
Of the lande of Bacoaleos cauled Terra Bnccalearum,
situate on the North syde of the firme lande. .
207
208-209
210-242
227-229
229-230
230-233
233-234
234-236
237-238
239-241
241
242
[Section III
Of the Universal Garde and Newe Worlde
(Richard) Eden. A Discourse of the Vyage made by
the Spanyardes rounde abowte the Worlde .
Maximilian Transilvanius. Epistle to the Emperor
Charles V
245
246-247
243-280.]
(Antonio) Pigafetta. A briefe Declaration of the Vyrge
or Navigation made abowte the Worlde . . 249-262
Of the prices of Precious Stones and Spices . . 263-269
Cadamosto of the Dooues of the Ilande of Madera . 270
Of the Ilande of saynt Thomas under the Equinocliall line 270
247-248
(Francisco) Lopez de G6mara. The Debate and Stryfe betwene the Spanyardes and Portugales
for the diuision of the Indies and the trade of Spices [at the Conference at Badajos, in 152.}] 271-274
/ A J N J ,-^ 1- ?■ Of the Pole Antartike and the Starres about the same, &c.
(Andrccis) de Corsali. J
277-280
[Section IV.
Of Moscouie and Cathr.y
(Galeazzo) Butrigarius
(Sebastian) Cabot . ,
2S3
283
281-334.]
(Sebastian) MUnster. (Jacopo) Gastaldo. A briefe
description of Moscouia ....
283-294
291-293
Contents.
(Jacobus) Ziglerus.
Of the North Regions and of the moderate and continuall
heate in coukie regions aswell in the nyght as in the
day in the soommer season
Schondia ....
Gronlande .
Islande ....
Of the North Regions
Laponia ....
Norwegia or Norway
295298 Suecia or Svethlande
298-299 Bothnia ....
299 Gothia or Gothlande
300 Finland and Eningia
fference of Regions, and causes of great cities
(Paolo) Giovio, Bishop of Nocera. The Historic ... of the Legation or Ambassade of th
greate Basilius Prince of Moscouia to Pope Clement VII. of that name
(Sigismund) Liber. Other notable Things concerning Moscovia ....
(Girolamo) Cardano. Of the d
The description of the regions, people, and ryuers, lying
North and Easte from Moscouia
Of the famous ryuer of Tanais ....
Edward VI. The Copy of the Letters Missive
322-324
324-325
More directly from Moscouia to Cathay
Of the Tartars
The nauigation by the frosen sea .
sent to the Kynges, Princes, and other
.
295-306
•
301-303
303-304
30s
30s
306
305
le of th2
307
• •
308-317
.
. 318-321
• •
325-326
327-330
330-332
potentates inhabytynge the Northeast partes of the worlde towarde the myghtye
Empire of Cathaye. 1553 . . In Latin and English. .....
[Section V,
(Francisco) Lopez de G6mara. )
(Sebastian) Cabot.
Of the foreknowleage that the Poet Seneca had of the
fyndynge of this new Worlde and other Regions not
then knowen .-..,. 337
Of the great Ilande which Plato cauled Atlantica or
Atlantide ...... 337-338
Of the colour of the Indians .... 338
Why they were cauled Indians .... 339
The fyrste discouerynge of the Weste Indies . . 339
What maner of man Chrystopher Colon was : and howe
he Came fyrst to the knowleage of the Indies . 340
What labour and trauayle Colon tooke in attemptyng his
fyrst vyage to the Indies .... 340-342
Of newe Spayne cauled Noua Hispania, or Mexico . 342
Of Peru ....... 343
Of the great ryuer cauled Rio de la Plata (that is) the
ryuer of syluer ..... 343-344
335-352.]
Other notable thynges as touchinge the Indies
Of the hygher East India cauled India Terccra or Terciera
Of the landes of Laborador and Baccalaos, lyinge west and
northwest from Englande, and beiiige parte of the
firme lande of the West Indies
The discouerynge of the lande of Floryda
An opinion that Europa, Africa, and Asia, are Ilandes :
and of certeyne nauigations abowt the same .
That the Spanyardes haue sayled to the Antipodes (that
is) suche as go fiete to fiete ageynst vs, and inhabite
the inferiour hemispheric or halfe globe of the earthe,
contrarie to th[e]oppinion of the owlde writers
Who fyrst founde the needle of the compasse, and the vfe
therof ......
The Situacion and byggenes of the earth .
What degrees are ......
(Richard) Eden. A demonstration of the roundnesse of the Earth ....
Diodorus, Siculus. What credit ought to bee gyuen to Wryters as touchynge the workes of nature
333-334
337-350
344
344-34S
345-346
346-347
347-348
348-349
349
349-350
350
351
[Section VI. . . . 353-369-]
(Richard) Eden. The prQ^ace to The Booke of Metals . . . . . . 355
(Vannuccio) Biringuccio. Of the generation of Metalles, and their mynes ; with the maner of
fyndinge the same .......... 356-362
Of the myne of golde and the qualitie therof in particular 362-366 | Of the myne of siluer and the qualitie therof . 366-368
Diodorus, Siculus. The maner of workynge in golde mynes in Egipt in owld tyme . . 369
[Section VIL . . . 371-390.]
(Richard) Eden. The Description of the two Viages made owt of England into Guinea
(Richard) Eden. A breefe Description of Affrike . . . . . .
The fyrst Vyage to Guinea .........
The Second Vyage to Guinea ........
Gemma Phrysius. The maner of fyndynge the Longitude of Regions by dyuers waycs .
373
374
375-378
379-388
389-390
A BRYEFE REHERSAL OF THE CONTENTES OF THE DECADES
(Richard) Eden. Th[e] Interprelours excuse .....
Index.
391-398
398
399-408
p 3i e df a € e.
riLL labouring in the diffusion of English Literature : we here, with heart-felt
pleasure, present the reader with reprints of three exceedingly rare, curious,
and costly Cosmographical Works; which are also the very earliest printed
documents in our language, relating to South, Central, and North America.
It rarely falls to the lot of man to be able to put one's hand on the very
earliest beginnings of a mighty literature. Yet it is not too much to say, that of
all the vast multitude of English books that have been, or ever will be, pro-
duced, either in, or relating to, what we call our New World ; the three Works
reprinted in this Volume are the very first and earliest. However mighty and
majestic, however subtle and eloquent, however deep and far-reaching, the
American-English literature may become; here are its first fruits ! Whatever
period of mental florescence and splendour may yet be in store for the English-
speaking races on that vast Continent; with these three Works begins the
printed English Story of their Action, their Mind, and their Progress.
Almost all nations light their lamp with fire borrowed from their predeces-
sors. They commence with translations ; progress to imitations ; and then,
often by distinctly marked steps, the Literature mounts up to the height to which
(through all the
It rests not long
the united wit and genius of the nation
vicissitudes of earthly empire) can raise it.
at the summit ; but first declines, and then decays. In its full
ripeness, it oftentimes lights up the mind of younger and suc-
ceeding races ; and so, at length, its life and vitality pass away.
Thus has the now blazing, now dim, torch of human knowledge
and mind-craft been handed down to us over the heads of
the nations, through all the successive Ages of Time.
Human literature is also, like human nature, in many essen-
tials evermore the same in all Ages. As is the life of a Man ;
so is the mind, that is, the higher life, which is the glory of a
Nation. Both alike pass through Inception, Growth, Flores-
cence, Decay, and Death : both alike but minister to the
purposes of a Power greater than they, until the cycle of His
plans shall be completed. Then cometh the end, when the
World shall crack at the fiat of the Almighty Trinity.
Instances of this Law of successive Literary Cycles
inter-ringing one with the other, readily suggest themselves.
Such was the Literature of Greece in its earlier relations to Egypt
and Phoenicia ; and in its later to Rome. Such also that of
the Renaissance in Italy, in respect to the Greek literature of
Byzantium ; and to its subsequent influence (which, either as
to fulness or extent, has hardly yet been measured) on the
rawer nations of Spain, Germany, France, and England.
Such was that of Spain (which now we consider so dead), with
reference to the anterior civilisation and letters of the Moorish
kingdom there. Such undoubtedly has been, and will be the
literature of England ; now, it may be, in the early afternoon
of its glory. And such has been, and will be that of English-
America; now in the morning of its strength and power.
In the words of the great and wise Preacher, " To every
thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under
heaven."
Under any circumstances, therefore, the present Texts would
excite great interest; whatever might be the nature of their
contents. It is pleasant, however, to find that each of them has
for us modern readers, a distinct interest and a strong charm :
while all three do afford us a most vivid picture of those early
days of oceanic discovery ; of the terrible real dangers, and the
still more terrible imaginary ones, undergone and dared by the
many noble-hearted Portuguese and Spaniards for themselves
and for us ; when they wan, in their little cockboats, for the
succeeding Human Race, a truer knowledge of the Globe in
which, by the Divine Providence, it has been placed.
But the first impression — the most salient and significant
interest of this volume — is that it contains reprints of The
first Three English books on America.
Xll
P R E F A C E.
II.
Ur next consideration respects their contem-
porary standpoint ; their relation to the
story of the nation, for whom the three
Texts were printed: and especially to
supply Eden's omissions, as regards the
very early oceanic voyages of the English,
both East and West.
These publications are of great and perpetual interest,
inasmuch as they photograph for all time, the fragmentary and
imperfectly attained knowledge, and the vast and credulous
wonderment, prevailing in England in respect to far-distant
countries, during the reigns of Henry VIII. and his two im-
mediate successors. The Texts of this volume embrace, in fact,
all that the gentry and merchants of England could, down
to the year 1555, A.D., read in the tongue in which they were
born, of the wonderful discoveries, and still more marvellous
conquests, of the Portuguese and Spaniards in the two Indies.
Neither was this amount of printed information much added
to, in Eden's lifetime. His greatest literary feat — the Compila-
tion of 1555 — found no immediate imitators : so that it was left
to himself (after twenty years more, of great vicissitude, had
passed over his head) to undertake its repetition, in the form
of a Second and much revised Edition of this labour of
love ; in the preparation of which he died. This revised Com-
pilation finally appeared in 1577, "set in order, augmented,
and finished " by Richard Willes, under the fresh title of The
History of Trauayle in the West and East Indies, and other
countreys lying either way, 6^c. It was five years later (1582),
that R[ichard] H[akluyt] published his first Collection, under
the title of Diuers voyages, d^c.
An enquiry into the printed naval literature of Queen
Elizabeth's reign, has also elicited the fact, that it was not
until about that same year (1577), that our Oceanic Literature
fairly began to constitute a distinct section of English books.
It soon, however, greatly increased in bulk, variety, and
interest ; until now, it has no compeer in any other language.
Eden is therefore, in very deed, the Pioneer of British
geographic research, the very First of our Naval Chroni-
clers, and the Herald and Forerunner of all our subsequent
discoveries and victories at sea. So that in English literary
history, Richard Eden stands in the same relation to Richard
Hakluyt, that Richard Hakluyt does to Samuel Purchas ; and
Samuel Purchas, to our present Hakluyt and Royal Geo-
graphical Societies.
This multifarious volume should be studied in conjunction
with the inland Chronicles of Halle, Grafton, Stow, and others;
together with the more modem histories of the Reformation
Age. These are chiefly, if not exclusively, occupied with home
and continental affairs ; and but rarely travel further abroad.
In this direction, this Work will help, in a very important
manner, to complete for us, the external history of England,
during the period 1511-1555, a.d.
2. It will soon, however, be seen that it does this rather by
way of narrating the deeds of other nations, and thereby teaching
and guiding our forefathers to do the like ; than by describing
the English navigations of its own time. Indeed, there are
only two English voyages described in it with any detail, and
those are rather late ones, viz., the voyages to Guinea in 1553
and 1554. Yet these accounts (the very earliest of their kind
ever printed in our language) were not, as it is quite evident
from page 388, included in the original conception and plan
of the Work : but were added, just as the book was being com-
pleted, by way of a postscript ; the extra expense of which, was
borne by Master Toy, the London printer and publisher.
It is also to be especially noted, that this omission did not
arise because there were no English Voyages to relate ; but be-
cause the custom of narrating them in print had not yet arisen
in our language. Sea-Histories had not, as yet, become an
section of our Literature.
Inasmuch, therefore, as so large a portion of this Volume is
occupied with the famous deeds of other nations, and particu-
larly of those of the Spaniards ; it may be well (as it is indeed
but just to our own race) to place in the forefront of them all,
a very slight account, by way of a rescue from oblivion, of the
sea-doings and sea-daring of our forefathers in the reigns of
Henry VIII., Edward VI., and Mary : — narrating the Oceanic
voyages with fuller detail than those to the Continent and the
Levant, as they were the more adventurous and difficult
3. From the capture of Constantinople in 1454, till after the
battle of Lepanto in 1572 ; there was an almost ceaseless fight
between the Christians and the Turks along the eastern shores
of the Mediterranean Sea. The Knights of St. John of Jeru-
salem, after they had been driven from Rhodes in 1522, finally
settled at Malta in 1530; where by their heroic valour in the
frightful siege in 1565, they materially contributed, with the
great naval victory of Don John of Austria, to stem the flow
of Turkish invasion, which else threatened to swallow up all
Christian States.
Recollecting that the formidable, ruthless, and barbaric power
of the Turkish empire was at this time ever surging onward
and westward in those eastern seas; it will interest most of us to
know that there was a regular organised and direct commerce
by sea between England and the Levant so early as 15 1 1, a.d. ;
and for many years afterwards. For our knowledge of this we
are indebted to our great English Worthy and famous Cosmo-
grapher Richard Hakluyt, Preacher; sometime a Student of
Christ Church in Oxford: who, in the second edition of his great
work entitled The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques,and
Discoueries oj the English Nation, &'c. ^'c, London, 1 599-1 600
fol., has preserved for us the following important note on —
TTie antiquitie of the trade with Engiijhjhips into the Leuant
|N the yeeres of oure Lord, 151 1, 1512, &c., till theycere 1534.
diuers tall fliips oi London, namely, The Chrijlopht^ Campion,
wherein was Factor one Roger Whitcome; the Mary George,
wherein was Factor William Crejtiam; the great Mary
Grace, the Owner whereof, was iVilliam Gun/on, rnd the
mafter one John Hely; the Trinitie Fitz<uilliams, whereof was mafter
Laurence Arkey; the Afalthiw of London, whereof was mafter William
Capling, with certaine other fliips of Southampton and Brijlmo, had an
ordinarie and vfuall trade to Sicilia, Candte, Chio, and fomewhilcs to
Cyprus, as alfo to Tripolis and Baruiti [Beyrouth in Syria. The com-
Preface.
Xlll
modities which they caried thither were fine Kerfies of diuers colours,
courfe Kerfies, white Wefteme dozens. Cottons, certaine clothes called
Satutes, and others called Cardinal-whites, and Caluetkins which were well
fold in Skilie, &c. The commodities which they returned backc were
Silks, Chainlets, Rubarbe, Malmefies, Muflcadels and other wines, fweete
oyles, cotten wooU, Turkic carpets, Galles, Pepper, Cinamom, and fome
other fpices, &c. Befides, the naturall inhabitants of the forefayd places,
they had, euen in those dayes, traffique vrith lewes, Turkes, and other
forreiners. Neither did our merchants onely eniploy their owne Englilh
(hipping before mentioned, but fundry flrangers alfo : as namely, Car.diols,
Ragufeans, Sicilians, Gcnouezes, Venetian galliaffes, Spanish and Portugale
fliips. All which particulars doe moll euidently appeare out of certaine
auncient Ligier bookes \i.e. Ledgers^ of the R[ight]. W[or(hipful]. Sir
William Locke Mercer of London, of Sir William Bixwyer Alderman of
London, of mailer lohn GreJJiam, and of others; which I Richard Hakluyt
haue diligently perufed and copied out. — Vol. \l.,Part I.,/. 96, Ed. 1599.
4. Next in the order of time comes the mythical voyage of
1517 of Sebastian Cabot and Sir Thomas Pert from England
towards Cathay ; the sole authority for which is Eden's state-
ment at page 6 of this Volume : in which, so far as we have
been able to inquire, we believe him to have been utterly
mistaken, and that the voyage had no existence ; and the more
especially because Sebastian Cabot was at that date in Spain,
where he remained until after the Conference of Badajos in
1524, which (as Gomara tells us at/. 272) he attended as an
expert on behalf of the Emperor Charles V.
5. Important and authentic as is that early Levant traffic ;
it was a very different thing from a voyage across the then but
half discovered Atlantic. As Pietro Martire vaunts, few or
none but Spaniards were licensed to go from Spain to the
New World. It is, therefore, very striking to find, ere Cortes
had consolidated his marvellous conquest of Mexico, or Pizarro
had finally set forth to imitate him in Peru ; and while at home,
the great Cardinal was in serene prosperity and unruffled
power, our first printed New Testaments were being secretly
read in the principal English towns, and our nation's Reforma-
tion was just beginning to bud forth : it is indeed surprising to
trace one Englishman at least in the West Indies ; to learn, of
a certainty, that one, if not two English expeditions had
reached the American coast ; and, most startling of all, to
know that one of these squadrons found in the harbour of
St John's, Newfoundland, not another royal fleet of discovery,
but a fleet of fourteen fishing-boats (and, if Spanish reports be
correct, thirty or forty more in the neighbourhood), that had
ventured (at a time when, to us, so little appears to have been
known of the north-eastern seaboard of America; and so much
to have been dreaded in a voyage thither) across the wide
Atlantic, simply for the sake of codfish.
6. Hakluyt gives the following account of Thomas Tyson
or Tison, the first Englishman known to have reached the
West Indies : —
A briefe note concerning an ancient trade of the Euglijk Marchants to the
Canarie-ilands, gathered out of an olde ligier booke [ledger] of M. Nicolas
Thome the elder a worfhipfull marchant of the city of '&x\Qi.o\\.
JT appeareth euidently out of a certaine note or letter of remem-
brance, in the cuftody of me Richard Hakluyt, written by M.
Nicolas Thome the elder a principall marchant of Brifloll,
to his friend and factour Thomas Midnall and his owne
feruant William Ballard at that time refident in S. Lucar
in Andeluzia ; that in the yeere of our Lord 1526 (and by all circumstances
and probabilities long before) certaine Englilh marchants, and among the
reft himfelfe with one Thomas Spacheford exercifed vfuall and ordinary
trade of marchandife vnto the Canarie Hands. For by the fayd letter
notice was giuen to Thomas Midnall and William Ballard aforefayd, that
a certaine fliip called The Chriflopher of Cadiz bound for the Wejl Indies
had taken in certaine fardels of cloth both courfe and fine, broad and nar-
row of diuers forts and colours, fome arouas [aroliasj of packthreed, fixe
cerons or bagges of fope, with other goods of M. Nicolas Thome, to be
deliuered at Santa Cruz, the chiefe towne in Tenerifa, one of the feuen
Canary-Hands. All which commodities the fayd Thomas and William were
authorized by the owner in the letter before mentioned to barter and fell
away at Santa Cruz. And in lieu of fuch mony as (hould arife of the fale
of thofe goods, they were appointed to retume backe into England good
ftore of Orchell (which is a certaine kinde of mofle growing vpon high
rocks, in thofe dayes much vfed to die withall), fome quantity of fugar, and
certaine hundreds of kid-ikinnes. For the procuring of which and of
other commodities, at the beft and firft hand, the faid Thomas and William
were to make their abode at Santa Cruz, and to remaine there as factours
for the abouefaid M[after] Nicolas Thome.
And here alfo I thought good to fignifie, that in the fayd letters mention
is made of one Thomas Tifon, an Englilh man, who before the forefayd
yere 1526 had found the way to the Wefl Indies, and was there refident,
vnto whom the fayd M[afler] Nicolas Thome fent certaine armour and
other commodities fpecified in the letter aforefayd. — Principal Navigations,
(Sr^f. Sfc. Of the English Nation, Vol. II. , Part 11., p. 3, Ed. 1599.
Hakluyt, referring again to this note, hazards the following
surmise : —
This Thomas Tifon (fo farre as I can coniecture) may feeme to haue bene
fome fecret factour for M. Thorne aud other Englilh marchants in thofe
remote partes, whereby it is probable that fome of our marchants had a
kind of trade to the Weft Indies, euen in thofe ancient times and before
alfo. — Idem, Vol. III., /. 5cx), Ed. 1600.
This conjecture is confirmed by the fact that Nicolas Thorne,
at his death in 1527, owed this Thomas Tyson the sum of
;^i2 : 5s. (probably on account of business). — See Letters and
Papers on the Reign of Hairy VIII., Edited by the Rev. J. S.
Brewer, M.A., IV. (2),/. 1256.
7. Imbedded in Halle's Chronicle is the following note,
quite unconnected with anything going before or after, and to
which also he makes no subsequent allusion whatever : —
This fame moneth [May 1527, 19 lien. VIII.], the kyng fent two fayre
fhippes, well manned and vitailed, hauing in theim diuers conning men, to
feke ftrange regions; and fo furth thei fet, out of the Thamis, the twentie
day of May, if thei fped well you lliall here at their retorne. fol. 158, b.
This note Richard Grafton, who had printed Halle's Chro-
nicles in 1548, transferred (with but variations of spelling) to/.
1 149 of his own Chronicle, printed by Henry Denham in 1569.
Richard Hakluyt, in his Principal Navigations, Voyages, and
Discoveries, thus records his researches as to this expedition : —
ND whereas mafter Hall and mafter Grafton fay, that in thofe
Ihips there were diuers cunning men, I haue made great
inquirie of fuch as, by their yeeres and delight in nauigation,
might giue me any light to know who thofe cunning men
(hould be, which were the directers in the aforefayd voyage.
And it hath bene told mee by Sir Martin Frobilher, and mafter Richard
Allen a Knight of the Sepulchre, that a Canon of S. Paul in London,
which was a great Mathematician, and a man indued with wealth, did much
aduance the action, and went therein himfelfe in perfon, but what his name
was, I can not learne of any. And further they told mee that one of the
(hips was called the Dominus vobiscum, which is a name likely to bee giuen
by a religious man of thofe dales, and that failing very farre Northweft-
ward, one of the (hips was caft away as it entred into a dangerous gulphe,
about the great opening, betweene the North partes of New found land,
and the countrey lately called by her maieftie Mela Iiuognita \i.e. Labrador].
XIV
Preface.
Whereupon the other (hip (haping her courfe towards Cape Brittor, and the
coaft of Norumbega [Hakluyt substitutes Aramhec in his 1600 Edition],
and oftentimes putting their men on land to fearch the ilate of thofe
vnknowen regions, returned home about the beginning of October, of the
yeere aforefaid. And thus much (by reafon of the great negligence of the
writers of thofe times, who (hould haue vfed more care in preferuing the
memories of the worthie actes of our nation) is all that hitherto I can leame,
or find out of this voiage.— /. 517, Ed. 1589; also, iii 129, Ed. l6co.
Of this enterprise, Purchas some thirty-five years later has
preserved for us, at //. 808-91 of the Third volume of his
Pilgrimcs, 1625, the following more authentic testimony: —
' EE will recreate you with a plaine Mariners Letter endorsed
in homely phrafe, To the Honourable Kings Grace of Eng-
land, here (as I thinke) giuen you from the Originall. I
haue alfo another written to Cardinal Wolfcy touching the
fame voyage in Latin, by Albertus de Praia ; for the
antiquitie rather then any remarkable raritie, worthy here to be mentioned.'
'' I mentioned before Mafler Thames fathers finding out New-found Land,
with Mailer Eliol. Thefe animated King Henrie the eight to fet forth
two (hips for difcouerie, one of which perifhed in the North parts of New-
found Land. The Mafler of the other, lohn Rul, writ this Letter to King
Henrie, in bad EngUfli and worfe Writing. Ouer it was this fuperfcription. °
Mafter Grubes two (hips departed from Plymatilh the 10. day
of lune, and arriued in the Nexu- found- Land in a good Harbour,
called Cape de Bas, the 21. day of July : and after we had left the
fight of Selk [? Scilly], we had neuer fight of any Land, till we
had fight of Cape de Bas.
^ leafing your Honorable Grace to hcare ofyourferuant lohn Rut,
with all his Company here, in good health, thanks be to God,
and your Graces fhip. The Mary of G[u]il[d]ford with all
her thanks be to God: And if it pleafe your
honorable Grace, we rannein our courfe to the Northward, till
we came into 53. degrees, and there we found many great Hands of Ice and
deepe water, we found no founding, and then we durfl not goe no further to
the Northward for feat e of more Ice, and then we cajl about to the Southward,
and within foure dayes after we had one hundred and fxtie fathom, and then
•wee came into 52. degrees, and fell with the may ne Land, and within ten
leagues of the mayne Land we met with a great Hand of Ice, and came hard
by her, for il wasflanding in deepe water, andfo went in with Cape de Bas,
a good Harbor, and many small Hands, and a great frefh Riuer going vpfarre
into the mayne Land, and the maytie Land allwilderneffe and mountaines and
woods, and no naturall ground but all moffe, and no inhabitation nor no people
in thefe parts: and in the woods we found footing of diners great beafls, but we
faw none not in ten leagues. And pleafe your Grace, the Samfon and wee kept
company all the way till within tioo dayes beforewee metwith all the Hands of
Ice. That was the firfl day of luly at night, and there rofe a great and a mar-
uailous great florme, and much foule weather; I trufl in Almightie lefu to
heare good newes of her. And pleafe your Grace, we were confidering and a
writing of all our order, how we would wafh [? watch'\ vs, and what courfe
wee mould draw, and when God doe fend fault weather, that with Cape de
%'^xflie [i.e. each fhip'\ fhould goe, and he that came firfl fhould tarry the
fpace of fixe weeks one for another, and watered at Cape de Bas ten dayes,
ordering of your Graces fhip, andfifhtng, andfo departed toward the South-
ward to feeke our fellow: the third day of Auguft we entered into a good
Hauen, called Saint lohn, ajtd there we found eleuenfaile «/" Normans, and
one Brittaine, and two Portugall Barkes, and all a fifhing, and fa we are
readie to depart towatd Cape de Bas,* and that is twentie fiue leagues, as
1 The very high antiquity of these letters — which are the earliest ever known to have
been sent home by Englishmen from America — constitutes their great modern value.
8 The next two sentences are a jumble of error. It is clear from the text that the
expedition consisted of three ships : Master Gnibe's or Grub's two ships, one of which was
called the Sampson, the name of the other does not transpire (if it could be ascertained
to be the Dominus Vobiscuyn, the chain of testimony would be complete) : together with
the King's ship, the Mary 0/ GuiLi/ord. commanded by John Uut.
^ Purchas evidently intends us to understand that the endorsement is contemponuy
with the letter.
* This is evidently a mistake through the hurry in writing. It should be Cape de Sper
[Cabo de Spcra, " tlu Cape 0/ the Spear "X For the two ships, after having stayed
fliortly as we haue fifhed, and fo along the coaft till we may mcete with our
fellow, andfo with all diligence that lyes in me toivards parts to that Hands
that we are commanded by the grace of God, as we were commanded at our
departing. And thus lefu faue and keepe your honorable Grace, and all
your honourable Reuer., in the Hauen of Saint lohn, the third day ofAugufi,
written in hafie. 1527.
By your feruant lohn Rut, to his vttennoft of his power.
I haue by me alfo Albert de Praia's'^ originall Letter, in Latin (lille,
almofl as harsh as the former Englifh, and bearing the fame date, and was
indorfed. Reverend in Chrifto Patri Domino Domino Cardinali el Domino
Legato Anglice: and began, Reuerendiffime in Chrifto Pater falutem.
Retierendiftime Pater, placeat Reuerendiftimcc paternitati veftrce fcire Deo
fauente poftquam exiuimus h Plemut qucefuit x. lunij &'c. (The fubftance
is the fame with the former, and therefore omitted.) Datum apudle Bay a
Saint lohan in Terns Nouis, die x. Augufti 1527. Reuer. Pair. veft.
humilis feruus, Albertus de Praia (the name written in the lowed comer ol
the (lieet).
We are fortunately able to trace this expedition still further.
By " towards parts to that Hands that we are commanded,"
John Rut meant the West Indies ; and we have accounts by
two Spanish historians of his arrival there, which will demand
of us some further attention.
Gonzales Fernandez de Oviedo y Valde's — b. at Madrid 1478,
ti. at Valladolid 1557, and who resided for many years in the
West Indies — wrote, in addition to the Natural hysteria de las
Indias printed at Toledo on 15th February 1526, from which
Eden has translated large extracts at pp. 208-242 of this
Volume; another and his most important work, entitled La
historia general de las Indias, the printing of which was com-
pleted at Seville on 30th September 1535 (or about eight years
after Rut's expedition) ; every copy of which is attested with
Oviedo's written signature. It does not appear that Eden had
met with this important work, or he would have assuredly
have made the following extract from it.
On folio clxj. of this work, being the Thirteenth chapter of
the Nineteenth book, is the following passage, for the literal
translation of which we are much indebted to the courtesy
and kindness of the celebrated Spanish scholar, Don Pasgual
de Gayangos.
Before we come to the extract ; an error as to its date (which
misled Hakluyt, and may mislead others) must be noted for
avoidance, in the Third Volume of J. B. Ramusio's Navigationi
e Viaggi. Each Volume of this celebrated Collection was printed
in a different year by L. A. Giunti at Venice. Vol. I., of which
a First Edition had been printed in 1550, appeared corrected
and enlarged in March 1554. Of Vol. II., the Preface of which
is dated 7th July 1554, the earliest known is that of 1559;
while Vol. III., the Preface of which is dated 20th June 1553,
appears to have been first printed in 1556; that is to say, in
the year after Eden's Compilation was published in London.
Now, at p. 204 of this Third Volume, of 1556, occurs this
important typographical error. Oviedo in 1535 begins Elanno
ten days, 21-31 July 1527, at Cape de Bas, sailing southward, had reached St. John's
harbour on the 3d of August, and then purposed to go 75 miles more, evidently to the
southward, to Cape de Sper, the appointed rendezvous, where they hoped to meet the
Sampson. From the date of the priest's letter, however, it is evident that the two
English ships stayed a week longer at St. John's. These letters were probably sent to
England in one of the Norman or Breton fishing boats.
1 I have quite failed to find any notice of this Albertus de Prata Might that be a
latinised form of Albert Prat ? or was the bearer of the name a foreigner? I can trace
no such name in Le Neve's Fasti or Newcourt's Repertorium. It would be interesting
if he coul'i be tdcntiiicd with Hakluyt's mathematical Canon of Sl Paul's.
Preface.
XV
de M.d.xxvij. annos, S^c; which Ramusio in 1556 translates
JVe/ 13 ly instead of Nel 15 2J. Hakluyt in 1589, not suspect-
ing any falsification, thereupon adduces the following extract
in support of fabulous English voyage of 1517, hereafter
asserted by Eden at /. 6 : but the date being wrong, his
argument, of course, falls to pieces.
It would also seem that Oviedo was residing in the city of
Santo Domingo, when he wrote this portion of his history.
Chapter 13. Of certain foreign corsairs -which passed to these parts and
Indies, and what has been the cause and origin of their bad thoughts.
\ N the year Mdxxvii. an English corsair, under colour or pre-
tence that he was going to discover land, came with a large
ship to the Brazil on the coast of Tierra Firme, and from
thence crossed to this Island Hispanola, and arrived close to
the mouth of the harbour of this city [Santo Domingo]. He
sent his boat properly manned, and asked for permission to come into port,
saying that he came with merchandise and to barter [with the inhabitants].
At the same moment the Governor, Francisco de Tapia, ordered a gun to
be fired against the said [English] ship, which was coming straight into
the harbour ; which being observed by the English, they went away, after
taking on board the said boat's crew. And, to tell the truth, the Governor
[Tapia] was wrong in what he did, for had the English vessel entered the
harbour, armed though she was, she could not have left without the con-
sent of this city and castle.
So that the English, seeing the reception that was made to them, sailed
in the direction of the Island of San Juan, and having entered the Bay of
San German, spoke to the inhabitants of that town, and asked for provi-
sions : uttering complaints against the people of this island [Hispaniola],
and saying that they had not come to annoy the people, but to traffic with
them, if they consented, for money or merchandise . Provisions were given
to them, and they gave pewter vessels and other goods in return. After
which the ship sailed for Europe ; but it is supposed that she never reached
her destination, for nothing more was heard of her.
Considering that Oviedo printed the above less than eight
years after the event, there can hardly be any mistake as to the
year being 1527. Yet in a later Spanish historian we find these
circumstances, in much fuller detail, narrated as occurring in
1519. So that of the three dates 1517, 1519, and 1527; the
last is the true one.
Antonio de Herrera Tordesillas, [^. issgat Cuella de Segovia;
d. 29th March 1625 at Madrid], was born two years after the
death of Oviedo. The first four Decades of his Historia General
de los Hechos de los Castellanos en las Islas i tierra firme were
printed in 1601, the last four in i6i5;both at Madrid. In the
second Decas, which was published seventy-four years after
Rut's voyage, we have an account of him and his doings, evi-
dently derived from a written deposition ; as Oviedo's had been
either from hearsay or from personal observation. It consists
of the narrative (for the translation of which I am indebted
to my friend, the late H. Pyne, Esq., Assistant Tithe
Commissioner) of Ginfes Navarro, master of a Spanish caravel,
who apparently piloted Rut's ship from Porto Rico by the
island of Mona to Santo Domingo, and then back again to
San Germano in the island of Porto Rico.
The Arrival of an English Ship in the Indies, and the State
OF Affairs in the Islands.
FTER the departure of the ships which carried [? to Spain']
the gold pearls and ordinary merchandise ; a caravel of
Saint Domingo being in the island of San Juan [de Porto
Rico], loading with casava ; there arrived [at Porto Rico] a
ship of three masts, and of the burden of 150 tons. The
master of the caravel, [who] went out in his boat to this ship, supposing
it to be a Spanish vessel, discovered [coming towards him] a pinnace
containing twenty-five men armed with corslets and cross-bows, and having
two pieces of artillery in its prow.
They said that they were Englishmen, and that their ship was from
England ; that, in company with another armed ship, they had sailed to
seek the country of the Great Khan, but that the ships had been separated
in a tempest : and that theirs, proceeding on its voyage, came to a frozen
sea, where they found large islands of ice ; that they had then altered their
course, and came to a hot sea [? the Gulf Streani], which seethed like water
in a caldron ; and in order that the caulking of the ship might not be
melted, they went in search of the Baccalaos,' where they found fifty'^
Spanish, French, and Portuguese ships, and that they wishing to land thert
in order to obtain an Indian interpreter, they [the Indians] killed the pilot,
who was a Piedmontese. From thence, they had coasted as far as the
Rio de Chicora [the River of Chicora, i.e. River in Carolina], and had
crossed over from that river to the island of San Juan [de Porto Rico].
Upon being asked. What they were searching for in those islands ? they
said that they were desirous of seeing them, for the purpose of giving an
account of them to the King of England, and to take a cargo from Brazil.
They invited the master of the caravel, who was called Gines Navarro,
to come on board their ship, and to show them the course to Saint Dom-
ingo. He saw in the ship a quantity of wine, flour, and other provisions ;
as well as much cloth, linen, and other articles of merchandise. They
carried much artillery and a forge, and carpenters for ship-building, and an
oven for baking bread ; and there were [in the ship] threescore men.
Gines Navarro further stated that, if he could have read them, the
captain of the ship wished to show him the instructions which he brought
from the King of England ; that they had sent a company ashore at the
Island of Mona, ' and that they had bartered some pewter in the Island of
San Juan.
This ship went to the port of Santo Domingo, and sent the bark ashore,
saying That they were desirous of trading ; and [it] tarried there two days,
The governor of the Castle, upon the arrival of the ship, sent to inform the
Magistrates [? the Royal Audicnce\ for the purpose of their giving him
orders what to do ; and as they returned no answer, he discharged a gun
at the ship, in consequence of which, she forthwith recalled the bark, and
by and by set sail.
The ship then returned to the back of the island of San Juan, and
tarried a short time there, trading with the inhabitants of the town of
Saint Germans ; and did not appear again.
The magistrates [of Saint Domingo] arrested the governor, saying that
he ought to have waited for their answer ; and sent information of this affair
to the King [of Spain], as well as of the bad condition of the fortress, so
that orders might be given for the fortification of it, and [that] there should
be directions [given] for the providing it with men, artillery, and military
stores. — Decades, ii.. Book v., Chapter 3., Ed. 1601.
Thus from four perfectly distinct and independent sotu-ces,
comes to us the certainty of this English voyage across the
Atlantic in 1527; for a further discussion of which see that
masterpiece in its way, and rare book (in the Ej.stern
hemisphere at least), Mr. J. G. Kohl's History of the Discovery
of Maine, published by the Maine Historical Society at Port-
land, in 1869; and Mr. Biddle's Memoir of Sebastian Cabot,
London 1832. Both these writers think that the Piedmontese
pilot was the celebrated Verazzano.
It is interesting to know that John Rut got back safely to
England. For in Sept-Dec. 1528, while still in the command
/■
1 The Indian word for codfish, applied by S. Cabot to the land he first discovered,
and afterwards loosely and vaguely applied to the American coast from Labrador far to
the southward. Here it evidently includes Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and the north-
em seaboard States of the United States.
* This number may be an exaggeration. If it be correct, the English squadron mi:st
have met thirty or forty other fishing-boats on the Newfoundland ' banks,' beside the
fourteen they saw in St. John's harbour
3 Mona is a small island in the track from Fort Rico to Santo Domingo.
XVI
Preface.
of the Mary of Guildford, he was employed in freighting
home, on the King's behalf, wine from Bourdeaux. See Royal
M.S. 14. B. xxix., in the British Museum.
8. We have seen by the above that the King's ships left the
Thames on 20th May 1527. Whatever else may be doubtful,
that is certain : and therefore it is equally certain that the
' Book ' which Robert Thome, the Bristol merchant, wrote at
Seville in that year, and sent to Doctor Leigh, the King's
almoner, and the English ambassador in Spain, had nothing to
do with the fitting out of that London expedition.
This far-seeing discourse, with its preliminary exhortation to
the King, was first printed by R[ichard] H[akluyt] in his
Diuers Voyages, cvc. in 1582. Its only date is 1527, which
occurs twice ; each time after the author's signature — ' Robert
Thome. 1527.' As Hakluyt reproduced Thome's curious
' Carde ' or map, it is quite evident that he had before him, in
1582, the original and autographic book penned by the author ;
and therefore the date 1527 must be accepted by us without a
doubt.
Now it was the English custom at that time, to reckon the
year from the 25th March, the Feast of the Annunciation of
the Virgin. The ' Book ' was therefore written at the earliest
after the 25th March 1527.
The two following passages in it, taken together, would seem
to show that it was not written till the summer was far advanced,
probably while Rut's expedition was skirting the American coast.
In a flote of three (hippes and a carauell that went from this citie, armed
by the merchauntes of it, which departed in Aprill lad pad, I and my
partner haue 1400. Ducates that we employed in the fayd fleete, principally
for that two Engliflimen friends of mine \see p. xiii.] whiche are fomewhat
learned in Cofmographie, (houlde go in the fame (hippes, to bring mee
certaine relation of the fituation of the countrey, and to bee experte in the
Nauigation of thofe feas, and there to haue informations of many other
things, and aduife that I defire to know efpecially. Seeing in thefe
quarters are fliips, and marriners of that countrey, and cardes \charts\ by
which they fayle, though much vnlike ours, that they fhould procure to
haue the faid cards, and learne howe they vnderflande them, and
efpecially to know what Nauigation they haue for thefe Ilandes North-
wardes and Northeaftwarde. B. 4.
But if it pleafe God that into Englande I may come with your Lordfhip,
I will fhewe fome coniectures of reafon though againfl the generall opinion
of Cofmographers, by which fliall appeare this that I fay not to lacke fome
foundation. And tyll that time I befeeche your Lord(hip let it bee put to
fdence : and in the meane feafon, it may pleafe God to fende our two
Engliflimen, that are gone to the fpicerie, which may alfo bring more plaine
declaration of yat which in this cafe might be required. . . Z>. 3.
It would seem that Thome by ' April lad parte ' means April
1527 ; for if he had intended April 1526, and wrote this ' Book '
in the seven days of 25-31 March, then by English custom
reckoned as the first days of 1527, he would assuredly have
said 'April lad year.' It is also evident from the allusion that
a considerable time had elapsed since the two Englishmen had
left for the West Indies; and that, at the time of writing, Thome
was looking forward to their return. The earliest approximate
date that can therefore be assigned to its composition is the
summer of 1527. Dr. Leigh did not retum to England till
January 1530.
We must therefore assign the occasion and preparation of
this English voyage of Oceanic discovery of 1527 to other
persons than Robert Thome. Such an important effort, as this
expedition most certainly was, could not have been suddenly
determined upon, and probably originated in the previous year.
Thome's ' Book ' is also interesting for another reference to
a very early English voyage across the Atlantic.
So that as afore is fayde, if betweene our Newe founde landes or Norway,
or IHande the Seas towarde the north be Nauigable, wee fhoulde goe to
thefe Ilandes a (horter way by more then 2000. leagues. And though wee
went not in the faide Ilandes, for that they are the Emperours or Kinges
of Portingale, wee ihoulde by the way, and comming once to the line Equi-
noctiall, finde landes no lefie riche in Golde and fpicerie, as all other landes
are vnder the faide line Equinoctiall : and alfo (houlde, if wee may palTe
vnder the North, enioye the Nauigation of all Tartaric.
Which (hould bee no lefle profitable to our commodities of clothe, then
thefe fpiceries to the Emperour, and King of Portugale.
But it is a generall opinion of all Cofmographers that paffing the feuenth
clyme, the fea is all ice, the colde fo much that none can fuffer it. And
hitherto they had all the like opinion that vnder the line Equinoctiall for
muche heate the lande was inhabitable.
Yet fince by experience is proued no lande fo much habitable nor more
temperate. And to conclude, I thinke the fame (houlde bee founde vnder
the North, if it were experimented. For as all iudge, Nihil fit vacuum in
rerum natura, fo I iudge there is no lande inhabitable [i.e. uninhabiiable\,
nor Sea innauigable. If I (hould write the reafon that prefenteth this
vnto me, I (houlde be too prolixe, and it feemeth not requifite for this
prefent matter. God knoweth that though by it I flioulde haue no great
intereft, yet I haue had and dill haue no little minde of this bufineffe : So
that if I had facultie to my will, it ilioulde bee ye fird thing that I woulde
vnderdande, euen to attempt, if our Seas Northwarde be nauigable to the
Pole or no. I reafon, that as fome fickenefles are hereditarious, and come
from the father to the fonne, fo this inclination or defire of this difcouerie
I inherited of my father, which with another merchant of Bridowe named
Hugh Eliot were the difcouerers of newe found lands, of the which there
is no doubt, as now plainly appeareth, if the marriners would then haue
been ruled and folowed their pilots mind, the lands of the Wed Indies,
from whence all the gold commeth, had beene ours. For all is one coade,
as by the carde appeareth, and [as] is aforefaide. . . . Z>. 2.
A most excellent account of the merchant family of the
Thomes of Bristol will be found in English Merchants,
1869, written by my fellow-student at King's College, Mr. H.
R. Fox Bourne.
9. The next English Voyage on our record introduces us to
a very famous name. It is thus preserved to us by Hakluyt.
A Voyage to Brasill, made by the worshipfull M[aster] Wil-
liam Haukins of Plimmouth, father to sir John Haukins,
Knight, now living,* in the yeere 1530.
Lde M. William Haukins ol Plimmouth, a man for his wifdome,
valure, experience, and (kill in fea caufes, much edeemed and
beloued of King Henry the eight, and being one of the prin-
cipall Sea Captaines in the West partes in his time, not con-
tented with the fhort voyages commonly then made onely to
the knowen coades oi Europe, armed out a tall and goodly Hiip of his owne
of the burthen of 250 tunnes, called the Pole [Paule, Ed. 1600] oi Plim-
mouth, wherewith hee made three long and famous voyages vnto the coad
of Bra/ill, a thing in thofe dayes very rare, efpecially to our Nation. In
the courfe of ■hhich voyages he touched at the Riuer of Sc/los vpon the
coad of Guinea, where hee trafiqued with the Negroes, and tooke of them
Oliphants [Elephants, Ed. 1600] teeth, and other commodities which that
I As this was printed in 1589, old William Hawkins lived to see the overthrow of the
Spanish Armada, and so b very properly introduced by the Rev. Canon Kingsley, with
his usual truthfulness in details, in his celebrated Elizabethan romance of Wcsttvard Ho !
as a very old man, present at Plymouth with the Captains who were waiting the arrival 01
the grc£tt Spanish Fleet.
Preface.
XV 11
place yeeldeth : and fo arriuinij on the coatl of Brafil, vfed there fuch dif-
cretion, and behaued himfelf fo wifely with thofe fauage people, that he
grew into great familiaritie and frienddiip with them. Infomuch that in
his 2. voyage, one of the fauage kings of the countrey oi Brafill, was con-
tented to take fliippe with him, and to bee tranfported hither into
England, whereunto M\ajler\ Haukins agreed, leaning behinde in the
Countrey as a pledge for his fafetie and retume againe, one Martin Cocke-
ram oi Plimmouth. This BrafUian king being arriued \i.e. in 1531], was
brought vp to London, and prefented to King Henry the 8. lying as then
at Whitehall: at the fight of whome, the King and all the Nobilitie did not
a little marueile, and not without caufe : for in his cheekes were holes made
according to their fauage raaner, and therein fmall bones were planted,
(landing an inche out from the faid holes, which in his owne Countrey was
reputed for a great brauerie. He had alfo another hole in his nether lippe,
wherein was fet a precious (lone about the bignefle of a peafe. All his
apparell, behauiour, and geflure were very (Irange to the beholders.
Hauing remained here the fpace almod of a whole yere, and the king
with his fight fully fatiffied, M\after'\ Uaukim according to his promife
and appointment, purpofed to conuey him againe into his Countrey : but it
fell out in the way that, by change of ayre and alteration of diet, the faid
fauage king died at Sea, which was feared would turne to the lolTe of the
life of Martin Cockeram his pledge. Neuerthelefle, the Sauages being fully
perfwaded of the honed dealing of our men with their Prince, redored
againe the faide pledge, without any harme to him, or any man of the com-
panie : which pledge of theirs they brought home againe into England,
with their (hippe fraighted and fumifhed with the commodities of the
Countrey. Which Marline Cockeram, by the witneCTe of Sir lohn Haukins,
being an officer in the towne of Plimmouth, was liuing within thefe fewe
yeares.— /. 520, Ed. 15S9.
10. Let us now look eastward. In 1592, (three years after
the appearance of the First edition of his Voyages, &c.), Hakluyt
became acquainted with a very old man, a Londoner named
John Williamson, then apparently the sole suivivor of our first
traffic in the Levant; which dying out, had been revived in 1580.
These early Levant voyages were veiy important; inasmuch
as they were the school in which some of the principal Agents
and Captains of the Moscovy Company, like Richard Gray and
Richard Chancellor, received their chief training.
A voyage made ivith the Jhippes called the Holy CrofTe, and the Matthew
Gonfon, to the lies 0/ Candia and Chio, about theyere 1534, according to
a relation made to Majier Richard Hackluit by lohn Williamfon, Cooper
and citizen of London, who lined in theyere 1592, and went as cooper in
the Mathew Gonfon the next voyage after,
' He (hippes, called the Holy Croffe and the Matthew Gonfon,
made a voyage to the Ilandes of Candia and Chio in Turkic,
about the yeere 1534- And in the Mathew went as Captaine
M[ader] Richard Gonfon, fonne of old Mader William
Gonfon, paymader of the kings Nauie. In this fird voyage
\i.e. of the two described by Williamson\ went William Holflocke (who after-
wards was ControuUer of her Maiedies {i.e. Queen Elizabeth's] Nauie, lately
deceafed) as page to M[ader] Richard Gonfon aforefaid, which M[ader]
Gonfon died in Chio in this his fird voyage. The (liip called the Holy
Croffe was a (liort (hippe, and of burden 160 tunnes. And hauing beene
a full yeere at the fea in performance of this voyage, with great danger (he
■•etunied home, where, vpon her arriuall at Blacknvall, in the riuer of Thames,
her wine and oyle ca(ke was found fo weake that they were not able to
hoyfe them out of the (hip, but were condrained to draw them as they lay,
and put their wine and oyle into new velTels, and fo to vnlade the (hippe.
Their chiefe fraight was very excellent Mufcatels and red Malmefie, the like
whereof were feeldome feene before in England. They brought home alfo
good quantitie of fweete oyles, cotton wooUes, Turkic Carpets, Galles,
Cynamon, and fome other fpices. The faide (hippe called the Holy Croffe
was fo (haken in this voyage, and fo weakened, that (lie was layd vp in the
docke, and neuer made voyage after. — Vol. II., Fart I., p. 98, Ed. 1599.
Edek.
Another voyage to the lies ^Candia and Chio made by thefliifpe, the Mathew
Gonfon, about the yeere I535> according to the relation o/'Iohn Williamfon,
then Cooper in the fame fhip, made to M[ayljr] Richard Hackliut, in the
yeare 1592.
^ff^reraS He good (liippe called the Mathao Gonfon, of burthen 300
i_sl (\^ tunnes, whereof was owner old M[ader] William Gonfon,
pay-mader of the Kings Nauie, made her voyage in the yere
1 535- In this fliip went as Captaine, Richard Gray, who long
after died in RuJJla. Mader William Holflocke, afterward
ControuUer of the Queenes Nauie, went then as purfer in the fame voyage.
The Mader was one John Picket, feruant to old M[ader] William Gonfon.
lames Rumnie was Maders mate. The mader cooper was lohn William-
fon, citizen of London, liuing in the yeere 1592, and dwelling in Sa\f\nt
Dunflons parish, in the Ead. The M[ader] Gunner was Lohn Godjrey of
Brifloll. In this (hip were 6 gunners and 4 trumpetters, all which foure
trumpetters at our retume homewards went on land at Meffma in the Hand
of Sicilia, as our (hip road there at anker, and gat them into the Gallies
that lay neere vnto vs, and in them went to Rome. The whole number of
our companie in this (hip were about 100. men, we were alfo fumifhed with
a great bote, which was able to carry 10 tunnes of water, which at our
retume homewards we towed all the way from Chio vntil we came through
the draight of Gib[r]altar into the maine Ocean. We had alfo a great
long boat and a (kiff. We were out vpon this voyage eleuen months, yet
in all this time there died of ficknede but one man, whofe name was George
Forrefl, being feruant to our Carpenter called Thomas Plummer. — Idem,
The Island of Scio, the extreme point of the above two
voyages, had long been the property of a Genoese family, the
Justiana, under the sovereignty of the Senate of that city.
How the Turks first put it to tribute, and finally took posses-
sion of it in 1568, is thus narrated in two letters, written on
the 14th of February 1569 by an Englishman, Caspar Campion,
who had " traded in this countrey \i.e. the island and its vici-
nity] about this 30. yeres \i.e. 1539-1569], and haue beene
marled in the towne of Chio full 24. yeres \i.e, 1544-1569]."
^jS Ir, you (hall vnderdand that the Ifland of Chio in time pad
**' ' hath bene a Signiorie or lordlhip of it felfe, and did belong
to the Genowaies. There were 24. of them that gouemed
the illand which were called Maunefes. But in continuance
of time the Turke waxed fo drong and mightie, that
they, confidering they were not able to keepe it, unlefie they (hould
become his tributaries, becaufe the Idand had no come, nor any kind of
vitailes to fudaine themfelues, but onely that which mud of neceffitie come
out of the Turkes dominions, and the fayd idand being inclofed with the
Turks round about, and but 12. miles from the Turks Continent, therefore
the faid Genowaies did compound and agree to be the Turkes tributaries, and
to payhim 14000. thousand ducates yeerely, Alwayes prouided that they Ihould
keep their lawes both fpiritual and temporall, as they did when the Hand
was in their owne hands. Thus he granted them their priuiledge, which they
inioyed for many yeeres, fo that all drangers and alfo many Englifh men
did trade thither of long continuance, and went and came in fafety. In this
meane time, the prince Pedro Doria (being a Genouois) became a captaine
to ferae the Emperour with 30. or 40. gallies againd the Turke. And fince
that time diuers other captaines belonging to Genoa haue beene in the
feruice of king Philip againd the Turke. Moreouer, whenfoeuer the Turke
made out any army, he perceiued that no nation did him more hurt then
thofe Genouois, who were his tributaries. Likewife at the Turkes fiege of
Malta, before which place he lay a great while, with loffe of his men, and
alfo of his gallies, he found none fo troublefome vnto his force as one
luanette Doria, a Genouois, and diuers others of the Hand of Chio, who
were his tributaries. At which fight, he tooke fuch difpleafure againd them
of Chio, that he fent certaine of his gallies to the Hand, for to feife vpon all
the goods of the 24. Maunefes, and to tume them with their wiues and
children out of the Hand ; but they would let none other depart, becaufe
the Hand fiiould not be vnpeopled. So that now the Turke hath fent one
of his chiefe men to rule there.— //aX///)'/, Vol. II., Part I., p. ln,Ed. IS99'
XVlll
Preface.
Another letter of Campion's, begins thus :
It may pleafe your worfhip to vnderftand, that as concerning
the voyage to C/u'o, what great profit would be gotten, both
for merchants and alfo for owners of Ihippes (as it was well
knowen in thofe dayes when iheMalt/ie-M Gonfon, the Trinitie
FiliTwilliains, and the Sauiotir of Brijlaw, with diuers other
(hips, which traded thither yerely, and made their voyage in ten or twelue
moneths, and the longed in a yeere), M[after] Francis Lambert, M[after]
John Brooke, and M[after] Drauer c£.n truely inform you hereof at large.
And by reafon that wee haue not traded into thofe parts thefe many yeeres
\i.e. previous to 1569], and the Turke is growen mighty, whereby our (hips
doe not trade as they were woont . . . . — Hakluyt, Voyages, Vol.
II., Part I.,/. 116, Ed. 1599.
Finally we may take leave on this occasion of the interesting
subject of the early English trade in the Mediterranean, with
the following note of Hakluyt's.
i His trade into the Leuant. . . . was very vfuall and much
frequented from the yeere of our Lord 1 5 1 1 till the yeere
1534, and afterwards alfo, though not fo commonly, vntil the
yeere 1550, when the barke Aucher under the conduct of
M [after] Roger Bodenham made a profperous voyage into
Sicilia, Candio, Sio, and other places within the Leuant. Since which
time the forefaid trade (notwithftanding the grand Signiors ample priuilege
granted to M[afterJ Anthony lenkenfon 1553, and the ftrong and weighty
reafons of Gafpar Campion for that purpofe) was vtterly difcontinued, and
in maner quite forgotten, as if it had neuer bene, for the fpace of 20. yeares
or more [/'.<■. from the date of Jenkinson's privilege of 1553 until 1575 ; when
the preliminary steps which resulted in the formation of the Turkey Com-
pany, were taken]. Voyages, Vol. II., Part I., p. 136, £d. 1599.
11. We now come to the tragical English voyage to New-
foundland, in 1536 ; as narrated by Master Oliver Daubeny, a
London merchant, to Hakluyt's cousin and namesake, Richard
Hakluyt of the Inner Temple ; and by Master Thomas Butts
of Norfolk, to himself. It will ever be thought one of the
worthiest acts of our younger Hakluyt's worthy life, that, for the
simple assurance, with further details, of this voyage, he travelled
200 miles on horseback, probably into Norfolk and back.
T&i voyage of majler I/ore and diuers other Gentlemen, to Netafound land
and Cape Breton, in the yeere 1536. and in the 28. yeere of King Henry
the eight.
,Ne mafter Hore of London, a man of goodly ftature and of
great courage, and giuen to the ftudie of Cofmographie, in
the 28. yeere of King Henry the 8. and in the yeere of our
Lord 1536. encouraged diuers gentlemen and others, being
affifted by the kings fauour and good countenance, to accom-
pany him in a voyage of difcouerie vpon the Northwefl partes of America :
wherein his perfwafions tooke fuch effect, that within fliort fpace many
gentlemen of the innes of court, and of Chauncerie, and diuers other of good
worfhip defirous to fee the ftrange things of the world, very willingly entered
into the action with him, fome of whofe names were as foUoweth : M[after]
Wickes, a gentleman of the Weft countrey of fine hundred markes [tv/«-
valent to an income of £2^00 of the present day'] by the yeere lining. Mafter
Tucke, a gentleman of Kent. Mafter Tuckfield. M[after] Thomas Buts,
the fonne of Sir William Buts, Knight of Norfolke, which is yet aliue, and
from whofe mouth I wrote moft of this relation. Mafter Hardie, Mafter
Biron, Mafter Carter, Mafter Wright, Mafter Raftall Sarieant Raftals
brother, Mafter Ridley, and diuers other, which all were in the admirall
called the Trinitie, a fliip of feuen fcore tunnes, wherein M[after]. Hore him-
felfe was imbarked. In the other ftiippe, whofe name was the Minion,
went a very learned and vertuous gentlemen, one mafter Armigil Wade,
father to the worftiipfull mafter William Wade, now clerke of the priuie
counsel). Master Oliuer Daubeney merchant of London, M [after] loy after-
ward gentleman of the kings chappell, with diuers other of good account.
The wliole number that went in the two tall fliips aforefayd, to wit, the
Trinitie and the Minion, were about fix fcore perfons, whereof 30. were
gentlemen, which all were muftered in warlike maner at Grauefend, and
after the receiuing of the facrament, they embarked themfelues at the end
of Aprill, 1536.
From the time of their fetting out from Grauefende, they were very long
at fea, to witte, aboue two moneths, and neuer touched any lande vntill
they came to part of the Weft Indies about Cape Breton, fliaping their
courfe thence Northeaftwards, vntill they came to the Ifland of Penguin,
which is very full of rockes and ftones, whereon they went and founde it
full of great foules white and gray, as bigge as geefe, and they fawe infinite
nombers of their egges. They draue a great nomber of the foules into their
boates vpon their failes, and tooke vp many of their egges, the foule they
flead and their Ikinnes were like hony combes full of holes being flead off:
they drefTed and eate them, and found them to be very good and nouriftiing
meate. They fawe alfo ftore of beares both blacke and white, of whome
they killed fome, and tooke them for no badde foode.
M[after] Oliuer Dawbeney, which (as it is before mentioned) was in this
voyage, and in the Minion, tolde M\ajler'\ Richard Hakluyt of the middle
Temple thefe things following: to wit. That after their arriuall in A'hty&wnrf
land, and hauing bene there certaine dayes at ancre, and not hauing yet
feene any of the naturall people of the Countrey, the fame Daiubeny walk-
ing one day on the hatches fpied a boate with Sauages of thofe partes,
rowing downe the bay towarde them, to gafe vpon the fhippe and our people,
and taking viewe of their comming aloofe, hee called to fuch as were vnder
hatches, and willed them to come vp if they would fee the naturall people
of the Countrey, that they had fo long and fo muchdefired to fee: Where-
upon they came vp and tooke view of the Sauages rowing toward them and
their ftiippe, and vpon the viewe they manned out a fliipboote to meete
them and to take them. But they fpying our fliipboote making towards
them, returned with niaine force, and fled into an Ifland that layevpinthe
bay or riuer there, and our men purfued them into the Ifland, and the
Sauages fledde and efcaped: but our men founde a fire, and the fide of a
beare on a wodden fpit left at the fame by the Sauages that were fledde.
There in the fame place they founde a boot of leather garniflied on the
vtter fide of the calfe in certain braue trailes, as it were of rawe filke, and
alfo founde a certaine great warme mitten : And thefe carried with them,
they returned to their fliippe, not finding the Sauages, nor feeing any thing
elfe befides the foyle, and the things growing in the fame, which chiefly
were ftore of fire and pine trees.
And further, the faid M. Dawbeny told him, that lying there they grewe
into great want of victuals, and that there they found fmall reliefe, more then
that they had from the neft of an Ofprey, that brought hourely to her yong
great plentie of diuers forts of fifhes. But fuch was the famine that increated
amongft them from day to day, that they were forced to feeke to relieue
themfelues of rawe herbes and rootes that they fought on the maine : but
the famine increafing and the reliefe of herbes being to little purpofe to
fatifhe their infatiable hunger, in the fieldes and defertes here and there, the
fellowe killed his mate while hee ftouped to take vp a roote for his reliefe,
and cutting out pieces of his body whome hee had murthered, broyled the
fame on the coles, and greedily deuoured them.
By this meane the company decreafed, and the officers knewe not what
was become of them ; and it fortuned that one of the company driuen
with hunger to feeke abroade for reliefe, founde out in the fields the fauour
of broyled flefh, and fell out with one that hee would fuffer him and his
fellowes to fterue, enioying plentie as he thought : And this matter growing
to cruel fpeaches, he that had the broyled meate, burft out into thefe wordes,
If thou wouldeft needes knowe, the broyled meate that I had, was a piece
of fuch a mans buttocke. The report of this brought to the (hip, the
Captaine found what became of thofe that were miffing, and was perfwaded
that fome of them were neither deuoured with wilde beaftes, nor yet deftroyed
with the Sauages ; And hereupon he ftcod vp and made a notable Oration,
containing, How much thefe dealings offended the Almightie, and vouched
the Scriptures from firft to laft what God had in cafes of diftreffe done for
them that called vpon him, and told them that the power of the Almightie
was then no leffe, then in al former time it h.id bene. And added, that if
it had not pleafed God to haue holpen them in that diftreffe, that yet it had
been better to be puniflied in body, and to haue lined euerlaftingly, then
to haue relieued for a poore time their mortal bodies, and to bee con-
demned euerlastingly both body and foule to the vnqucnchable fire of hel.
Prefacf.
XIX
And thus hauing ended to that effect, he began to exhort to repentance, and
befought all the company to pray, that it might pleafe God to looke vpon
their miferable prefent (late, and for his owne mercie to relieue the fame.
And fuch was the mercie of God, that the fame night there arriued a
French fhippe in that port, well fumillied with vittaile, and fuch was the
policie of the Englifh, that they become mafters of the fame ; and changing
{hipz and vitayling them, they fet faile to come into England.
In their ioumey they were fo farre Northwards, that they fawe mightie
Iflands of yce in the fummer feafon, on which were haukes and other
foules to reft themfelues, being wearie of flying ouer farre from the
maine. They fawe alfo certaine great white foules with redde bils and
redde legs, fomewhat bigger then Herons, which they fuppofed to be ftorkes.
They arriued at Slaiiti]. lues in Cornewall about the ende of October.
From thence they departed to a certaine Caftle belonging to sir /u/in
Luttrcl, where M\_ajler\ Thomas Bids ■axiA M\ajler\ KaJlaUajiA other gentle-
men of the voyage were very friendly intertained : after that they came to
the Earle of Bathe at Bathe, and thence to Brijloll, and fo to London.
A/[a/ler] Buts was fo changed in the voyage with hunger and miferie, that
sir William his father and my Lady his mother knewe him not to be their
fonne, vntill they found a certaine fecret marke which was a wart vpon one
of his knees, as he tolde me Richard Hakluyt ofOxforde himfelfe, to whome
I rode 200. miles onely to leame the whole trueth of this voyage from his
owne mouth, as being the onely man now aliue \i.e. in or about 1589] that
was in this difcouerie.
Certaine moneths after, thofe Frenchmen came into England, and made
complaint to king Henry the 8 : the King caufing the matter to be exa-
mined, and finding the great diftreffe of his fubiects, and the caufes of
the dealing fo with the French, was fo moued with pitie, that hee punifhed
not his fubiects, but of his owne purfe made full and royal recompenfe vnto
the French.
In this diftrefTe of famine, the Englifh fomewhat relieue their vital!
fpirits by drinking at the fprings the frelh water out of certaine wooden
cups, out of which they had drunke their Aqua compofUa. before. — Hakluyt,
Voyages, pp. 5 1 7-5 '9. E.d. 15S9.
12, These are all the oceanic voyages performed by the
English in the reign of Henry VIII. which we have been
able to trace. It was under Edvtfard, that our sailors first began
to creep down the African coast. The special significance of
these voyages lay in the then accredited proprietorship (through
the Papal Bull, reprinted at //. 201-204) of the Portugese to
the entire continent of Africa; and in the intentional and studied
ignorance of its coast line, in which the World was kept by that
nation. Every P^nglish voyage to its west coast was therefore
at once an act of revolt against the Papacy, and a challenge to
the pretensions of Portugal.
The Levant trade was open to all who would dare to run
the gauntlet of the Turks. The Spaniards recognised the claim
of the English discovery, by the Cabots, of Baccalaos ; and had
not yet worked up northward to it. But the African sea coast,
so honourably and so patiently discovered, was (by all laws,
human and divine, hitherto accepted) the possession of its brave
discoverers. It was therefore a new impulse, that made our
English ships, passing the familiar Straits of Gibraltar on their
left hand, to go forward southward, first to Barbary, and then
to Guinea ; cost what it might.
Discoveries are made by successive steps, one after another ;
and the passage of English ships around the world and to the
Eastern seas was but the succession and development of these
first attempts to Marocco. All that we know of these Barbary
voyages is preserved to us by Hakluyt, who collected his
information forty to fifty years after the event, and has thus
transmitted it to us.
The First Voyage to Barbary in 1551, described by James
Alday, Servant to Sebastian Cabot.
The original! of the firft voyage for traffique into the kingdom of Marocco
in Barbaric, begun in the yeere 1551, with a tall (hip called the Lion of
London, whereof went as captaine Matter Thomas Windham, as appeareth
by this extract of a letter of lames Aldaie, to the worthipfull mafter Michael
Locke, which Aldaie profeffeth himfelfe to haue bene the firfl inuenter of
this trade.
Orfhipfull Sir, hauing lately bene acquainted with your intent
to profecute the olde intermitted difcouerie for Catai, if
therein with my knowledge, trauell or induftrie I may doe
you feruice, I am readie to doe it, and therein to aduenture
my life to the vttermoft point. Trueth it is, that I haue bene
by fome men (not my friends) euill fpoken of at London, faying that
although I be a man of knowledge in the Arte of Nauigation and Cofmo-
graphie, and that I haue bene the inuenter of fome voyages that be now
growen to great effect ; yet fay they malicioufly and without iuft caufe, that I
haue not bene willing at any feafon to proceed in thofe voyages that I haue
taken in hand, taking example efpecially of two voyages. The one was
when I was mafter in the great Barke Aucher ]whiih left Gravesend on
lyh November 1550] for the I^euant, in which voyage I went not, but the
caufes they did not know of my let from the fame, nor of the other. But
firft the very trueth is, that I was from the fame voyage letted by the
Princes letters, which my Mafter Sebajlian Cabota had ubatined for that
purpofe, to my great griefe.
And as touching the fecond voyage which I inuented for the trade of
Barbaric, the liuing God knoweth that I fay moft true, that when the great
fweate was YThe sweating sickness began in London on i)th Jiily 1551, «W
continued till the following Septetnber} (whereon the chiefe of thofe with
whom I ioyned in that voyage died, that is to fay, Sir John Lutterell, lohn
Fletcher, Henry OJlrich and others), I my felfe was alfo taken with the
fame fweate in London, and after it, whe.her with euill diet in keeping, or
how I know not, I was caft into fuch an extreame feuer, as I was neither
able to ride nor goe ; and the (hippe being at Tort/mouth, Thomas Wind-
ham had her away from thence before I was able to ftand vpon my legges,
by whom I loft at that inftant fourefcore pound [ = ;^8oo of the present day}.
Befides I was appointed by them that died (if they had lined) to haue had
the whole gouemment both of (hippe and goods, becaufe I was to them'
the fole inuenter of tliat trade.
In the firft voyage to Barbary there were two Moores, being noble men,
whereof one was of the Kings blood, conueyed by the faid Mafter Thomas
Windham into their countrey out of England.
Yours humble at your commandement, James Alday.
The Second Voyage to Barbary in 1552, described by
Master James Thomas.
The fecond voyage to Barbary in the yeere 1552. Set foorth by the right
worlhipful Sir John Vorke, Sir William Ger[r]ard, Sir Thomas Wroth,
Mafter Trances Lambert, Mafter Cole, and others. Written by the relation
of Mafter James Thomas, then Page to Mafter Thomas Windham, chiefe
Captaine of this voyage.
He (liippes that went on this voyage were three, whereof two
were of the Riuer of Thames, That is to fay, the Lyon of
London, whereof Mafter Thomas Windham was Captaine
and part owner, of about an hundred and fiftie tunnes : The
other was the Buttolfe \Botolph\ about fourefcore tunnes, and
a Portugall Carauel, bought of certaine Porlugals in Neiuport in Wales, and
fraighted for this voyage, of fumme fixtie tunnes. The number of men in
the Fleete were an hundred and twentie. The Mafter of the Lyon was
one John Kerry of Mynh^a\i in Somerfetftiire, his Mate was Dauid
Landman. The chiefe Captaine of this fmall Fleete was Mafter Thomas
Windham a Norfolke gentleman borne, but dwelling at Marjlijield-parke in
Somerfetfhire.
This Fleete departed out of King\s\-rode neere Brijloll about the begin-
ning of May 1552. being on a Monday in the morning {^The 2d and <jth oj
XX
P R E 1' A C E.
May 1552, were Mondays], and the Monday fortnight next enfuing in the
eueninjj came to an anclier at their firft part in the roade Za/ia or A/aft on
the coaft of Barbarie, ftanding in 32. degrees of latitude, and there put on
land part of our marchandife to be conueid by land to the citie of Morocco :
which being done, and haue refrelhed our felues with victuals and water,
we went to the fecond port called Santa Cruz, where we difcharged the
reft of our goods, being good quantitie of linnen and woollen cloth, corall,
amber, let, and diuers other things well accepted of the Moores. In which
road we found a French (hip, which not knowing whether it were warre or
peace between England and France, drewe her felfe as neere vnder the
towne wals as fhe could polTible, crauing aide of the towne for her defence,
if need were, which in deed feeing vs drawe neere, (hot at us a piece from
the wals, which came ouer the Lion our Admiral!, between the maine
made and foremad. Whereupon we comming to an anker, prefently came
a pinnes aboord vs to know what we were, who vnderdanding that we
had bene there the yere before [ This confirms Aldny's statement], and came
with good leaue of their king in merchant wife, were fully fatif(ied, and
gaue vs good leaue to bring our goods peaceably on fliore, where the Viceroy,
whofe name was Sibill Manache, within ihort time after came to vifite vs,
and vfed vs with all curtefie. By diuers occafions we fpent here very neere
three moneths before we could get in our lading, which was Sugar, Dates,
Almonds, and Malaffos or fugar Syrrope. And for all our being here in
the heate of the Sommer, yet none of our company periflied by fickneffe.
Our (hips being laden, wee drew into the Sea for a Wefterne wind for
England. But being at fea, a great leake fell vpon the Lion, fo that we
were driuen to Lancerota and Forteitentura, where, betweene the two
Hands, we came to a road, whence we put on land out ol our fayd (liip 70.
cheftes of Sugar vpon Lanca'ota with fome dozen or fixteene of our com-
pany, where the inhabitants fuppofing we had made a wrongful! prize of
our carauell, (uddenly came with force vpon our people, among whom I
my felfe was one, tooke vs prifoners, and fpoiled the fugars : which thing
being perceiued from our (liips, they manned out three boates, thinking to
refcue vs, and draue the Spaniards to flight, whereof they flewe eighteene,
and took their gouernour of the Hand prifoner, who was a very aged gentle-
man about 70. yeeres of age. But chafing the enemie fo farre for our
recouerie, as ponder and arrowes wanted, the Spaniardes perceiuing this,
returned, and in our mens retire [retreat] they (lewe fix of them. Then a
Parle[y] grew, in the which it was agreed, that we the prifoners (hould be
by them reftored, and they receiue their old goueniour, giuing vs a tefti-
monie vnder his and their hands what damages wee had there receiued ;
the which damages were there reftored, and made good by the King of
Spaine his marchantes on our retume into England.
After we had fearched and mended our eake, being returned aboord,
we came vnder faile, and as wee were going to the fea on the one fide of
the Hand, the Cacafuego and other (hips of the King of Portugals Armada
entered at the other, and came to anker in the road from whence we were
but newly departed, and (hot o(f their great ordinance in our hearing. And
here by the way it is to bee vnderftood that the Portugals were much
olfended with this our new trade into Barbarie, and both in our voiage the
yeere before, as alfo in this they gaue out in England by their marchants,
that if they tooke vs in thofe partes, they would vfe vs as their mortall
enemies, with great threats and menaces. But by God and good proui-
dence wee efcaped their handes.
From this Hand (haping our courfe for England, we were feuen or eight
weekes before we could reach the coafl of England. The firft port wee
entered into was the hauen of Plimmouth, from whence within (hort time
wee came into the Tliames, and landett our merchandife at London, about
the ende of the moneth of October l<,<^z. —Hakluyt, Voyages, Vol, II.,
Part II., //. 7-9, Ed. 1599.
13. All these English Voyages, therefore, had been planned
and carried out before either of the two following Works, trans-
lated &c. by Eden, had come from the press. As he has
given no account of them ; it has been all the more necessary
to say thus much here, in order to shew that in these very
early days of oceanic discovery, our forefathers were not
altogether idle.
III.
Unique, imperfect, copy of A nnt> interlude
and a mery of the nature of the . iiif. elementes,
dr'C, written in the reign of Henry VIII., and
probably printed [ ? by John Rastel] about
1 5 19, is in the Garrick Collection of Plays,
in the British Museum (Press mark, C. 39,
b. 17).
This interlude contains [at C /'.] the following reference
to the New World, in a dialogue between Experyence and
Study ous desire: —
Ex. C Syr this ys ynglande lyenge here
And this is skotlande yat loyneth him nere
Compassyd a boute euery where
With the occian see rownde
C And next from them westwardly
Here by hym selfe alone doth ly.
Irelande that holsome grounde
C Here than is the narowe seey
To Calyce and Boleyne the next wey
And flaunders in this parte
Here lyeth fraunce next hym ioynynge
And spayn southwarde from thens standynge
And portyngale in this quart
This contrey is called Italye
Beholde where Rome in ye myddes doth ly
And Naples here be yonde
And this lytell See that here is
Is callyd the Gulfe of Venys
And here venys doth stande
C As for almayne lyeth this way
Here lyeth denmarke and norway
And northwarde on this syde
There lyeth Iselonde when men do fyshe
But be yonde that so colde it is
No man may there abyde
C This See is called the great Occyan
So great it is that never man
Coude tell it sith the worlde began
Tyll nowe within this. xx. yere
Westwarde be founde new landes
That we neuer harde tell of before this
By wrytynge nor other meanys
Yet many nowe haue ben there
C And that contrey is so large of rome
Muche lenger than all cristendome
Without fable or gyle
For dyuers maryners haue it tryed
And sayled streyght by the coste syde
Aboue. v. thousand myle
C But what commodytes be within
No man can tell nor well Imagin
But yet not longe a go
Some men of this contrey went
By the kynges noble consent
It for to serche to that entent
And coude not be brought therto
C But they that were the ventere[r]s
Preface,
XXI
Haue cause to curse their niaryners
Fals of promys and dissemblers
That falsly them betrayed
Which wold take no paine to saile farther
Than their owne lyst and pleasure
Wherfore that vyage and dyuers other
Suche kaytyffes haue distroyed
C O what thynge a had be than
Yf that they that be englyshe men
Myght haue ben the furst of all
That there shulde haue take possessyon
And made furst buyldynge and habytacion
A memory perpetuall
And also what an honorable thynge
Bothe to the realme and to the kynge
To haue had his domynyon extendynge
There into so farre a grounde
Whiche the noble kynge of late memory
The most wyse prynce the. vij. He[n]rry
Causyd furst for to be founde
C And what a great meritoryouse dede
It were to haue the people instructed
To lyue more verluously
And to lerne to knowe of men the maner
And also to knowe god theyr maker
Whiche as yet lyue all be[a]stly
For they nother knowe god nor the deuell
Nor neuer harde tell of heuyn nor hell
Wrytynge nor other scripture
But yet in the stede of god almyght
The[y] honour the sone for his great ly^[h]t
For that doth them great pleasure
C Buyldynge nor house they haue non[e] at all
But wodes / cotes / and cauys small
No merueyle though it be so
For they vse no maner of yron
Nother in to[o]le nor other wepon
That shulde helpe them therto
C Copper they haue which is founde
In dyuers places aboue the grounde
Yet they dyg not therfore
For as I sayd they haue non[e] yryn
Wherby they shuld in the yerth myne
To serche for any wore
C Great haboundaunce of woddes ther be
Moste parte vyr and pyne aple tre
Great ryches myght come therby
Both py[t]che and tarre and sope asshys
As they make in the eest landes
By brynnyng therof only
C Fyshe they haue so great plente
That in hauyns take and slayne they be
With stauys withouten fayle
Nowe frenchemen and other haue founden the trade
That yerely of fyshe there they lade
A boue an. C. \^hundyeif\ sayle
C But in the south parte of that contrey
The people there go nakyd alway
The lande is of so great hete
And in the north parte all the clothes
That they were / is but be[a]stes skynnes
They haue no nother fete [feat]
But howe the people furst began
In that contrey or whens they cam
For clerkes it is a questyon[.]
Other thynges mo I haue in store
That I coude tel therof but now no more
Tyll a nother season
Siu. C Than at your pleasure shew some other thinge
Yt lyketh me so wel your commyninge
Ye can not talke a mys
£x. C Than wyl I tome a gayne to my matter
Of Cosmogryfy where I was err [ere]
Beholde take hede to this
C Loo estwarde beyonde ye great occyan
Here entereth the see callyd mediterran |
Of. ii. M. [two thousand] myle of lengthe
The Soudans contrey lyeth here by
The great Turke on ye north syde doth ly
A man of merueylous strengthe
C This sayde north parte is callyd europa
And this south parte callyd affrica
This eest parte is callyd ynde
But this newe landes founde lately
Ben callyd america by cause only
Americus dyd furst them fynde
C Loo Iherusalem lyeth in this contrey
And this be yonde is the red see
That moyses maketh of mencyon
This quarter is India minor
And this quarter India maior
The lande of prester lohn
C But northwarde this way as ye see.
Many other straunge regions ther be
And people that we not knowe
But estwarde on the see syde
A prynce there is that ruleth wyde
Called the Cane of catowe ^
C And this is called the great eest see
Which goth all a longe this wey
Towardes the new landis agayne
But whether that see go thyther dyrectly
Or if any wyldernes bytwene them do ly
No man knoweth for certeyne
But these newe landes by all cosmografye
Frome the cane of catous lande can not lye
Lytell paste a thousand myle
But from those new landes men may sayle playne
Estwarde and cum to englande againe
Where we began ere whyle
C Lo all this parte of the yerth which I
Haue here discryuyd openly
The north parte we do it call
But the south parte on the other syde
Ys as large as this full and as wyde
Whiche we knowe nothynge at all
C Nor whether ye most parte be lande or see
Nor whetlier the people that there be
Be be[a]styall or connynge
Nor whether they knowe good or no
Nor howe they beleue nor what they do
Of this we knowe nothynge
The Voyage referred to, clearly took place in Henry VIII.'s
reign. It was probably the Bristol expedition sent out by N.
Thome's father and Hugh Eliot, which discovered Newfound-
land ; of which Thome tells us, at/, xvi, " There is no doubt,
as now plainly appeareth, if the marriners would then haue
been ruled and folowed their pilots mind, the lands of the
West Indies, from whence all the gold commeth, had beene
ours."
1 Khan oj Cathay.
C 2
XXI 1
Preface.
IV.
HE special purpose of this Preface has now
been carried out. It has been to shew
what our forefathers actually accomplished,
ere Eden set about the following Trans-
lations, or during the time he was actually
engaged upon them : and so to supplement
the other accounts of Oceanic Discovery
contained in the volume.
We have, in conclusion, only space briefly to touch upon one
other point, and that is but a simple act of justice.
Most notable is Eden's position as a Man of Science in the
Tudor Age. He had the true modest scientific spirit; as
when he wrote in 1562, to Sir W. Cecil, "Syth only the
respecte of suche vertues as it hathe pleased you to thinke
commendable in me, hath moved your Honour not only in
maner to seeme carefull for me howe I maye hereafter with
quietnesse spende my tyme in studie (as is my most desire),"
/. xliii.; and likewise when, in 1574, he thus dwelt at large
upon what he did not know, a list of disqualifications that
must not be pressed too literally, " For yf there be any thing in
me, wherein I maye by good reason please my selfe, it is
cheefely this, that I haue euer loued and honoured men of
singular vertue or qnalitie, in what so euer laudable Art or
Science, euen of those whereof mee selfe have litle know-
ledge, as are Geometric, Astronomic, Architecture, Musicke,
Payntyng, feates of Armes, inuentions of Ingens, and suche
lyke," p. xlvi.
But whatever may have been his knowledge or his ignorance,
actual or relative; Eden had already grasped the Inductive
Method. His life overlapped that of Lord Bacon. May he
not be regarded as a near Herald and Forerunner of the
Father of Scientific Enquiry, when he uses such language as
this ; of which his whole life was but the fuller expression ?
"Experience, the teacher and mestres of all sciences, for
lacke of whose ayde (experience I meane) lyke as many greate
wittes haue fallen into great errours, so by her ayde, many
base and common wittes haue attayned to the knowledge and
practise of such wonderfuU effectes, as could hardely be
comprehended by the discourse of reason
" Nought els to say, but that experience to be most certayn
which is ioyned with reason or speculacion, and that reason to
be most sure which is confirmed with experience." /. 9.
And thus, from henceforth will the reputation of Richard
Eden continue to increase, both as a Scholar and a Scientist.
xxU
[The First English book on America.
C i©£ the miot lanXft^ mitf ol jje projpXt
(©£ p0pe Koftn Jinlr fti-s Xacntrt^ antr of
tfte co^trtg feegtjS anlr toonlr^re molo
irgtg that in that ImxXft i^J
XXV
[A Note on
Jan van Doesborch,
a printer at Antwerp, between 1 508-1 530 a.d.
jjNything that concerns the printer of the
first English Work relating to America,
must henceforth be of increasing interest.
There does not appear to be in exist-
ence, any typographical history of Ant-
werp for the period during which the
first Text in this volume was produced.
The learned and most courteous
Librarian of the Royal Library at the Hague, Dr M. F. A.
G. Campbell, the author of the well-known Annaks de la
Typographie nkrlandaise au XVe Steele, La Haye, 1874-8,
8vo, thus writes, on the 21st April 1885.
How glad should I have been if I had been able to give you full
information aliout Jan van Doesborch, the Antwerp printer in the first
half of the sixteenth century. But, alas, the History of Printing in
that century has been, without any sound reason, neglected to that
point that even sixteenth-century books are now-a-days more rare than
their predecessors of the fifteenth. If Jan van Doesborch had had only
one foot in the fifteenth century, I should have been able to give you
matter enough to compose his history : because I, and my predecessor
as Librarian of this Liljrary (Mr Holtrop), have devoted the better part
of our lives to the study of the typography and typographers before the
year 1500. Now John of Doesborch did not print till after 1508,
because in that year, he entered the Guild of St Lucas at Antwerp, as
vcrlichlcre, "miniature painter."
When such an authority as Dr Campbell writes thus,
the present Editor may be excused of his ignorance on this
subject. Nevertheless the following is offered as a mere
beginning of this study.
2. Doesburg is a Dutch town, about ten miles to the east
of Amheim.
Jan van Doesborch, Doesborcke, Doesburgh, or as he
styles himself in (/) \h.e.xw. tokens, lohan fro doesborch, may
have succeeded to the printing business of Roeland van der
Dorpe, at Antwerp. He was contemporary with our
Wynkyn de Worde and Richard Pynson : and occupies a
similar position in Antwerp typography, to that filled by
those two English printers at Westminster and London.
He seems to have printed in three different houses. His
earliest books were printed at the sign of Aen dijsere wage,
"the Iron balance." Those produced about 1518, are
printed " besides the Canter parte." His latest books,
finished about 1530, are at die Lombaerde veste, "the Lom-
bard fortress."
It is very remarkable that Doesborch should, at such an
early date, have printed the English books that he did ;
especially such an important work as Arnold's Chronicle.
He was probably employed in this work by some
of the merchants of the English House at Antwerp. He
stands in the same relation to our Literature at this time,
that Hans Luft of Marburg did fifteen or twenty years later.
No books are so scarce as the early English books printed
by foreign printers on the Continent ; of which the following
Text is one of the earliest.
3. The first book attributed to this printer, by P. C.
van der Meersch, in his Recherches sur la vie et les iravatix
des tmprimeurs Beiges et Neerlandais etablls (t Vetranger, i.
131, Gand 1856, is —
(a) Die dcstructU van Troyen, "the destruction of Troy." Antwerp,
folio, no date.
The late eminent bookseller of Amsterdam, Mr Frederick
Muller, issued, in 1872, a Catalogue of Books, Maps, Plates
on America; and of a remarkable Collection of Early Voy-
ages, offered by him for sale. At /. 6, he states that he
acquired, in 1871, at the sale of an insignificant library at
Antwerp, a volume containing four pieces, " all printed
there in the first ten years of the i6th century."
One of these was —
(i) Va7i der nienwcr werelt oft landtscap nieuwtlur ghenoden vaden
doorluch tighen conn, van Porlugael door den alderbeste pyloet ofte zeeken-
edr d'werelt, " Of the new world or landscape, newly found for the
illustrious King of Portugal by the best pilot or mariner in the world."
This is a translation from the Italian (through the Latin) into Dutch,
of the Third Letter of Amerigo Vespucci. The colophon runs,
Gheprent T/ianiwerpen aen Dyseren waghe. Bi Jan van Doesborch,
" Printed at Antwerp, at the ironbalance, by Jan van Doesborch."
It consists of eight unnumbered leaves, [with] 6 woodcuts. The verso
of the last leaf is filled up by a wood engraving. On the recto of the
first leaf [is the identical cornerwise engraving that is described here-
after at p. xxix., col. 2] ; on the verso of leaf i, Jonas thrown into the
mouth of the whale ; recto of leaf 3, four female aborigines [see p.
xxviii.] ; verso of leaf 4, fighting Indians [see p. xxix.] ; verso of leaf 6,
repeated from the recto of leaf I ; and verso of the last leaf, repeated
from the recto of leaf 3.
Mr Muller states —
The book bears no date, but it is out of question, that it has been
printed in the period 1506-9, the time when all the separate editions of
Vcspuccius were published. It is one of the first productions of the
famous printer, Jan van Doesborgh, at Antwerp ; whose publications
(principally romances of chivalry with woodcuts, curious popular books,
&c.) rank among the rarest of the Antwerp printers. Just the kind
of publications that makes it easy to understand that they have dis-
appeared, as it were, under the hands of the reading public.
xxvi [^ Note on ycin van Doesborch, a printey at Antioerp, between 1508- 1530 a.d.]
Another text in this precious volume is thus described, at
/. 277, by Mr Muller —
(f) Van tie luonjerluhetie m costelUhen van Pape lans landendes,
" Of the wonders and precious things of Pope John's lands. "
The remainder of the first page tilled with four curious woodcuts,
representing 1°, a wild man with a beast's head bearing a fish [see /.
XXXV.]; 2°, an elephant [see/, xxxii.]; 3°, a griffon with a man in his
paws [see f. xxxiv.]; and 4°, three men fighting against three birds
[see/, xxxiii.]
Recto of the last leaf, Ghiprint Tlianhverpen. Aen dijsere wage by
my Jan. van Doesborch. " Printed at Antwerp at the iron balance by
me, Jan van Doesborch."
Eleven different woodcuts in the text, four of them repeated from
the recto of leaf I. On the 5th leaf, a woodcut of the bird Phoenix in
flames [see^ xxxiv.] The verso ol the last leaf filled with two wood
engravings, one representing the Virgin with the Child, the other the
printer's mark of Roeland van der Dorpe, used in 1497, &c. [a herald
with his attributes, holding a trumpet].
It is therefore perfectly clear that the First English book
on America is mainly a translated compilation from these
two early Dutch tracts ; and that most of the woodcuts
of the English text had already appeared in its Dutch
originals.
We therefore place next —
[d) Of the new landes, &'e.
Clearly, the latest date that can be assigned to this tract
is 1511. Had it been written later, the information con-
tained in it would not have been so crude. See the pro-
gress of knowledge as shewn in the English Interlude of
1519, quoted at /. xx. It would seem to have been
translated by a priest in the Low Countries, who had but an
imperfect acquaintance with English ; for he uses /lem/s for
heavens ; drycantyche, for three-cornered, ferswy?imygnes,
ketters, &c.
The Catalogue of the Grenville Collection, in describing
the unique copy here reprinted (Press mark, G. 7106),
states —
"From mentioning Emanuel, King of Portugal, and exclaiming
against Luther, the present tract may be about 1521 or 1 522, when
Kng Emmanuel died, and Luther was burned in effigy."
There is not a word about Luther in the tract ; and it is
typographically evident from the above, that the tract can
hardly be later than 15 11.
4. It is quite impossible, at present, to give a chrono-
logical list of books produced by Jan van Doesborch. A
few only can be cited.
(«) [The compilation by R. Arnold, known as AntoWs Chronicle.^
In this booke is conteyned the names of ye bayliffo of the cite of Lon-
don from the tyme of king richard the furst, and also th[e] artycles of
the Chartur and libarties of the same Cyte, 5:c. No date or place of
printing. British Museum (Press mark, zi, a. 10).
This is attributed to Doesborch's press, and was a very
large work to be undertaken by him, in what was probably
a foreign language to him. It contains the original text of
the poem of The Nut-brown Maid.
In the British Museum (Press mark, C. 25, e. 29) there is
an imperfect copy of a tract on the Fifteen tokens of the
Day of Doom. It wants the title page. The colophon is
as follows : —
(/) "A lytill treatyse that whiche is called //<« jrz". tokens which been
ate translated out of frenshe in to Englishe.
* Emprinted by me lohan fro doesborch dwellinge at Anwerpe by
the Iron ballaunce, &c.
These six texts are probablyamong the earliest productions
of Doesborch's press.
5. We now come to the middle period of his life's work.
In the British Museum (Press mark, 1073, b. 32) there is
a Dutch life of the fabulous necromancer of the Middle
Ages, Virgilius.
( g ) Virgilius f[ Van zijn leuen doot / ende vauten, &c. No date or
place of printing.
This tract is probably the original of the rare English
Virgilius among the Douce books at the Bodleian, which
has been reprinted by Mr Utterson, and also by Mr Thorns,
in Jiis Early English Prose Romaiues, Vol. 2, Ed. 1858.
(//) The title runs thus :
The lyfe of Virgilius and of his deth and many marvayles that he dyd
in his lyfe tyme by whychcrafte and nygramancye thorowgh the helpe
of the devyls of hell.
The colophon is
Thus endcthe the lyfe of Virgilius with many dyuers con-
saytes that he dyd. Emprynted in the cytie of Anwarpe By me
lohnn Doesborcke dwellynge at the camer porte.
Mr W. C. Hazlitt, in his Handbook of Popular Lite-
rature, &'c.,p. 381, Ed. 1867, quotes the following title of a
Work apparently at present in an English private library.
(«■) Here begynneth a lytell story that was of a trewthe done in the
land of Gelders, of a mayde that was named Mary of Nemegen that was
the dyuils paramoure by the space of vij yere longe.
Imi)rinted at Anwarpe by me lohn Duisbrowghe dwellynge besyde
the camer porte.
Dr Campbell states that in the Royal Library at the Hague,
is a copy of the following Work, printed by Doesborch.
(/) Den oostpronck oiiser Solic/ieyt. Printed at Antwerp on 31 May
1517. With woodcuts and printer's mark.
Also, a Work, sometimes erroneouslyattributed to Jan van Naeldwyck,
(k) Die alder excellenlste Cronyke va Brabant 1518. With woodcuts
and printer's mark.
Of this work, there is a copy of an earlier edition printed
in October 1512 in the British Museum (Press mark, G. 405,
f.) This may also have been printed by Doesborch.
The next Work that we can quote is, for the time it was
produced, a wonderful book. It is a pictorial representa-
tion of all the birds, beasts, and fishes, real and imaginary,
of the time. It is in three Parts.
{/) Der dieren palleys en die vgaileringe vanden beesten. The colo-
phon is Ghcprent bi my Jan van doesborch Thantiuerpen Lit iaer ons
heeren M.CCCCC. ende. XX. den vijfsten dach in Meye. [5 May 1520.]
Copies are in the British Museum, the Royal Library at
the Hague, and elsewhere.
Mr Hazlitt, Handbook, &c., /. 8, gives the following
account of Lawrence Andrewe's translation of this work.
(/«) The noble lyfe and natures of man, of beestes, serpentys, fowles,
and fysshes, that be made known.
Andwarpe by John of Doesborowe, n.d. fol.
In the prologue, Andrewe, the translator, says, " In the name of oure
Saviour criste lesu maker and redemour of al mankynd, I Laurens
andrewe of the towne of Calis haue translated for lohnes doesborrowe
book prenter in the cite of Andwarpe this present volume dcuyded in
thre partes which was neuer before in no matcrnall langage preutyd till
now. "
6. One other Work will complete our present provisional
list of this printer's productions.
(«) Van Brabant die excellente Cronike. Of which the colophon runs,
Cheprent tot Antwerpen op die Lombaerde veste, bimijan van Doesborch,
int iaer ons heren M.CCCCC.XXX, in luino.
Copies of this work are in the British Museum, the Royal
Library at the Hague, and elsewhere.
7. This is all we have been able to learn, so far, of the
printer of the First English book on America. Much
more, no doubt, remains to reward the researches of tiie
bibliographer.]
XXVI 1
C ©£ the netoe Xanlress mxXf ol ge people
fottnlrt 6j) the me^sJenaerss of tfte Rjin
ge 0£ portyngcile nametr <!tnmnitel*
©£ tite* V* I'atterg nacgonss cijjiSteiTelr^
#£ pope Kohn atnlr Jti^ lanlres? anlr of
tfte cosJteXg Itegess antr tooitlfer^ molo
aye^ that iix that lanlre (6.
AN'^^vAN^AVAV^V V/W>'
re aforetymes in the yere of our Lorde god. M.CCCC.xcvi. [1496] and fo be/ we
with fhyppes of Lufleboene fayled oute of Portyngale thorough the commaunde-
nient of the Kynge Emanuel So haue we had our vyage/ For by fortune
ylandes ouer the great fee with great charge and daunger fo haue we at the lafle
founde oon lordfliyp where we fayled well. ix. C. [900] mylee[s] by the coofle of
Selandes there we at ye lafle went a lande but that lande is not nowe knowen
for there haue no maflers wryten therof nor it knowethe and it is named
Armenica/ there we fawe meny wonders of beefles and fowles yat we haue neuer
feen before/ the people of this lande haue no kynge nor lorde nor theyr god
But all thinges is comune/ this people goeth all naked But the men and women
haue on theyr heed/ necke/ Annes/ Knees/ and fete all with feders bounden for
there bewtynes and fayrenes. Thefe folke lyuen lyke beft.es without any refon-
ablenes and the wymen be alfo as comon. And the men hath conuerfacyon
with the wymen/ who that they ben or who they fyrft. mete/ is Ihe his fyfter/
his mother/ his daughter/ or any other kyndred. And the wymen be very
hoote and dypofed to lecherdnes. And they etealfo on[e] a nother The man
etethe his wyfe his chylderne/ as we alfo haue feen and they hange alfo the bodyes or perfons fleeftie in the fmoke/ as men
do with vs fwynes flefhe. And that lande is ryght full of folke/ for they lyue commonly, iii. C. [300] yere and more as with
fykeneffe they dye nat/ they take much fyfflie for they can goen vnder the water and fe[t]che fo the fyfflies out of the water,
and they werre alfo on[e] vpon a nother/ for the olde men brynge the yonge men therto/ that they gather a great company therto
of towe partyes/ and come the o;:[e] ayene the other to the felde or bateyll/ and flee on[e] the other with great hepes. And nowe
holdeth the fylde/ they take the other pryfoners And they brynge them to deth and ete them/ and as the deed is eten then
fley they the reft. And they been than eten alfo/ or otherwyfe lyue they longer tymes and many yeres more than other people for
they haue coftely fpyces and rotes/ where they them felle recyuer with/ and hele them as they be feke.
xxviii \ThefirJl Englijh book containing the word America {Armenica), &c?^
[{Here follows a woodcut of the Natives of) GENNEA]
Of the blacke Mores.
T the fyrfle cam we in the lande of Canarien/
whyche is. C. and. 1. [150] myles from Lyfle-
bone. And ther betwyn been. ij. ylandes.
In yat one is well made people and men
make there moche cheefe of great wylde
gootes. alfo is ther fifflie and suykere good
cheep. That other yland is not enhabite I
tlier be lytell people therin/ and they be all a frayde and
wylde/ alfo ther ayeen lyeth the lande of Barbera/ and is from
them in to ye Gennea. CC.l. [250] myles. and that is the
blackes mores land, and ayen ye begynnyng of this lande is
oon aforemontayen and booth caput viride/ and thereby is ye
towne Bitfagitfch. v. C. [500] myles from Luffebonen there by
be many w[h]alefyfflies and flyinge fyfflies on the on fyde of
Bifagitfche. ij. C. and 1. [250] myles fayle men vnder yat fone
fo ferre/ that men the northe fayle flerre or pollumarticum/ or
the waghen called/ no more may be feen/ but poUum ante
articum or yat fowth layd flerre fawe we fourth with[.] the
forfayde Morelande is M. iiij. €.[1400] myles great/ there
ye people goeth all naked with golden rynges on handes
and fete.
[(Here comes a woodcut of Natives) IN " ALLAGO]
ilHat lande of AUago is. v. C. [500] myles
greater And gothe ayenfle the begynnynge
of Arabien and there is that kyngdom
Safale[.] in this lande Allago is the people
clothed as aboue is marked/ the[y] were
and bere for there clothes fkynnes of wylde
belles. The men bere clokes made of barkes
of trees and ledder to kyuer theyr members with. And the
women kyuer theym with (kynnes of belles, and take vpon
there heddes for kerchers Ikynnes of oxen or other be(les[.]
alfo py[t]che the[y] theyr mennes forhed lyke as men pytche the
fhyppes/ and there dwellynge is vnder the erthe. There is
many cowes. oxen/ great fhepe and other fayre belles. This
is on fayre and lufly lande of good water and fwete herbes.
This people bathe a fwyfte hafly fpeche. There is no money
but of yrou [? />'<?«] and that euery body take it for there ware
they bere whyte (laues there wepyns is lange pykes and Hones
ther they cafte myghtly with. That I>ande is fo full of fande
yat they mufle goo vpon brode trenchers that they falle not
and fynke. After that cometh men into the lande of arabyen.
[(Here is another woodcut representing Natives) IN: ARABIA]
Arabia.
Omyng in Arabia fawe we ye people clothed
lyke as here is figured (lande. and out [of]
this kyngdome hath be oon of the three holy
kyngys. Item ther bynde they ther oxe fon
with Arable gold about ther homes/ and
erys. And alfo goldyn rynges aboute th[e]yr
legges. And for gold take they of mar-
chaundes fylkyng kerchers and lynen clothe. Item ther after
fe we now. v. ylandes. the fyrR yland named Momfabith.
fixty myles from Safalen. is leeid ye towne Quiola that was
founde of the kynges folke of portyngal And they flewe
there moche people and robbed the towne. And there without
had there kynge edyfyed on caftell that is named feynt lacobis
caRell there in lyeth a, C. [100] bolde and hardy men that
lyeth and kepeth it
[Here is a striking woodcut representing, with great life and action, a
spirited attack on the gate of some European town ; which has evi-
dently been borrowed by John of Desborough from some other printed
book, chronicle, or other work, printed by himself or other printer.]
He[n] feuente myles from Quiola lyeth the
towne Bombaffa that they alfo bymed and
robbed that alfo there they gatte moche
goodes. From thens nowe. xxiiij. myle[s]
lyeth the great towne Meli[n]da and they
be frendes/ and there be many floueynes
and fell people out of Geneen From
Melinda it is. iiij. fcore and. x. myles to on Perfia there gowe
they ouer the fee. For by the towne Megha into the ylande.
Auxendia There is alfo one that hath be of ye three holy
kynges of the eefl. C. [100] myles into the Kyngdome of
Canenor and there begyn the fpyces to growe and from thens
fare they forthe in to the great lande of great Indyen.
C Of great Indyen.
[(Here follows a woodcut of the Inhabitants of) M A I O R : INDIA]
Hey gowe from Cananor into great Indyen
there the people goo all naked but yat
the[y] kyuer there members with lynen
cloth and they be brounde blacke/ with
longe here and of tho women is not wryten
but on kaute the fee fawe men manye mer-
ueloufe people of manereren the women
i bere there chyldren and theyr houfeholde fluffe. Here fynde
I men gynger/ peper/ comeyn/ and all manere of fpyces/ and
{A JJiort defcription of Africa and India: written after 1509 A.D.] xxix
collely flones for lytell moneye. There be alfo many maner
of frute fygges of good fauyour. vij. ynches longe and. iij.
ynches brode. There be bulfeldes and coyes but the coyes
flepe they not/ there groweth good wyne/ muche honeye/ ryfe/
coflely come whyte as wete mele/ Ther by flandeth the
towne of Banderana and it is. vij myles into Callienten
from thens is. xl. myles there men goo for all maner of
fpyces that men were wonte to caray and conuey ouer the
redde fee thorowgh Alexander but nowe is there one newe
way founden ouer the the fee[.] in Calacuten is many folke out
of feynt thomas lande yat alfo be cryftened/ and folke of other
landes and nacyons they goo ouer into that kyngdome Kyng-
rjche Gutfchyn as hereafter Ilandes wry ten.
C Of Gut f chin that Kyngedome.
[Here is a woodcut representing two Natives fighting, see/, xxv.]
ilNd than cam we in the kyngdome of Gut-
fchyn and ther hath the kynge of portyngale
do make. ij. CaReyles from here was the thre
holy kynges. there groeth much peper and
the propereft (lapell therof That kyngdom
Colen is. xxiiij. myles from there/ and there
been many kryftened men/ we fynde alfo
great Olyfantes and many dyuers maner and wonders befles and
other thynges that men cannot wryghte all. gardeynes frutes is
there muche gretter than in our landes of Europa. That ylande
Melaqua is from thens. viij. C. [800] myles/ There alfo is
moche coflely fpyces. There is nowe. ij. ylandes the on is
Bandan and therin groweth the cloues. That other Tanagora
or Narnaria and there groeth not no other wodde than whyte
and red fandelen wodde/ This is fortuned that for a bell of a
glaffe men may haue one handfull of peerles. In Gutfchin
bere fome tymes there kynge but that do the people of his
courte and holde obedyance vnder theyni one with a nother
They doo all there thynges all fleyghtly For as as they be
affembled in one gatherynge/ than cryeth the capitayne I will
fowe/ and as the fubiectes here theyr capitayne cr)'e fowe than
take they parte of/ the fede and no man fayth the contrary and
letteth the other lye and that takethe the lorde with out any
body contrary fayngc/ and fo do they in all merchaundyfe.
Forthe by that kyngdome Gutfliyn/ Colum/ Bandan/ and
Nagaria. xxx. [thirty] niyles[.] in Arlinia there hath the kynge.
xij. kynges vnder hyni/ and there lyetli buryed feynt Thomas
apoitell.
[Here is a woodcut of a tree apparently intended to represent a fig-tree.
It might do equally well for many other kinds of trees.]
N fome of thefe aforfayde wrytten landes ben
great and fayre frutes and they be greater
than in thefe our landes of Europa In Ifla
mandra be great hygh trees for the people of
yat contrey hewe great lleppes aboute to
clyme vp in to the tree to gather the frutes
that groweth there on for whan they be a
thrufl. to take there of. In Arfmia is great brode fygge Trees
with great fygges well. vij. ynches longe and. iij. ynches brode
and the Fygge tre is fo brode of braunche and leues that. xl.
[forty] men may be hydde vnder the forefayd braunches and
leues for the hete of the fonne/ and there for to refle all to
gather at theyr one pleafure.
[Here are two woodcuts comerwise, one representing two Indians, the
other two men and a woman of Europe, see/, xxv.]
E haue in this vyage fayled aboute the forth
parte of the worlde for to reken from Luf-
fyngboren whiche is ferre equinoccyall fcher
linien. xxxix. [thirty-nine]grades and on halfe
fo haue we fayled ouer ye linie equinocciall.
1. [fifty] grades that maketh xc. [ninety]
grades therfore they of Luffbone is vnder yat
forfayde linie. xxxix. grade and one halfe in the hygh hed of the
hemels is the breyde of weftes/ fo is them of Luffbone to thefe
folke to fene the. 1. [fifty] grades is ouer the felfe lyne foth
cornerwyfe. v. grades in perpendiculer linia whiche linie as we
flande ryght of yat poynt the hemls hange vpon our hed and
thefe folke in theyr fydes or rybbes and woort fet in the maner
of on tryanghel or on drycantyche cornard. therfore it muftnedes
be yat the fowth landes be tempered with fwete erthe for the
northe wyndes can nat there blowe.
[Here, across the middle leaf of the tract, is an excellent representation o.
the King of Cochin seated on a kind of tressel, carried by four men, sur-
rounded with armed attendants : and with an umbrella borne by one
man, and not a canopy borne by four men, as stated below in the text.
The woodcut extends across about two-thirds of the folio, in the margin
of which occurs the following note.]
Fter this maner of fourme is the Kynge of
Gutfchym borne with the noblefle of his
lande/ And before hym is borne many
inflrumentes of mufyke as trompettes and
other and. iiij. of the noblefle bereth the
canapie ouer his hed left, that the foon
fluild bume hym/ and this kynge is beloued
of all his eft.ates and common people.
XXX STJiefiyJl EngliJJt book containing the word America {Armenica), &c?^
[This fresh tract is headed by a woodcut representing angels bearing the pyx.]
€[ Of the. X. DYVERCE CRISTENED NACIONS.
T is to knowe that
y e people of cry (l-
indomisdeuided
and ben in. x.
Nacyons. That
is to vnder-
flandtheLatyne/
Grekes/ Indien/
lacobites/neflor-
ijnes/moronites/
Aimenes/ georg-
ianes/ Surianes/
mororabes/wher-
ofyemoofldeyle
is kettersand kyt
of/ of the holy
Romes chyrche.
C The fyrjle nacyon.
[Two woodcuts, evidently talcen from some Martyrology, come in here.
One represents an angel standing by the cross, the other a female
saint with a sword sticking in her breast.]
nirde nacyon is the T,atynes and they haue to
tlieyr lorde the Emperour of Almayne and
many Kynges/ as the kynge of cadyly an
of Aragon/ of portyngale/ of nauaryen/ and
thefe kynges is for fpaynnes nacyon. In
yat nacion of the frenche lande is one kynge
of Fraunce and many dukes and Erles. In
the nacion of Italian is the kynge of Cicylian/ the kynge of
Naples and many dukes and Erles and there is alfo many lord-
(hyppes as Veneyfe Florence feuen lenuen \} Siaitia, Genoa].
N the nacyon of Gemnanien is nowe many
kynges with out the emperoure/ as the Kynge
of Englande/ of Scotlande/ of Vngerien/ of
Bohemen/of Polen/of Denmarke/ of fweden/
of Northvvegen/ of Dalmacyen/ and there is
many Dukes and Erles &c. In that ylande
of Sypers [? Cyprus] is the kynge of Sypers/
All thcfe a fore wryten is vnder the obeyifaunce or \) of] the
chyrche of Rome.
C The feconde nacyon.
He Grekes haue fpyrytually the Patriarcke of
Conflantynnoplen/andmanyArchebyllliops/
byffhops/ and abbottes. And in ye tem-
peralte haue they one Emperour and many
dukes and erles/ and there is but fewe of
them that be cryRened/ For the Agarenen
and Turkes hath nowe the mood parte of
Grekes/ and is not obedient to the chyrch of Rome. And they
haue a great erre for they faye that the holy ghofl cam not of
the fone but alone of the fader. And they fay alfo that there
is no purgatory/ that is all a yenfle our belefe.
C The thyrde nacyon.
[Here follows a woodcut representing St. Thomas kneeling to our Saviour.]
Hey of Indyen hath one prynce and that is
pope lohn whofemyghtynes and rychedome
amounteth aboue all prynces of the world
for he hath vnder hym. Ixxij. [feuenty-two]
kynges and as pope lohn dayely rydeth he
bere a fore hym one croflfe of wode for to
thynke on at all tymes and remember vpon
the paffion of I[es]hu and to the batayle doth he bere. xij.
croffes of golde made and fet with precyoufe flones for his
baners/ in this lande is the body of feynt Thomas.
C The fourth nacyon.
Acobyten named alfo of on ketter lacob and
was be one dyflyple of the Patryarche of
Alexandryne/ and this helde the one great
land in Oryenten and Afyen and is named
that lande of Mambrone and it is by Egyp-
ten and gothe to Ethyopen and into Indien
to/ and hathe vnder hym well. xl. [forty]
kynges rychedom/ thefe be kytte and chryRened with a byrn-
ynge yren for they branne the token of the holy croffe in theyr
forehed/ vpon the breRe/ vpon the arme/ they confeife them to
God alone and none preRes/ and they fay that in chriRo is alone
the godhed without the manhod/ and fome of them fpeketh
Caldefche fome Arabier/ fome other fpe[e]ches after theyr lang-
age of the lande/ and thefe been condemned of the holy
chyrche in that counfayll of Ceden.
[0/ the ten divers chrijlian nations?)^
XXXI
C Thefyth nacyon.
Here be alfo NeRorijnen named of the ketter
Neflorinus that was one byffliope of the
byffhops of Conflantynenoplen and they
fett ij. perfones in chriflo that is the Godhed
and ye perfones/ and they forfake that
maria is the moder of god/ but they beleue
well of I[es]hu. and theyr wrytynge is in
caldenfflier fpeche and they make the facrament in broune
brede and there be great multytude of theym and they dwell
in Tartarien and in great Indyen/ and theyr lande is as great
as a thoufande of Italy/ and thefe ketters be condamned in that
thyrde counfayll of Ephefyn and is departed of the holy Romes
chyrche and abyde in theyr opynion.
C The fyxfe nacyon.
Y the ketter Moren they be named Moroniten
they fay alone in chriflo is one vnderflande
and one wyll and thofe dwell by Lybien in
the lande of Phenicen and there be great
multitude and they be bolde and hardey
men. and great warryars with the bowe/
And they haue theyr byflhops clothed as
the Latynes with the biffhops myter on his had/ and with the
croyfers flaffe and rynges/ Thefe hath ben fome tyme vnder
the obeyiffaunce of the chyrche of Rome whan Innocentius
was pope/ but afterwarde came they ayen in theyr opynion
and there abyde in theyr opynyon.
C The feuenth nacyon.
pRmennyten is alfo named for that they dwell
in the lande of Armeneten nere vnto Anthi-
ochyen and there is whrythyn feruyce of the
mafles. and theyr other tydes is all in theyr
one comon fpeche fo that they all mey
vnderflande it what they fynge or rede/ and
they haue theyr hed or fader to whome they
do reuerence as we do the pope. And they fade the lenton
with greatter deuocyon than we doo/ for they ete in the lenton
no fyfflie/ nor they drynke no wyne/ but they ete flefflie vpon
frydays.
[Here is a woodcut representing a squadron of English knights, with St.
George's flag, armed cap cL pie, and galloping in battle. It has nothing
whatever to do with the text.]
C The eyght nacyon.
His nacyon is named Georgidni of feynt
George for they haue hym in theyr batelles
for theyr patrone/ and they dwell in the
lande of Oryenten/ and they be fayer/ lufly/
and Rronge pepyll/ and they be fore a drad
of the Medon perflen Affiryen there they
aboute dwelle And they haue theyr fcryp-
^^
\t/5r^-'
M
&
^.v.'-^-
ture in ye Greekes fpeche and they haue theyr facramentes as
the Grekes/ and the clarkes haue rounde crownes/ and they
leke the holy graue to Iherufalem with open or fpred baners.
And they gyue the farafons no trybute for the farafons fereth
thofe folke very fore/ there women bere harneyfe lyke the
men and they haue alfo beardes as ye men and they bere
vpon theyr heddes and vpon hye cubettes hye hattes and
as the[y] wryte to the Sodan than gyueth he them that they
dyflyre.
C The Nynthe nacion.
He Surianen is named after theyr to^^'ne Surie
that is the grettefl. in all Suryen or Affyryen
theyr fcrypture and feruyce of god in ye
Grekes fpeche but they fpeke farafons
fpeche and they holde the manere of ye
grekes/ and haue byfflioppes that in all
thynges be obedyent and they make theym
facrament of browne brede and they haue the opynyon of the
Grekes ayen the Latynes there be fome cryRened that in the
holy lande is namyd Samerytanes that were conuerted in the
tyme that the apoflels preched but they vnderRande them not
well in the cryRen beleue.
C The tenthe nacyon.
Ororaben fo called affter the laten for they holde
and vfe the maner of the cryRen of Ar[a]bien/
and of thefe were wonte to be manye people
in Afrijken and in Spaengnien but nowe is
there lytell in the tellyng/ They haue in
theyr feruyce of god lateyne as we do/ And
they be vnder the obeyifaunce of the chyrche
of Rome. And the latynes prelates but in many thynges ben
they dyuerfe departed for alfo the day hath xxiiij. houres/ Alfo
many tymes hymnes and pfalmes and other orafouns haue they
and very longe/ And that that ye Latyns rede in the begyn-
nyng of theyr feruice that rede they in the mydle or in the
laRe ende. And that facrament of the auter breketh fome of
them in. vij. partes and fome in. x. partyes/ and thefe people
be very deuoute and they mareye but ones in tlieyr lyfe and as
the women hath loRe theyr fyrR hufbond fo dothe they meddle
no more with no man/ but abyde fro thenffourth in chaRyte.
Or. ij. caufes cometh the departynge of ye
cryRen nacyons. The fyrRe caufe is that
men in olde tyme myght the cryRen haue
only haue generall confilium/ Therfore
as the ketters Rode vp ayen the cryRen
belefe fo was there no body turned nor
faught counfayll there ayen. The other
caufe was the ferfwynmyngnes of ye oppreR pope of ye fchole
of Rome that no meffengere nor lerned Riulde to the kryRen
thow that were come in feche lodyng/ for had they do that
they Riulde haue be conuerted to the ryght belefe. ThorowRh
whiche ryght belefe brynge vs to the hygheR glorye the fader
the fone the holy ghoRe thre perfones and one god. Amen.
h
xxxii. \7'he fiyjl Englijh book containing the ivord America {^Armenica), &c.\
[An Abridgment of the Medieval Legend of Prester John].
[This third Tract has a very large initial letter I, containing what appears to be a representation of Prester John, and of a Roman Catholic monk or
pilgrim kneeling beneath him.]
Pope lohn by ye
grace of god the
moofle myghtylle
kynge a boue all
kyngys of ye
worlde gyue lal-
uyte the Emperour
of Rome, and alfo
thekingeofFrance.
Oure wel be-
louyd frynde We
late you vnder-
flande and knowe
of our lande And
the maner of oure lyuinge and of our people beefles and fowles.
C And you faye that we beleue not in god and praye not
to hym as you do. So late we you vnderftande that we be-
leue in god the father, in god the fonne. and in god the holy
goofle. The whyche be vnpartyble and one very god. and is
all thynge myghty.
And alfo certefye yow with oure lettres fealed and doo you
knowelege of oure folke or people and of our lande. And yf
there be ony thynge yat we kan doo for you. fende vs worde
and we fhall it doo with good herte and wyll. And yf it pleafe
ony of you to come in oure lande we fhall gyue theym gold
and fyluer to th[e]yr neceffitie/ and make them great lordis. and
gyue to them alfo lande and good[s] to lyue on. and do to [t]hem
worfhyp and honor. For the goodnes that we haue herde fay
of you. And we do you knowledge that we haue the richefle
crowne of the worlde as of golde and syluer and of precyous
Hones in great multitude And we haue alfo vnder vs mighty,
xlij. kingdomes and al good criflen people, and we kepe alfo
the poure people with our almes alle that cometh be it flrenger
or of oure owne people thorough the loue of almyghty god
oure lorde Ihefu Crifle.
fj Item Oure lande is parted in. iiij. For the landes of
Indien/ there be two. and in that grettefl Indien is the body
of feynt Thomas. And this fame Indien is partiner of ye code
of orient for it lyeth befyde a toure ye whych is caalled babel/
and it id [? is\ not ferre fro Babilonyen. And alfo that other
parte of Indien is aboute Septentryon. and there is great
plenty of wyne/ bredde and all maner of vytayle.
<[ Item alfo in our lande be gryffbns/ and it is a great byrde
and a myghty. for he wyll well cary in his nefle an oxe/ or an
horfe for his yonge byrdes to ete. Alfo in Saxen is a townc
whych is called Grounzwyk ther is one of the clawes yat which
is well as great as an horn of an oxe.
[Here comes, in the original, at the side of the page, a woodcut of an
elephant with a castle on its back.]
fl In our lande be olyphantes/ dromedaries/ wylde oxes
the whyche haue. vij. homes, alfo Beeres and Lyons of dyuers
colours/ as ye redd/ grene/ blacke/ and whitte
^ Item and also be wylde affes the whych haue longe eeres/
and haue twoo fmale homes. &c.
N our lande be alfo fowles ye whyche that
haue the mayflery of all birdes of the worlde/
and haue a colour lyke ye fyer/ and his
wingis kyt ^cuf\ lyke a rafour. and this byrdes
ben called Ilerion. and in alle the worlde is
no more than two. and they lyuen. iij. fkore
yere and thenne they laye eggis and fytte vpon theym. xl.
dayes and as fone as they haue yonges they flee awaye/ fader
and moder to the zee and ther they drowne theym felf. and
alle tho byrdes yat come ayenft them do them company to the
zee. and as fone as the[y] be drowned all the other byrdes
tourne ayen to the nefle there they yonge byrdes ben lefte/
and gyue them mete and drinke to the tyme that the[y] can
flee and nurter them felfe. &c.
f[ Yet ben there other byrdes the whyche ben called
Tygris/ and they be fo flronge that they wyll here or cary in
theyr nefle a man fytting vpon an horfe all armyd fro the hede
to ye fote.
\The Mediceval Legend of Prejler yohn?[
XXXlll
[Here, at the side of the page, is the representation of a naked man with
one eye in his forehead, and bearing a club. ]
C Item In our lande is alfo a grete deferte or forefl. theiin
dweleth people bothe men andwymmenthewhychehauenomore
than one eye afore, and behinde they haue. iij. or. iiij. eyen
C Yet is in oure lande an other maner of people the whiche
ete none other than rawe flefhe. and they care not yf it were
of man or woman or of beeflis and alfo the[y] care not of ther
owne deth. and as fone as there one of them dyeth the[y] ete
theym all rawe/ both there one [? owri\ fader or moeder. And
they faye yat mans fleyfhe is good and natur[a]ly to ete rawe/
for they faye that they doe it for parte of penaunce for there
fynnes. And they be alfo curfed of god/ and they be called
Gog and Magog And of them be no more than one maner
of people of this worlde and they (hall be dyflributed or parted
thorough all the world whan Antechryfl fliall come, and thefe
fame were the people or folke the whych they hadde put in
pryfone or in holde the great kynge Alexander of Macedonien.
But for all that he wente his way And of this people fhalbe
no iugement at the dredefuU day of dome lyke the prophete
fayeth. |[ Nefcio qtiis. &'C.
But neuertheles thonder and lytenynge (hall come fro heuen
and bourne theym all in po[w]der And whan that we haue
ony enemyes thanne gyue we theym lycence to put theym
downe and ete them that be ayenffe vs and then make we
them to toume ageyne into there owne lande. For if they
fliolde abyde longe with vs they fliuld vndo vs all and ete vs
lyke as they do there owne propre folke.
[Here, also at the side, is the pictorial representation of the creature
descriljed in the next paragraph.]
C And yet is there another manere of people/ the whyche
hath rownde fete lyke an horfe/ and alfo they haue. iiij. fharpe
clawes behynde/ at there Heles. Wherewith they (Irongely
fyght that there is no manere thyng can flonde ayenfte them/
nether harnayfe/ yrone/ nor flele they pafle all thorowth/ and
this people gyue vnto vs great trybute. and they be alfo with-
out dowte great labourers.
fl Yet is there a nother fmale lande in a parte of that fame
foreft. aforefayde/ and it is. xlij. [forty-two] dayes lourneyes longe.
And it is called Feminie the great And in that fame lande
there be thre Quenes without all other landes/ thowe that
holden there been of thefe quenes forcfayde And whan thefe
quenes ihall goo to felde/ then eche of them hath. iij. hondered.
M. [300,000] wynien and all in harneyfe/ with out all the
other women the whych that caray vytayle with carte horfe
and alfo with olyfauntes. And thefe women be very manly
in fytynge and hardy. C And in this fame lande may come
Edeh. 1
no men but. ix. dayes in the yere and no lenger/ and than
they haue conuerfacion and felyflhyp with the men and nomore
of the hole yere. For if the men there wolde abyde the
women fhulde them flee all.
C And this fame lande is clofed all aboute with a water
called Cyphon comynge out of paradyfe And in this fame
lande may come no man without a great (hyp or a great barke.
C Of the people named Pygnies.
[Here is a woodcut representing the battle of the Pigmies and the storks.]
Nd yet is there a nother fmale lande and alfo
another Ryuer called Pyconye that is. x.
dayes ioumeye longe/ and. vij. brode and
this people of this forfayde lande be not
great/ but they be lyke chyldren of. vij.
yere of age and they haue horfeys as great
as a great dogge and they be good cryRened folke and they
haue no warre ayenfle noman/ But they haue warre ayenftt
the fowles euery yere/ whan they fhall haue in there frute and
come And than the kynge putteth on his harneyfe. and than
they fyght ayenfle the byrdes. And than there be flayn on
bothe partyes many on/ and alfo they be great labourers/ and
whan the fylde is don than the byrdes flee a waye fro them.
[Here, at the side, is a circular woodcut of Sagittarius, evidently one
of the signs of the Zodiac taken from some illustrated almanac]
C Alfo in our lande been ye Sagittary. the whyche ben fro
the myddel vpward lyke men/ and fro ye myddell donwarde
ben they lyke the halfe neder parte of an horfe. and they bere
bowes and arowes. And the[y] (hute (Ironger than ony other
nacyon of people.
C And in our lande be alfo vnicomes and they been of the
tnanere with blacke and grene/ and thefe vnicomes (lee many
Lyons, and the Lyon fleeth the vnicome with fubtylnes.
Whan the Vnicome hath put hym to red at a tree/ and than
Cometh the Lyon and ronnyth aboute the tree and after hym
than ronnyth the vnycome and wolde fayne (ley hym/ and than
he ronnyth hym felfe into the tree with his home fo harde that
he cannot pull it out a geyne. than commeth the Lyon and
hath the maftery vpon the vnicome.
C Item there is a nother parte of a forell therin dwelleth
another maner of folke and this people ben. xx. Cubettes of
heythe. But they were in tyme pafte to be of the heytli of.
xl. Cubettes. And they haue nat the pore to come out of that
deferte or forefte and all i; thorowe the niyghte of almyghty
god. For if they (holde come out by there (Irength and
hardyneflfe lhe[y] wolde conquere all the worlde.
XXXI V \The firjl EngUJJt book containing the word Ameyica\Armenicd), &c^
[Here, at the side, is a curious cut representing the Phoenix burning.]
C Here begynnith of ye birde the whyche is called Fenix.
C In oure lande is alfo a byrde ye whyche is called Phenix
and is ye fayrefl byrde of all ye world and there is nomore
than one in all ye cours of nature, and he lyueth C. [loo] yere.
and thenne flyeth he fo hyghe that the fonne fett the fyre in his
wynges/ and thenne cometh he don ayen to his nefl and there
he burneth to p[o]udre and of the affhes comyth a worme/and
within. C [loo] dayes after growyth there out another byrde
as fayre as euer that other was.
C Item Alfo in our lande is plenty of wyne bredde/ flelhe.
All that is neceflary for mannys body
f[ Item In our lande maye come none venyn beetle on that
one fyde
C Item Betwene oure lande and the Turkes lande is a ryuer
ronnynge and is called Sydon it commeth out of paradyfe of
the erthe/ and is full of precyous flones.
fl And alfo in oure lande ben ronnynge many fmale riuers
the whyche that come out of this forfayde riuer. and they alfo
ben fulle of precyous flones. As Yfmaraddus lafpis Saphyrus
Scobaffus Dyamant Topafius/ Carbonkel. Rubin, and yet more
other they whyche I not all can reherce.
f[ Alfo in oure lande groweth on herbe and is called Par-
manabel/ and that fame herbe is fo myghty euer foo who that
fame herbe beryth a boute hym he may coniure the deuyll of
helle and do hym faye what fo euer he wyl axe of hym and
therfore the deuyll dare not come in to our lande.
Item alfo in our lande growith pepper in forellis full of
fnakes and other venym beefles. and whan it is rype than fende
we for our folke and they put that fyre ther in/ and than they
venym beeflys flee awaye. than we gadder it and carj-ed to
oure houfes and waffhed in two or. iij. waters/ and than we
drey it ayen/ and alfo it waxed black and good
f[ Item aboute this paflage is a fonteyne or a conduyte/ fo
who of this watere drinked. iij. tymes he fhall waxe yonge/
and alfo yf a man haue had a fykenes. xxx. yere and drynked
of thys fame water he fhall therof be hole and fonde. And
alfo as a man therof drinked hym femeth that he had occu-
pyed the belle mete and drinke of the worlde. and this fame
fonteyne is full of the grace of the holy goofl. and who fo we
in this fame water wafflied his body he fhall become yonge of.
XXX. yere.
And ye (hall knowe that I am haloweth in my moder wombe/
and I am old. v. C.lxij. [562] yere. and I haue me wefllied. vi.
tymes in that fame water.
[Here, at the side, is a woodcut of a flying griffon carrying a man.]
C Item In our lande is alfo a zee very peruulyous/ and
there can we haue noo paffage with noo maner of fliyppyng
and than do we vs cary there ouer with our gryffons.
C Item at that one fyde of this zee ronnyth a fmale r}'uere
and therin be many precyous flones. and alfo ther growyth a
certen herbe that is good to all maner of medycyne.
C Alfo ye fliall vnderflande that betwene vs and the lewes
ronnyth a great ryuer that is full of precyous flones and it is
fo flronge in here ronnyng yat noman ther ouer can paffe/
excepte ye faterdaye/ and than parted fhehere and toke with
here all that fhe fyndeth in here waye. And this fame lande
mofle we flrongely kepe for oure ennemyes. an[d] vp thefe
cofles haue we. xlij. [42] flronge caflels none flronger in ye
world, and ben well kepte of people. To vndeRande. x. M.
[10,000] knyghtes on horfbacke. vi. M. [6000] CrofTe bowes.
XV. M. [15,000] longe bowes. and. xl. M. [40,000] othere men
on horfbacke well armed, ye whyche thefe Caflels haue in
kyping by caufe that the great kynge of Ifrahel fhall not ther-
paffe with his people. For he is twyes as flronge as I am.
And his lande is twyes as grete as all Cryflente and turkey.
For he hath in his kepynge the feconde parte of the worlde.
And the great kynge of Ifrahel hath vnder hym iij.C [300]
kynges. iiij.M. [4000] princes, duces, erles. barons knyghtes/
fquyers without nombre. and all thefe be fubgette to the great
kynge of Ifrahel. But yf he myght paffe ouer this forfayde
ryuer with his people they fholde flee both cryflen and turkes.
And ye fhall knowe that we all faterdaye late paffe. viij. C. or.
M. [800 or a 1000] men for beye fuche manere good[s] or mar-
chaundyfe as they wyll haue. but we late them not come with
in ye wallis of thys caflels. for they bye it without ye walles
of thys fortreffes. and they paye ther marchaundyfes with
platis of fyluer or of gold for they haue none other money,
and whan they haue don ther befynes they tourne home ayen
in theyr owne lande. and thefe forfayde caflels be fete to gyder
within a bowe fhotte. And ye fhall vnderflande that within a
myle of thefe caflels is a great Cite and a fayre and it is the
flrongefl of all the worlde. the whyche cite is in our kepyng of
one of our kyngis. and he receyueth tribute of the great kyng
of Ifrahel. And alfo gyueth vs euery yere. ij. C. [200] horfes
laden with golde/ fyluer/ and precyous flones. Except alle
charges and cofles that men doth in the cyte and in thyfe
forefayde caflels. And whan that we haue warre ayenfl them/
than flee we them alle and late noman alyue. and therfore
they wyll kepe no warre ayenRe vs. and the wymmen of the
lewes be very fayre none fayrer in erth nowe a dayes lyuinge.
And by this foriayJe ryuer is a zee ther noman may paffe/ but
[ The Mediceval Legend of Prejier yohni\
XXXV
M-han the wynde blowythe fro benethe flrongely than parted fhe
here/ and tlianne the[y] paffe with great hail, and than they
take with hym all maner of precious flones. but they may
felle none therof [be]for[e] that wee haue taken therof our chofe.
C In a parte of our lande is an hylle there noman may
dwelle for hete of the fonne/ and there bee wormes many on
without fyre can not lyue. And by this fame hylle we kepe.
xl. M. [40,000] people that no thyngeells but make fyre/ and
whan this wormes feele the fyre than thei come oute of the
erthe and goo in too that fyre. and there they fpynne lyke the
wormes yat the fylke fpynneth And of that fame fpynnyng
we make our clot[h]ynge that we were on fefte dayes. and
whan they be foule/ than they be cafl in to ye fyer and they
becom as fayre as euer they were afore
And ye fhall vnderflande that faint Thomas doeth more
myracles/ than ony feynt in heuen For he comyth bod[i]ly
euery yere in his chirche and doth a fermon/ and alfo in a
palays there ye here after of hym fhall here.
[Here, at the side, is the representation of the creature described in the
next paragraph.]
£ And ye fhall alfo knowe that there be dyuers of people
of fafon in our lande/ alfo there be people that haue the body
of a man and the hede lyke a dogge and they be good takers
of fyffhe. and they be good to vnderflande of theyre fpeeche.
and they wyll goo in to the zee a hole daye longe to the tyme
that they haue taken fuche as they wolde haue/ and than ye
\t/icy] come ayen charged with fyffhe. and bere them in to ye
houfes for they haue there dwellinge places vnder erthe. and
thenne take we part of there fyffhes that vs befle lyketh. and
they do great harme among our bee thow yat be wylde. and
they fyghte alfo ayenfle our archers. &c.
C In oure londe is alfo one manere of byrdes and laye ther
eggis in the zee. xxi. and ther out growen yonge byrdes. and
than the[y] flee away and we take fomtyme of theym for they
bee good for to ete whan they be yonge For yf theyr were
ony man that hathe loft his nature and ete of this fame byrde
he fholl it gete ayen and becom as llronge as euer he was
afore.
[Here is a woodcut of a tree dropping oil, guarded by a dragon, as described
in the next paragraph.
C Alfo In our lande is that fame tree/ ther yat holy creften-
dom or olye [? oyle] out ronnith. and this tree is dreye/ and
ther is a great ferpent which yat tree hath in kepynge all the
hole yere nyght and daye but alone vp[on] feynt lohns daye
and night and than flepyth the ferpent or dragon, and than
goo we to the tree and take yat crifma. and of this fame is
nomore than iij. po[u]nd. and than toume we ayen fecretely
with great drede and fere yat he vs not fee/ for ells he wyll
flee vs. and this fame tree is a dayes iourney fro ye paradys of
ye erthe. but whan this ferpent is a waked than maked he
great mone and forow. and this dragon hath. ix. hedes and. ij.
wynges. and is as great as twoo horfes. But for all yat it
followeth vs ftylle tyl we ben come to the zee ayen. and than
tourned it ayen. and thenne bere we that crifma. to ye patriarch
of feynt thomas and he haloweth it/ and ther with they make
vs al cryften. and ye remenaunt fende we to ye patriarche of
Iherufalem. and he fende it forth to the Pope of rome. and he
puth therto olye tof lyfe [? oyle of lyfe\ and than halowyth it/
and then he fendeth all cryftente through
f[ Alfo ye (hall vnderftande whan we fhall goo towarre than
doo we afore vs bere with, xiiij. [14] kynges. xiiij. [14] cofers
with golde and fyluer really wroght with precious Hones, and
the other kynges come after vs with grete ftremers and baners
of fylke and fyndale very rychely wrought. Ye (hall knowe
alfo that afore vs gone. xl. M [40,000] clerkis and alfo many
knyghtis. and men afote there be ij. C. M. [200,000] without
cariers and cariers that go with the oljrphantes and cary our
barneys and vitales.
<[ Ye (hall vnderftande alfo as we goo to fylde than put we
oure lande in the kepyng of the Patriarche of feynt thomas.
And whan we pecefably ryde than do we bere afore vs a crofle
of wodde in worfhyp of oure lorde Ihefu Cryfte. Alfo in the
incomynge of euery cyte ftande. iij. croffes made of wodde/ for
to remembre ye paffion of oure lord Ihefu cryfte. And whan
we ryde pecefably than do we alfo bere afor vs a bafyn full of
erthe to remembre yat we be come of erthe and that we fliall
waxe erth ayen. and we do alfo bere for vs another bafyn full
of fyne gold to a token that we be the noblefte and myghtyeft
kyngis of all the worlde.
f[ There is alfo in our lande noman fo hardy that dare breke
his wedloke. but yf he dyde he fholde be incontynent be
burnyd. For our lorde hym felfe hath ordeyned wedlok ther-
fore it fhold be kept by reafon yf that we louyd oure lorde
Ihefu Cryfte. For it is one of the facramentes of the holy
chyrche.
f[ Alfo there dare noman make a lye in oure lande. for of
he dyde he fliolde incontynent bee fleyn and we be feythful in
oure faying and doying.
f[ Alfo ye fhall vnderftand that we euery yere goo vyfite
the holy body of the prophete danyel in oure foreft/ and we
take with vs. x M. [10,000] clerkis and as many knyghtys.
and. CC. [200] caftels. made vpon Olyphantes fore to kepe vs
from ye dragons ye whyche haue. vij. hedes. the whych that
haue theyr dwellynge in that foreft.
C And there bee alfo in that fame place dates ye winter
and fomer hange on the trees fayr and grene. And ye forefte
is great a. C. and xxx. [130] dayes journey, and ye. ij.
xxxvi \The firjt Englijh book containing the word America {Armenica), &c?^
patriarches ben before vs at table for they haue the myght of the
pope of rome. And we haue twyes as many abbotes in cure
lande as there be dayes in the yere. [and] xv. more And euerich
one of them cometh ones in ye yere and faythe maffe vpon
faint Thomas auter. And I my felf feye alfo maffe in the grete
feflis of ye yere. and ther for I am called pope lohn. For I
[am] prifle after the outfhewyng of facrificie of the auters. and
kinge after oiitfhewing of luflice. f[ And I pope lohn was
halowid afore T was borne, for oure lorde fende his angell to my
fader and fayde to hym make a pallays the whyche (hall be of
the grace of god and a chamber of that paradyfe for your fonne
comynge For hi fhall be the grettefl. kynge of the worlde. and
he Ihalle a longe tyme lyue. So who that in this pallays
comyth he fhall haue no hongre or thryfle. and he fhall not
deye and as fone as my fader was a wakyd he was very mery/
and incontynent he began to make thys pallays lyke ye fhall
here. At fyrfl of ye incomynge of thys pallays is made of
criflall and the couerynge of it is of precious flones and with
in realy wrought with flerres lyke yf it were ye heuen. and
that pauing is alfo of criflall and within this fame pallays
be none wyndowes. and within this fame pallays be.
xxiiij. [24] pyllers of fyne gold and of precyous flones of all
maner fortes, and ther am I at great fefle dayes of the yere
and feynt Thomas prechyth in middell of this pallays to the
people. And whithin this fame pallays is a conduyte or a fon-
teyne is lyke wyne in drynkynge/ fo who thereof drincketh he
defyred none other mete nor drinke and noman can telle fro
whens it cometh or whyther it gothe. Alfo ther is another
great merueyll in this fame pallays whan we fhall goo to our
dyner/ fo is there no maner of mete made redy for vs/ nor
there is no manner of inflrumentes to make mete redy with
all. but there comith before vs all maner of delycious mete
that comyth there thoroughe the holy goofL And it is
not wel pofTyble to wrytte all maner of goodnes they [haue]
whiche yat be in oure lande. And ye fhall vnderflande that
we wntte nothinge to you but trewe is. For if we fholde wryte
lyes to you/ god and feynt thomas fholde punyfihe vs/ for we
fholde lefe all our dignyte and oure worfhyp.
And we praye you that ye wyl writte vs ayen with the berer
of this lettre. and fende to vs ayen a good knyght of ye genera-
cyon of fraunce. ~"
And we praye the kynge of Fraunce that he wyll vs recom-
maunde to the myghty kyng of Englande. and alfo to all other
kynges the whyche yat dwelle be yonde the zee thow that ben
cryflened and we praye god that he you wyl gyue the grace of
the holy goofl Amen.
Written in oure holy pallays in the byrth of my felfe. v.
[five] hondred. and feuen.
ffimprentEtJb 6fi mc Iol)n of Botsborotot:
XXXV 11
The
Life and Labours
of
Richard Eden,
Scholar, and Man of Science.
p 1521]— 1576.
• Probable or approximate dates.
The best Life of our Author hitherto, is in Cooper's Alhetice Cantabrig'unses, ii., 2, Ed. i86t.
1526*-1534.'
15C9. Apr. 22. |l|cnrB Viii. tomes to tjc tf)vonc.
1521. * The year of our Author's birth has not yet been ascer-
tained, but it cannot be much later than 1521. He
would therefore be of nearly the same age as Sir
William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, who was bom on 13th September 1520.
He stated in 1573 {see under thai year) that 'he was of a respectable
family in Hertfordshire ; where he, in that year, had a sister still living.'
He is well educated as a boy. ' When I was a yonge
scoler, I haue read in the Poet Hesiodus.'^p. xli. col. 2.
Pietro Martire of Anghiera dies.
The printing of the Sumario de la natural y general
istoria de las Indias, written by Gonyalo Fernandez de
Oviedo y Valdes, is finished at Toledo.
Sir Thomas Smith lb. 28th March 1514 at Saffron
Walden], being then B.A., is elected Fellow of Queen's
College, Cambridge.
The printing of the Third edition of Pietro Martire's
Latin Decades is finished at Basle. It is undoubtedly
the text from which Eden translated //. 63-200 of
this present work.
Sir T. Smith is resident at Cambridge.
Vaunuccio Biringuccio's Pyroteclinia is first printed ;
at Venice.
Eden studies at Cambridge for ten years {see under
' 573)- What he states there, he confirms elsewhere, see
/. 1. col. I, ' that the ryght worfliypfull and of Angular
D
1526.
1526.
Feb.
1530.
Jan. 25.
1533.
Aug. 31.
1533-
1539.
1540.
1535-
1544.
leamynge in all fciences, Syr Thomas Smyth, in my tyme the floure of
the Vniuerfitie of Cambridge, and sometyme my tutor.' He does not, how-
ever, seem to have taken any degree, while up at the University.
1539-1541. Sir T. Smith is travelling abroad.
1542. A folio edition of Chaucer's works is published, re-
markable for being an early instance of joint enterprise
amongEnglish printers, 'each having his own name alone
as printer, in the colophon of so many copies as were his proper share.' —
Herbert's Typographical Antiquities, p. 557, Ed. 1785-90. The joint
partners in this edition were W. Bonham, F. Petit, R. Kele, and R. Toy.
1842-1547. Sir T. Smith is again resident at Cambridge. It
■was probably during this period, that he taught Eden :
who had, for his fellow pupils under Sir T. Smith,
Edward Vere, aftervvards the Earl of Oxford and a most exquisite poet;
and John Ponet, afterwards Bishop of Winchester.
1544-1546. Eden comes to Court, and holds a position in thi
Treasury, for about two years ; which is his first appoint-
ment in the Civil Service.
1545. Oct The First edition of Thomas Geminus' important
' Epitome of The Fabric of the Human Body, by A.
Vesalius,' is published in Latin in London, in folio size;
illustrated with remarkable engravings, 'all drawen out, and graven
in braffe, and fo impriented by my own labour.' The dedication to
Henry VIII. is dated London, 4 Kal. Oct. [28th September] 1545.
Geminus, in his next edition of 1553, states that King Henry very mnch
wished that this anatomical work should be widely published abroad : and
that he himself had subsequently heard that it had been ' notably well
XXXVlll
The Life and Labours of Richard Eden.
accepted, and hath doen muche good in Italye, Fraunce, Spaine, and
Germaine, and other foren parties. '
1547. Eden is destined to the office of the Distillery ; when
the King dies : see p. xlv.
1547. Jan. 28. Etjbiav'b Mf. succcE'ba to tlje Crotam.
1547. The Lord Protector, however, gives the Distillery to
one, who held it down to, at least, so late as 1573.
1547.* Eden marries; and has by his wife twelve children in
the next fourteen years : who all apparently grow up to
manhood ; else the argument and appeal then used by
him in 1573, would seem to be faulty.
1548. Sept. Master William Cecil, a;t. 28, is appointed Secretary
to the Lord Protector Somerset.
1549. Oct. 10. In the political revohition, occasioned by the advent
to power of the Earl of Warwick, afterwards the Duke
of Northumberland — to whom Eden, in 1553, dedicated
his Treatyfe of the newe /«rf/a^Master W. Cecil is
Nov. confined to his house (Oct. lo) ; and in November is
sent to the Tower ; from whence he is set free on the 25th
1550. Jan. 25. January following.
The First edition of Girolamo Cardano's work, De
Subtilitate, is printed at Nuremberg in folio. It was written in eight
months ; but under constant correction for thiee years before it appeared.
Eden thought very highly of it.
1550. May. The First edition, of the First Volume only, of Navi-
gationi e Via^gi [collected by J. B. Ramusio] is printed
at Venice. It was probably this First impression ; and
not the Second edition of the same Volume printed in March 1554, that
Eden made use of in his Compilation.
Sept. 5. Master W. Cecil is appointed one of the Secretaries
of State and a Privy Councillor.
1551. July 3. The sweating sickness, which had begun on isth
April at Shrewsbury, begins in London ; where 500
persons die in the first week. At this time, the first
English ship that ever went to Barbary, leaves Portsmouth ; under the
command of T. Windham (see /. xix).
Oct. 11. Sir W. Cecil is knighted.
1552. Spring. Eden writes thus, at p. 355, about the middle of 1555,
' And wheras as concemynge the knowleage of metals,
I was once mynded to haue trandated into Englyfhe
the hoole worke of Pyrotechnia, wherof I fynyfflied. xxii. chapitures now
more then three yeares fence, and lefte the copie therof in the handes of
one of whome I coulde neuer get it ageyne (omyttynge to fpeake of other
ingratitudes) I was therby difcouraged to proceade any further in that
woorke.' From this, it is evident that, by this time, Eden was a good
Italian scholar. His translation of the first three chapters will be found at
PP- 356-368.
1552. About this date, Eden was, I believe, acting as private
secretary to Sir W. Cecil. I have, however, lost the
reference to the authority for this.
1552. April 22. Sir W. Cecil is made Chancellor of the Order of the
Garter.
May 2 or 9. The second English voyage sets out for Barbary,
p. xix.
June 3. Girolamo Cardano, on his way from Italy, reaches
London ; and after a rest of three days, travels in
twenty-three days to Edinburgh: where he somewhat
successfully prescribes for Cardinal Beaton. After a
stay of seventy-five days there ; he leaves Edinburgh on
Sept. 12. 1 2th September, on his return towards Italy.
See further respecting this famous Italian magician or physician — this
considerable genius — this prolific author (he wrote in all 222 treatises, large
and small) — this most impudent liar and profligate liver, in Professor
Morley's Life of Jerome Cardan, 1856. It is quite possible that Eden saw
Cardano — whose works, he quotes as of the highest authority — while he
was staying in London.
1552. July 20. Geminus, in the Dedication prefixed to the Second
edition of his "Epitome of Vesalius' Anatomy &'c."
(with the explanations to the plates, greatly augmented and in English),
which is dated " At Windfore, the. xx. July 1552," (the engraved
title is, however, dated 1553) goes on to state, after what we have already
quoted above, under 1 545, as follows : — ' And now of late by the informa-
cion of fundiye frendes and alfo of diuerfe furgeons, I haue ben borne
in hande, that the fame worke beeyng fet foorth in the Englirti tounge
might greatly auaile to ye knowledge of the vnlatined Surgeons,
and by meane of them, fhould bee muche more beneficial!, then in latin
it is to an infinite nombre of people in thys your Maiedies Royalme of
Englande. Wherefore myndyng to rendre vnto this Countrey, in which
by your graces proteccion and bounteous liberalitie I Hue, as muche
fruite as my poore induftrie and continuall trauaile may pofiibly bee hable
to yelde, I haue earneflly applyed my felfe to make common and familiar
to all Englilhe people that which hath ben found profitable among fo
many foren nacions. Whereunto forafmuch as I am not my felfe fo
perfeict and experte in the Engliflie tonge that I dare warraunt or truft
myne owne dooynges, I haue vfed the ftudious pcines of Nicholas Vdall
[the author of Roister Doister, our earliest known English comedy] and
certain other learned men whofe exercife in trandaccions and pennyng in
this tounge hath ben (as I vnderflande) not without fome fruite to the
common weale.' Eden edited the next edition in 1559.
1552. Dec. 2. The printing of the first edition of Francisco Lopez de
Gomaia's Istoria de las Indias y conquiila de Mexico, is
finished at Saragossa.
1553. May 9. The date of the Ordinances &c. for the English fleet
going for the discovery of Cathay by the North-East ;
given by Sebastian Cabot, as ' Gouernour of the myfterie
and companie of the Marchants aduenturers for the difcouerie of Regions,
Dominions, Hands, and places vnknown;' who were not, however, incor-
porated by royal charter, until 6th February 1555 (i and 2 Philip and Mary).
For these Ordinances, see Hakluyt's Voyages, &'(., p. 259, ed. 1589.
1553. May 20. The first English fleet, consisting of the Bona Espe-
ranza, 120 tons. Captain Sir Hugh Willoughby, General
of the whole fleet ; the Edward Bonaventure, 160 tons.
Captain Richard Chancellor, Pilot Major, with Stephen Burrough (or as
Eden calls him at p. xli. col. 2, Steuen a Burrough), for Master ; and the
Bona Confidentia, 90 tons, Cornelius Deerfoorth, Master : leave RatclitT
on their voyage, and get as far as Deptford.
May 21. About 2 p.m. they leave Deptford. Then occurred
the scene thus vividly described to us by Clement
Adams : of which it is almost certain that Eden was
an eye-witness.
' The greater (hippes were towed downe with boates, and oares, and
the mariners being all apparelled in watchet or flvie coloured clothe,
rowed a maine, and made way with diligence. And being come neere to
Greeneivich (where the Court then laye) prefently vpon the newes thereof
the Courtiers came running out, and the common people flockt together,
Handing very thicke vpon the flioare : the priuie Counfell, they lookt out
at the windowes of the Court, and the reft ranne vp to the toppes of the
towers : the fliippes hereupon difcharge the Ordinance, and flioote off their
pieces after the maner of warre, and of the fea, infomuch that the tops of
the hilles founded therewith, the valleys, and the waters gaue an Eccho,
and the mariners they fliouted in fuch fort, that the flcie rang againe
with the noyfe thereof. One ftoode in the poope of the fliippe, and by
this gefture biddes farewell to his friends in the beft manner he coulde.
Another walkes vpon the hatches, another climbes the nirow[d]es, another
ftandes vpon the maine yarde, and another in the topjie of the fliippe.
To bee ftiort, it was a very triumphe (after a fort) in all refpects to the
beholders. But (alas) the good King Edwarde (in refpect of whome
principally all this was prepared) hee only by reafon of his fickneflie was
abfent from this fliewe, and not long after the departure of thefe fhips,
the lamentable and moft forowfull accident of his death followed.' —
Hakluyt, Voyages, p. 282, Ed. 1589.
May This voyage seems to have aroused a general interest
in cosmography. People began to think of the great
unknown world outside and beyond England. Some
one printed a tract or single sheet, entitled Of the new found lands, which
Eden derides at/. 5- This publication stirred him up to a rapid trans-
lation of a part of tlie Fifth book of Mucnster's colossal Cofmography.
The Life and Labours of Richard Eden.
XXXI X
June.* Thus appeared Richard Eden's first literary work,
(see title at /. 3), printed by Edward Sutton. He
dedicates it to John Dudley, Duke of Northumber-
land, the then all-powerful Protector. The Dedication is important
in relation to the controverted life of Sebastian Cabot. It is to be noticed
that in it Eden boasts of having already read the Decades. To this month
and year is therefore also to be assigned the composition of his address
'To the Reader' at //. 7-1 1 ; in which he so manfully strives to uproot
the general ignorance and timidity of his time.
1553. July 6. fSavp's rrign commtiutK.
1553. Aug. 12. The first English voyage to Guinea leaves Ports-
mouth, see p. 375.
Aug. 20. The printing of the second edition of Lopez de
Gomara's Historia is finished at Medina del Campo.
Aug. 22. John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland (to whom,
Eden had dedicated, within less than three months before,
his first work), is beheaded at the Tower ; with Sir T.
Gates, and Sir T. Palmer.
1554. Summer.* Richard Chancellor's ship, the Edward Bonaventure,
returns to England ; but is robl>ed on the way home, by
some Flemings. The crews of the other two .ships,
Spring.* under Sir Hugh Willoughby, to the number of seventy
persons, are frozen to death ; while wintering at Arzina fiord, for ' want
of experience to have made caues or stoues.' It appears from a will
found in one of the ships, that Sir Hugh Willoughby and most of his
company, were alive in January 1554.
1554. July 25. Queen Mary is married to Philip, Prince of Spain, at
Winchester. ' Shortly after King Philip and Queene
Mary remooued from Winchester to Basing, [and] from
Aug. 5. thence to Windsor, where, on the fifth of August, the
King was stalled in the noble order of the garter, where.he kept a great
feast, and at that time the Earle of Sussex was made knight of the garter.'
— Stcrw, p. 1057, Ed. 1600.
Aug. 17. ' The King and Quene remooued to Richmond, from
thence by water to Southwarke, accompanied with the
noble men and ladies, the King in one barge, the Queen
in another, and landed at the Bishop of Winchesters staires neere to S.
Maries Queries church, and so passed through that place and park into
Suffblke place, where they rested that night.' — Stmv, idem.
Aug. 18. 'And the next day, being the 18 of August, they rode
through Southwarke ouer the bridge, and so through
London, where they were with great prouision received of
the citizens, pageants in places accustomed, tlie crosse in Cheape new gilt,
&c., and passing througli Paules churchyard, a man came sliding, as it were
(lying upon a rope, from Paules steeple down tothe deans wall.' — Stna, idem.
As Eden tells us, at p. 46, intoxicated by the shows, the triumphs, and
universal acclamations that greeted the gorgeous royal procession through
the City, he was led first to debate within himself as to whether he could
by any original publication perpetuate to future Ages, not so much the
glorious reception, as its worthiness and significance : but thinking of
nothing sufiiciently worthy, he was led to consider the marvellous
discoveries, conquests, and empire of the Spanairds ; all of which bade
fair to become (should the royal pair have issue) the joint heritage of
England. Hence his great Compilation is distinctly the result of the
Marriage Procession of this day.
Within the following twelve months (working incessantly, and for
nothing), Eden translated or wrote all that is reprinled in this volume,
between //. 43 and 398. Inasmuch as the work was one of great bulk
(though, at the time, of national importance), several printers combined
together for its risk of its publication : while the printing of it was
wholly intrusted to William Powell. There are copies extant with the
colophons of Robert Toy, Richard Jugge, Edward .Sutton, and also, as
Herbert states at /. 738, William Seres, and perhaps others. These are
the "parteners" to whom Eden refers at/. 330. — See 1542 above.
Leonhardus Gorecius, a Polish knight, writes a congratulatory Latin
Oration to the people and nobles of England on the royal marriage, which
was printed by William Powell, who was also, at the same time, busily
engaged on Eden's Compilation. Eden refers to this Oration at/. 47.
1554. Oct. 2. 'There came to the Tower in twenty carts made for the
show, accompanied with certain Spaniards of the King's
Guard, ninety-seven little chests, of a yard long and four
inches broad, of silver, which will make by estimation fifty thousand
pounde' [equivalent to ^£^750,000 of the present day]: Harl. MS. 194
[which is a ' Pocket Diary of a resident in the Tower between July 1553
and October 1554'] reprinted by the Camden Society under the title of
The Chronicle of Queen Jane, 1850. John Foxe, in his Actes and Motmmentes,
iSfc., Ed. 1563, states that the silver was 'matted about with mats, and
mayled in little handles, about two feet long and almoft half a foot thick, and
in euery cart fixe of thofe bundles.' I presume this is what Eden refers
to at /. 56, as the l8,ooo pounds ' weyght of fyluer which was coyned
to the Kynges vfe in the towre of London where neuer fo much hath
byn feene at once as fuche as haue byn owlde officers in the mynte doo
affirme.' It was brought there from Peru and Rio de la Plata, by the
celebrated Spanish historian Augustin de Zarate ; whose Historia del
descuhrimiento y com/uista del Peru was published at Antwerp in the
next year.
It was probably after the formation of this acquaintanceship with Zarate,
and while his great Collection, here reprinted, (itself an honour to the
Spanish rmtion) was in the press ; that by the favour of certain Spanish
nobles, Eden obtained a place in the English Treasury of the Prince of
Spain.
1554. Oct. 11. The second expedition to Guinea leaves the River
Thames, see/. 379.
Oct. 12. The third edition of Gomara's Historia is finished at
Saragossa.
1554. Nov. 28. The Council of State announce by letter, at Dr. Ched-
sey's sermon at Paul's Cross, that the Queen is enceinte.
1554. Nov. 11. \ Parliament sits at Westminster.
1555. Jan. 16. ) Among other Acts passed by it, was the following
short one. now known as I & 2 Philip and Mary,
c. 6 — entulcd An Acte for renueng of three Eftatutes
made for the punijliement of Herefiei: — " For th[e]exchuing and
avoiding of Errouvs and Herefies which of late haue ryfen growen
and much encreafed within this Realme, for that th[e]ordinaries
haue wanted aucthoritee to procede agaynfte thos that were infected
therwithe : Be it therfore ordeined and enacted by th[e]aucthorite
of this prefente Parliament, That the Statute made in the fifthe yere of
the Reigne of King Richarde the Seconde, concerning th[e]arre(ling and
apprehencion of erronious and hereticall Preachers, And one other Statute
made in the feconde yere of the Reigne of King Henrye the Fourlhe
concerning the reprefling of Herefies and punifliment of Heretikes, And
alfo one other Eftatute made in the feconde yere of the Reigne of King
Henrye the Fiflhe, concerning the fuppreffion of Herefie and Lollardye,
and euery Article, Branche and Sentence contained in the fame three
feuerall Actes and every of them, fliall from the xxth day of lanuarj'e next
coming [1555] be revived and beiin full force ftrengthe and effecte to all
Intentes conftruccions and purpofes for ever." — Statutes of the Realm,
iv. 244, ed. 1819.
1555. Jan. 1. The date of John Elder's letter describing the mar-
riage of the King and Queen in the previous July ; which
letter was immediately printed.
Jan. 20. The burning of Protestants becomes lawful on and
after this day, by the above Act of Parliament.
Feb. 4. John Rogers, the first of the Marian martyrs, is burnt
at Smithficld.
Feb. 6. The Moscovy Company is incoriJorated by Royat
Charter: having for its Executive ; Sebastian Cabot,
Governor ; four Consuls ; and twenty-four Assistants.
Eden mast have watched the proceedings of this Company with the deepest
interest. Indeed, it is probable that the entire section, Of Moscovie and
Cathay (which has nothing whatever to do with the title-page or original
plan of his Compilation ; at which he must have been working hard, all
through this winter) was suggested by the return of Richard Chancellor
and the subsequent Incorporation of this Company ; and put forth by him,
as a goodwill ofiering towards their success and information.
1555. Feb. 8. Laurence Saunders is burnt at Coventry; and so the
legalized religious massacre goes on.
xl
The Life and Labours of Richard Eden.
May 21. Is the latest actual date in Eden's Compilation, and
therefore in the three Works here reprinted. It will
be found towards the bottom of /. 382. On this day
the English ships, returning on their way home from
Guinea, were in 39° 30' N. At their rate of progress
they could hardly have reached England before the end
July.* ofjuly.
Aug.* Therefore Section VII. of Eden's Compilation was
written and printed in August ; and, at the earliest,
his newly printed Compilation and the printing of the
entire book could hardly have been finished before
Sept.* September.
Immediately after which ; Thomas Watson, Bishop of
Lincoln,— the fellow-student of Roger Aschxun ; by
whom his Latin play of Absalom [? if the MS. is
now at Wilton House] is exceedingly praised in his Schoolmaster, 1570
— accuses Eden before Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, for heresy ; of
which his newly printed Compilation would afford ample evidence.
Oct. 24. Bishop Gardiner, however, dies ; and Eden somehow
escapes punishment, with simply the loss of his ofSce :
and then seems, for the next three years to be living in
retirement ; his family steadily increasing all the while.
1556. Jan. 10. The printing of Martin Cortes' Breve compendw de la
sphera y de la arte de nauegar is finished at Seville.
Nov. 7. Richard Chancellor, in the wreck of his ship the Philip
and Mary in Pettislego Bay, Scotland, is drowned — while
endeavouring in a boat to save the Russian Ambas-
sador's life ; in accomplishing which, he loses his own.
1557. Feb. 27-28. Eden probably witnessed the splendid reception
by the Moscovy Company, of Osep Gregorevitch
Napea, the first Russian Ambassador, on his arrival
in London, for the frods verbal of which, see Hakluyt, Voyages, &'c.,
p. 321, Ed. 1589. From the omission in this notarial document of all
allusion to Sebastian Cabot ; it is evident that he was but recently dead.
For Eden's account of his death — the only one extant — see/, xlvii., col. 2.
It probably occurred about this date : for when Eden, about the Summer
of 155s, wrote the heading at p. 283, ' that woorthy owlde man Sebaflian
Cabote, yet liuynge in Englande,' was still 'Gouernour of the coompany
of the marchantes of Cathay.'
1558. Nov. 17. iEli)a%ct!) Burcrrlis to tfjc tljvonf.
We now come to the two earliest printed notices of Eden. His reputa-
tion had travelled over the Continent to the English Protestant exiles
in Switzerland ; and two of them thus vaguely and incorrectly refer to his
literary labours, but give him the wrong Christian name.
1558. Lawrence Humphrey (who died Dean of Winchester,
on I Feb. 1590), in his three books of Interpretatio
linguarum, the Dedication of which is dated, Basiliae,
Feb. 3, 1559, thus refers to our Editor-Author, at/. 520. ' Petrum quoque
Martyrem Arglerienscm Joannes Eden, Cosmographus et Alchumista uertit
De insulis nuper invent is. '
1558. Ep. Bale, at/. 1 10 of his Supplement (written in 1558),
to his Scriptorium illustrium, &■(. the printing of which
was finished in Feb. 1559, 's a little more explicit ; but
still follows Humphrey closely. "Johannes Eden, Cosmographus et
alchumista ut k quibusdam [i.e. L. Humphrey] narratur, ingeniosus ac
peritissimus, inter alia scripsit £>e nauigaiionibus Portugalensium, Lib. I.
[This is evidently Eden's first publication. Of the newe Indta."] Transtulit
Petrum Martyrem Angleriensem. De insulis nuper imunlis. Lib. I. [or
rather the Decades'], Aliaque fecit multa. Clariut anno Domini. 1556."
1559. Sept. The printingof the Third editionofGeminus'^n<j/(;//y,
iSr'c., ' enlarged, amplified, and fo corrected and diligently
perufed, that it maye seeme a newe worke, and rather an
other than it was before,' is finished. Richard Eden is, this time, the English
reviser ; and the fresh Dedication to the new Queen Is evidently written by
him for Geminus, as its smooth connected style abundantly demonstrates.
1561. Eden's next literary work seems to have been the
translation (and probably also, in part, the devising of
the numerous, and, for that time, difficult woodcuts of
this work of Martin Cortes' Arte de Navigar, at the expense of certain
members of the Moscovy Company : towards which, Eden appears, at this
time, to have stood in the same relation as Hakluyt did, fifty years later, to
our East India Company. This work is remarkable not only for the num-
ber of the wood engravings (some of them moveable) of different mathe-
matical instruments ; but also for a small outline map of The Ninue IVorlde,
or more properly of the North Atlantic basin. This is probably the
earliest printed map of America ever produced in England : and is
evidently copied from the original in Cortes' Compendio.
To this translation, Eden prefixed the following excellent Preface :
in respect to which, it is significant to notice that Sebastian Cabot's name
is omitted from the inscription.
To the ryght worjhypfull fyr VVyllyam Garrerd Knyght, and
Majltr Thomas Lodge, Aldermen of the Cilie of London, and
Couernours of the honorable felmo/hyp or focietie, afwell ofcerteine
of tlu Nobilitie, as of Marchauntes aduenturers,for the difcouery
of La/tdes, Territories, Ilandes, and Seignories vnknowen, and not
before their firfl aduenture or enterprife by Seas or Nauigalions
commonly frequented :
And to the right -worfhypfuU the Confulles, Affflentes, and com-
minaltie of the fame focietie, Richarde Edett wyf/heth health and
profperitie.
Hat foeuer he was (ryght honorable and worfhypfuU) that
fyrfte beleued that the frame and coaptacion of the bodye
of man, with the functions, offices, and duities of the partes
and members of the fame, knytte together in a certen
vnitie to a common minlftration, dyd reprefent a lyuely
Image and fimilitude of a ];erfecte common wealth : I thynke that he was
a man of no vulgare iudgement or abiecte mynde, but rather of finguler
wyfdome and prudence in the contemplacion of Diuine and humane
thynges. For he fawe, that as in the fmall natiue feede of all growyng or
lyuing thinges, is conteyned the fourme that bryngeth them to theyr
perfection : fo in certeyne fmall and obfcure members of the common
wealth, confifteth no fmall increafe to the perfection of the whole.
He fawe lykewyfe that herein, as in the bodye of man reprefentyng
the partes and members of the worlde (as I haue fayde) are dyuers partes
of dyuers and fundrye actions and motions, greatly dyfferyng in fourme,
number, and quantitie, yet all the fame to be fo knytte together, and fo
to confent in one vniformitle to the common profyte of the whole,
that a greater Concorde and harmonye can not be imagined, then is
proportioned by the frendly vnitie of dyuers and contrarye. He fawe lyke-
\vyfe in the fame, fuch a mutuall compaffion of parte to parte, and member
to member, by one common fence exiftent in them all, that no one part or
member can feele eyther ioye or payne, but that in maner all the other
are parttakers therof more or leffe, yf they be lyuely members, and not
wythered or otherwyfe vnfenfate by reafon of dead flefhe, which onely
by cuttyng and burning ought to be deuyded from the founde and
whole. But as in man (whom Plato calleth the leffe world) the
vigour and agilitie of the immortall foule and mynde, neuer ceaffeth
from continuall mouyng, but is euer exercyfed in excogitacions and inuen-
tions of great thinges (herein refemblyng God, whofe caracte it beareth)
by prouidence forefeing, and by intelligence vnderftandyng and deuyfyng
what is to be done, and what to be efchewed, Joth immediatly moue and
rayfe vp the faculties, powres, and members of the body to execute the
fame : Euen fo in the greater worlde, the prouidence of God, and vniuerf-
all counfayle and confent of men, hath elected and appoynted certen prin-
cipall men, to beare lyke rule and auctorllie in the bodye of the common
wealth, as hath the intellecliue foule in the members of our bodye to moue
and commaunde the fame. To Princes therefore counfaylours, rulers,
gouemours and maglftrates, as to the mod intellectiue and fenfitiue partes
of the focietie of men, hath God and nature geuen preeminence and gouem-
aunce of the common wealth, that by theyr prouidence, wyfdome, and ayde,
it may vniuerfally florylh, not onely by iufte adminiftration of good lawes,
with due correction of malefactours, but alfo by lyberall rewardyng of
fuche as haue well deferued : and efpecially by maintenaunce of fuche artes
and fciences, as the common wealth can not well be without. And to
draw nearer to the applyinge of my fimilitude : I faye, that whatfoeuer
vertue, whatfoeuer arte, or the ingenious induftry of men hath to this day
I inuented, all the Came is to be imputed to the beneuolence and liberalitie
The Life and Labours of Richard Eden.
xli
of fuche as haue honourablye maintayned and freelye rewarded the trauay-
les, paynes, and charges of them that haue fpente theyr lyues, goodes, and
wyttes (as many haue done) in the inuentions of neceffarye and profytable
artes and fciences. For euen as holfome and temperate ayre with feafon-
able wether and fauorable influence of the heauens and pianettes, caufeth
fruitefulnes on the earth, and contrary wyfe, barenneffe by thecontrarye : Euen
fo the fauour of Princes and Magiftrates norytheth, augmenteth, and amp-
lyfyeth all artes and fciences by liberalitie, and extynguylheth the fame
by miferable couetoufnes and parcimonie. And althoughe in fome men of
rare and noljle nature, the defyre of honour and fame onely for vertues
fake, and ftudy toward theyr countrye and common wealth, hath moued
them in maner to theyr owne vndoyng through theyr greate loffe and
hynderaunce, to fette foorth and inuent diuers thynges for the commoditie
of the common wealth and other, rather then for theyr owne : yet vndoubt-
edly, who fo wel confidereth and indifferently wayeth that I haue fayde,
fhal fynde and fee by daylye experience, that in maner onely munificence,
liberalitie, and rewarde, or the hope thereof, geueth fpurres to them that
attempte great and vertuous enterprifes, as I coulde more largely proue by
fo many teftimonies of Hyftories, both holy and prophane, that the rehear-
fall therof fhoulde be but tedious and not greatelye necefiarye for my
purpofe, efpecially wrytyng vnto your honoures and worihyps, of whofe
munificence and li1)eralitie, I haue had great experience, bothe in my felfe
and others, who by your ayde and mainteynaunce haue attempted and per-
fourmed many goodly inuentions, viages, nauigations and difcoueries of
landes and Seas heretofore vnknowen. Wherein, what great charges you
haue fufleyned, and howe lyberall and conflant you haue ben in furtherynge
the fame, doth well declare that hyther to you are rather lofers than gayners
therby. The whiche thyng doubtelelTe is the more to your commendation,
in that it maye hereby appeare that you haue attempted the fame rather
for knowledge and vertues fake, then for couetoufnes of gaynes : as is
furthermore well knowen by your fyrfle viages of difcouerye attempted to
Cathaye by the Northeafl feas, vpon certen loffe and detriment, for vncer-
teyne hope eyther of gaynes, or of any fuch way to be founde, otherwyfe
then by certen lykely coniectures : not much vnlyke to the (hynyng flowres
• of Marchafites, which outwardly appearyng in minerall mountaynes, are
fignes and token wherby is coniectured what metal is conteyned therein,
and whether the fame is to be folowed or not. And although it fometyme
fo chaance that fuch fignes are fayleable, ihewyng more in appearaunce
then they conteyne in fubflaunce : yet are not fuch fignes tokens, or (hewes
to be contemned, but rather eameftly to be folowed, forafmuch as it hath
ben often proued and founde by experience, that by folowyng the fame,
haue ben founde great and riche mynes of metalles : as Ceorgius Agricola
in his bookes De rebus melallicis, doth largely declare and proue by manye
examples. But to wryte at large what greate thynges haue proccaded of
fmall and obfcure begynninges, and in maner mere coniectures : it woulde
fo farre exceade the meafure of an Epiftle or Preface, that it woulde rather
increafe to the iuft quantitie of a booke. For in maner all the late dif-
coueries both of the Spanyardes and Portugales, had theyr begynnyng of
fuch fmall coniectures, with vncerteyne hope (as it were prefer fpem fub fpe)
vntyll God and good happe, by the conflant trauayle and valiaunt mynde
of fuch as fyrfl attempted the fame, gaue them to enioye that they hoped
for. But whatfoeucr they haue obteyned and do enioy, this may I boldly
fay in your behalf (right honorable and worfltipfull) that there hath not
lacked in you eyther the lyke or greater promptnefle of mynde, forwardnes
in attemptyng, magnificence in expences, and liberall in rewardes. For
befyde the great charges and loffes that you haue ben at otherwyfe, what
ihould I fpeake of the great gyftes that you haue fente to the Emperour of
Ruflia? What of your laft chargeable vyage of difcouerye among the
innumerable Rockes, Ilandes, and moueable mountaynes of Ice in the
frofen fea, by innumerable landes and Ilandes vnknowen to the Antiques,
euen vnder and farre within and beyonde the circle Artike, where they
thought that no lyuynge creature coulde drawe breath or Hue for extreme
colde : wheras neuerthelefle the fame hath ben by you difcouered euen vnto
the myghtyc ryuer of Ob, that falleth into the Scithian Ocean, or Oceanus
Hyperborcm, not farr from the mountaynes called Hyperborei, fo named
becaufe they are fituate almofl vnder the North pole, and thought therfore
to be inaccelfable. A vyage doubtlefle of fuch difficultie and in maner
impoffibilitie, that confyderyng the infinite daungiours therof (as I haue
learned by th[c]information of Steuen a Burrough, that was then the chiefe
Pilote of the fame vyage) it may feme impoffible that they (lioulde euer
haue efcaped, excepte the myghtye hande of God, by the experte Ikylful-
neffe of fo excellent a Pilot, had delyuered them from thofe daungers.
And although in dede (as religion byndeth vs) it is conuenient in all
thynges to geue all honour, glorye and thankes to God, yet are we not
thereby reftrayned to be thankfuU to fuch men, as by theyr arte, ingeniouf-
nes, trauayle, and diligence, haue deferued both iufte commendation and
large rewarde. And therfore referryng the rewarde to you (ryght honorable
and worlhypfull, to whom it apperteyneth) yf I Ihould not here geue hym
at the leafte fuche commendation, as in my iudgement he hath well deferued,
I myght feme both to defraude hym of his worthye defertes, and alfo to
forgette the frendffiyp and good wyll I beare hym, onely for his vertues
and excellencie in his profeffion. For certeynly when I confider how
indigent and deftitute this Realm is of excellent and expert Pilottes, I can
do no leffe of confcience, then in refpect of your owne commoditie, yea
rather for the commoditie of the Queenes Maieftie and the whole Realme,
to exhort you and put you in remembraunce (although I may herein feme
to put the fpurres to a nmnyng horfe, as faith the Prouerbe) fo to regard
hym and efleme hym and his faythfuU, true, and painefull feruice towarde
you, that he maye thereby be further encouraged, and not difcouragefl,
eyther for lacke of maintenaunce, or other wyfe by the iniurious affaultes
of fuch his enemies, as onely his vertues and excellencie haue moued to
beare hym difpleafure, as enuye doth euer folowe vertue, as faith the
Latine Prouerbe, Virtuti comes inuidia. And howe true a fentence this is,
is well verified by the faying of a certayne Philofopher (whofe name I do
not remember) who hearynge one vaynely reioyce that he had no enemies,
aunfwered that that was a token he hadde done lyttle good : Meanyng
thereby (as dayly experience proueth) that yf he had excelled in any vertue,
he coulde not haue lacked fome enemies. And hauyng here touched to
fpeake of enuye, I remember that when I was a yonge fcoler, I haue read
in the Poet Hefiodus of two kyndes of enuye, whereof the one is called
Inuidia, and the other Aemulatio, which is more tollerable then the fyrfte,
for that it is ioyned with fome vertue, and enuyeth that anye (houlde excell
hym in any excellent qualitie that he profelTeth. But forafmuch as this
enuy of emulation proceadeth of fome finguler vertue of them that are fo
maliced, they maye herein reioyce, that they (hall euer haue a hundreth
frendes for one enemie : yea and although they hadde none, yet is vertue
a rewarde to it felfe, and to be embrafed for it felfe onelye, as the Philo-
fophers affirme. What then (hall we fay to fuch, as forgettyng this rewarde
of vertue, do not onely [not] fauour, but rather hynder the preferment and
mayntenaunce of fuch experte men, more edemyng certayne Fydiermen
that go a trawlyng for fy(he in Catches or mongers, and dradgies for Oyftere
about the fandes, betwene the South furlande and Wyntcrton neflfe, and the
fandes about Temmes mouth, then they do fuche excellent Pylotes as are
able without any Rutter or Carde of Nauigation, not onlye to attempte
longe and farre viages, but alfo to difcouer vnknowen landes and Ilandes,
as haue doone of late yeares many excellent men, to the great honour and
enrychyng of their Prynce and countrye. But as touching Steuen A Bur-
rough, the chiefe Pylote of your viagies of difcouery, it may hereby well
appeare yat he is neyther malicious nor enuious of his arte and fcience, in
that he defireth ye fame for the common profite to be commen to al men :
And for the fame intent was the fyrfl that moued certen worfliypfull of your
company, as Syr William Garrerd, Maifter William Mericke, Maifter Blafe
Sanders, and Maifter Edwarde Caftlen, to haue this worke trandated into
the Englilh tongue. Who of their own good nature fauouryng al vertuous
ftudies and the profefiburs of the fame, did fone incline to his honeft requeft
herein : and therewith not only defired me, but alfo with liberall rewarde
enterteined me, to take in hande the trandation. Whiche being nowe
finiflied as well as my poore leamyng may perfourme, I defyre your honours
and worlhyppes, to accepte in as good parte as I haue ment herein to
gratifie you, and doe fuche feruice as my abilitie may fuffice. Nowe ther-
fore this worke of the art of Nauigation, beyng publyfiied in our vulgar
tongue, you may be affured to haue more ftore of (kylful Pilotes. Pilotes
(I faie) not Pirottes, Rulers, not Rouers, but fuche as by their honeft
behauour and conditions ioyned with arte and experience, may doe you
honeft and true feruice : whiche is not to be looked for of fuche as beynge
deftitute as well of the feare of God as of all moral vertues, fuperbounde in
all notorious vyces, accoumpting defperatnelfe for boklneffe, raflinelTe for
hardinede, impudencie for ftoutnefie, and crueltie for nianhod. What other
xU
xlii
The Life and Labours of Richard Eden.
thyng (I faye) is to bee looked for of fuche, then of fuche trees fuch fruites,
E,t mali corui malum ouum. But for as muche as thefe haue no place
appointed them in the bodie of our common wealth, whiche we haue here
before compared to the members of the bodie of man : therefore are they
no otherwyfe to be eftemed then as excrementes of the bodye, to whom
nature hath appointed no place in the fame, but laboureth continuallye to
cad them forth dyuers wayes, leafte by theyr filthyneffe they (hould infecte
the other members, euen as the pompe of the (hyppe if it be not auoyded,
is noyous to the fhippe and all that are therein. But the wyfe and honed
Pylot, fyrft hauyng before his eyes the feare of God, and puttynjj his chief
truft in hym, (hall fecondarely truft to his arte and fcience, without any
fuche vayne obferuations as the fuperftitious Horofcopers (Aftrologiers I
meane, and not Aftronomers) are accuftomed to vfe in the elections of
houres, tymes, and dayes, by conftellations and afpectes of the Starres and
Planetes, as many fonde menne haue doone, thynkynge thereby to haue
efcaped fuche daungers, as they haue thereby the rather fallen into, throughe
contempte of arte and fcience by folyflie confidence in fuperftitious Aftro-
logie : which for the vanitie and vncertaintie thereof, the ryght wordiyp-
full and of fmgular leamynge in all fciences, Syr Thomas Smyth, in my
tyme the floure of the Vniuerfitie of Cambridge, and fometyme my Tutor,
was accuftomed to call In^enioJiJ/imam artem mentiendi. (That is) the mofte
ingenious arte of lyinge. Omitting therefore the fuperftitious and phanta-
fticall obferuations of the iudicials of Aftrologie, it (halbe better and more
neceffary for all Pylotes that defyre to excelle in theyr profeflTion, to leame
and obferue the principles of thys booke, whereby they may haue fuche
knowledge of the Sphere, as may inftructe them the makynge and vfe of
dyuers goodly Aftronomicall inftrumentes perteyninge to the arte of Naui-
gation, by knowledge of the mouynges of the Sunne and Moone in their
Spheres, and the other Planetes and fixte Starres : thereby to attayne to
the true knowledge of houres, tymes and tydes, with the variation of the
Compafle, and many other goodly naturall obferuations of weathers,
tempeftes, and calmes, by certain infaileable fygnes and tokens of the fame,
very neceffary to be obferued. And this by the true principles ofAftro-
nomie and not of Aftrologie. And this is the true Aftronomie wherof
the Diuine Philofopher Plato hathe wrytten fo diuine a fentcnce, that
I haue thoughte the fame here worthy to be alleaged, that by the auctho-
ritie of fo famous an aucthour, we maye knowe what is true Aftronomie,
with the vfe and commoditie therof. Therfore in his booke intituled
Timeus vel De Nutura, thefe are his wordes. Rerum autem optimarum
cognitioncm, nobis oculi attiikiunt. Nam hac qua: de mundo difpuiantur,
nuiujuam inucnta fuijfent, fi ueque fydira, ncque Sol, neque Calum fuffici
potuijfct. Coipt'Uio vero did ac noctis, ab oculis orta, fecit vt dimenftone quadem,
me7ifium annorumque ambitus metiremur, iempus cogitofcerepnus, ac vniuerftc
natura: ordinan fcrutaremur. Quibus ex rebus, philofophiam adefti fumus.
Tliat is to faye. Our eyes haue brought vnto vs the knowledge of mofte
excellent thinges. For what fo euer is difputed of the worlde, had neuer
bene inuented, yf neither the Starres, neither the Sunne, neither heauen,
coulde haue bene feene. For the knowledge of the daye and nyght,
taksTig beginning at ye eyes, caufed vs as it were by certen limites and
boundes to meafure the circuites of monethes and yeares, wherby we came
to the knowledge of tymes and the order of vniuerfall nature. And hereby
alfo we obteyned the knowledge of Philofophie. &c. And thus by the
aucthoritie of Diuine Plato (whome for hys excellencie Cicero called Deuni
Philofophorum (that is) the God of Philofophers) we maye vnderftande that
the true Aftronomie, is the perfecte knowledge of the miraculous mouinges
of ye Planetes, Starres, and heauens (and efpecially of the Sunne and
Moone) whereby is caufed the varietie of times and dyuerfitie of all natu-
rall thynges, by naturall caufes : as by the qualities of Elementes, as hoate,
colde, moyfte and drye, whyche are augmented or dymynyftied by the more
or lefle influence of thefe twoo Luminaries, as they comme nearer vnto vs
at fome tymes, or depart further from vs at other tymes, with diuers motions
in diuers climates whiche caufeth not onely varietie of tymes in fundry
climates, but alfo the varietie of diuers complexions, formes, and difpofi-
tions of all creatures vnder the face of heauen, none other accidentall con-
tyngent, voluntarie or violent caufe to the contrarie notwithftandinge.
And this is it that Plato meaneth by thofe wordes. Vt iempus cognofceremus
ac vniuerj'a naturce ordincm, S^c. That is, to knowe the tymes and vniuer-
fall order of nature. And doubtleffe, who fo well confidereth the maruei-
lous effcctes that are caufed, efpecially by the variable mouing of the Sunne
in the Zodiac, muft needes acknowledge it to be the chiefe inftrument and
meane that God vfeth in the generation, perferuation, and alteration of all
creatures that are conteyned in the worlde of generation and corruption.
And for this confideration, certen of the auncient Philofophers called it the
foule of the worlde : Other the eye, and other alfo the heart of the worlde.
Plato alfo affirmeth that the foule of the worlde is in the Sunne : And that
all other lining thynges, receyue lyfe from hence. And hereof commeth
the fayinge of the Philofopher, Sol et homo generant hominem : (that is) the
Sunne and man, begette man. And therefore (as wryteth Marcilius
Ficinus) of all Idolaters they are moft toUerable that honour the Sunne for
God. The whiche although it bee not, yet vndoubtedlye are his eflectes
fo greate and wonderfuU in this inferiour worlde, that it may feme in maner
to be Gods Viceregent, Lieftenant and Viceroy in al the woorkes of nature,
excepte where and when it pleafeth hym in any thyng myraculouflye,
otherwyfe then by the common order and courfe of nature, to commaunde
the contrarie.
And yf it may not be tedious vnto you (ryght honorable and worftiypfull)
it (halbe a pleafure vnto me, for the better declaracion hereof, to make a
briefe difcourfe of the marueilous and ftraunge elTectes that are caufed by
the Sunne : whiche perhappes fewe haue done, otherwyfe then difpearfedlj
here and there, as occafion hath ferued. Fyrft therfore let vs confider whit
it hath done ouer the Equinoctiall line, and vnder both the poles at one
inftant, yet diuerfely and contrarely the one to the other. Yox fo hath the
infinite wyfedome of the greate God of nature, the fupreme Architecture of
the vniuerfall worlde, difpofed all thynges in fuch perfecte order, that to
them that are vnder the Equinoctiall, and haue theyr Horizon palTyng by
the two Poles, the daye is of xii. houres and the nyght as much, and theyr
yeare alfo is deuyded into. xii. monethes : But they that dwell iuft and
perpendiculerly vnder our pole, and that haue their Horizon paflfyng ouer
the fayde line, haue the daye of fyxe monethes. That is to faye : begyn-
nyng from the tenth daye of Marche, when the Sunne commeth ouer the
fayde Horizon, whyle it retume to palTe vnder the fame at the tenth of
September. And contrarywyfe one nyght of fyxe monethes haue th[e]
inhabitauntes vnder the Pole Antartyke : whofe yeare (that is to faye, all
the courfe that the Sunne maketh by the. xii. fignes of the Zodiac) is
accomplyfflied in one daye and one nyght. A thyng doubtlelTe mofte
wonderfuU and marueylous. I.ykewyfe, when we haue Somraer, they that
are vnder our Pole haue the daye of fyxe monethes, and they of the
oppofite or contrary Pole, haue theyr nyght of the fame length. Agayne,
when it is wynter with vs, then vnder our Pole is the nyght of the fayde
fyxe monethes : and vnder the oppofite Pole, is the day of the fame length.
So that as it were courfe by courfe, when we haue the night, they haue
the day : And contrarywyfe, when we haue the day, they haue the night.
The which although it be fo longe and of fo great fpace of tyme, yet is it
not continuallye obfcured with darkeneffe. For the Sunne maketh his
courfe in fuch order, that th[e]inhabitauntes of that parte, lyue not durynge
that tyme altogether in darkenelTes, as Moles lyue vnder the grounde, but
as other creatures that lyue vpon the globe and face of the earth, they h.aue
fuche lyght as maye fuffice to fuftayne and mayntayne theyr lyfe. For the
bodye of the Sunne declineth no more eyther beneath the Equinoctiall line,
eyther aboue the fame line (which is the Horizon to both the Poles) than.
23. degrees : That is to faye, no lower or hygher then the Tropikes, whiche
are no more then 23. degrees or there about from the fayde Equinoctiall
that is theyr Horizon, as is aforefayde. And yet in thefe 23. degrees he
maketh not his courfe by the oppofite Diameter, but goeth continually
rounde. about in circuite : fo that his beames reuerberatyng heauen, n-pre-
fente fuche a maner of lyght, as we haue in Sommer two houres before the
Sunne ryfe. And this example which we haue taken of the diuerfitie of
the Horizons of the Equinoctiall and vnder the two Poles, is to demonftrate
the marueylous efliecte that the Sunne maketh departyng (from the. xii.
houres of the Equinoctiall (that is to fay, from Anes to Libra) and commyng
by lyttle and lyttle, illuminatyng the globe of the earth, and fo reduceyng the
yere of. xii. monethes, into one onely day and one nyght, as is fayde before.
Vnder the infinite varietie of the which courfe, fometyme with long daycs
and fometyme with (horte, all the inhabitauntes of the worlde are (ourmctl
and difpofed of fuche complexion and ftrength of body, that euery of them
are proportionate to the Climate alTigned vnto them, be it hotte or ciJde :
And maydwel and abyde there, as in theyr natural place and temperament,
not lamentyng or defyiyng to dwell elfwhere, fo grete a loue refteih in
The Life and Labours of Richard Eden.
xliii
them to their natiue fituation. But not to departe from the vyage whiche
the Sunne maketh in one whole yeare, as fometyme approchyng neare vnto
vs, and fometyme departyng from vs. I faye that at one felfe fame tyme
in dyuers partes vpon the rounde globe of the earth, it caufeth the Spryng,
Sommer, Autumne, and Wynter. And neuerthelefle at the fame inftant
and punct of time it maketh day and high noone in one place, and nyght and
mydnyght on the oppofite part. The which varietie although it appeare
incomprehenfible to the flendemelTe of our wyttes, yet beholdynge the fame
with the eyes of vnderftandyng, and therwith confideryng the vneftimable
mouyng that the Sunne maketh continually, we fliall fynde it to be true,
hauyng refpecte to the dyuers fituations of the earth, as it is continuallye
illuminate more or leffe by the Sunne. And this varietie is made with fuch
a I larmonye and confonancie, and fuch a lawe perpetuall and immutable,
that yf any poynt or pricke therof (lioulde fayle, it is to be doubted leaft the
elementes (liould be confounded together, and returne to their fyrfl Chaos.
And to haue fayde thus muche of the wonderfull effectes of the courfe of
the Sunne, it maye fuffice for an example to proue howe neceflary a thyng
it is, not onlye for all Pilottes and Sea men to haue the knowledge hereof,
but alfo for all other such as Ihall attempt great and farre viagies in vnknowen
landes and ftraunge countryes, as dyd of late mailer Jenkynfon a worthye
gentleman, fette foorth by you and mainteyned at your charges, more lyke
an Ambaffatoure fente from anye Prince or Emperour, then from a com-
panye of marchaunt men. Wherein, what commendation you haue defer-
ued, to the encreafe of your perpetual fame and honour, I referre it to that
I haue fayde before. And as touching mafler lenkynfon, what trauayles,
paynes, and daungers he hath fufteyned, and hardely efcaped, and what
diligence and arte he hath vfed in the fearching of ftraunge countryes, and
in the defcription of thofe his viages, it were but in vayne for me to wryte
much vnto you, vnto whom the fame is better knowen then to me. And
therfore to conclude, with rendring iufl commendations both vnto you
and him, I can fay no more, but as Plato wryteth in his booke De Legibus.
Deceits e/l eos dues laudibus ornare, qui corporis vel animi vinbus, res arduas
preclarafque gefserunt, et legibus libenter paruerunt. That is to fay : It is
decent to commende thofe Citifens that by theyr induftry of bodye or
mynde, haue done greate affayres, and haue willingly obeyed good lawes.
And thus eftfonesdefyryng your Honours and Worfhyppes to accept
in good parte whatfoeuer I haue faide of good wyll and affection
towarde you and your proceadynges, and with your (hielde
of luflice and auctoritie, to defende me agaynfle the
aflaultes of fuch as are enemies to vertue, and cap-
tious of othermens doinges: Irelle at yourcom-
maundement to the vttermofl of my powre,
to do you what feruice I maye.
1562. March 1. John Taisnier, Doctor of Laws \b. at Ath, in Brabant],
a writer in astrology and chiromancy, publishes at
Cologne a tract, De natura viagiietis et ejus effectibus.
Graesse, in his Trhor, states that it is a gross plagiary from Pellegrine
de Maricourt's De Magnete, printed in August 1558.
1562, The Civil Wars in France begin by the unpremeditated
massacre of Hugenots at Vassy by the Duke of Guise.
1562. Eden's wife is apparently dead, and he himself
residing in the house of a friend ; when the following
Aug. 1. letter was written. It is manifestly addressed to Sir W.
Cecil, who was brother-in-law to Sir John Cheke. Both
the writer and the Secretary of State were now about forty-two years of age.
Apparently Eden was to receive £20 \_=£,iyi «oi»] as an earnest penny
for a translation of Pliny into English.
illE only fearcher of mens hartes the etemall god I take to
wytneffe (right Honorable) that neuer thegreefesofaduerfe
fortune ( whcrof I haue had my parte), dyd fo muche prollrate
my mynde and pearce my harte with forowes, as the vnder-
ftonding of your honours fauour and goodneffe towarde me in
your lately emeft travaile in my behalfe (as I was informed by the Mafler of
Savie) hathe reioifed me and revived my Difcouragied fpirites, heretofore no
leffe languyflhed for lacke of fuche a Patrone, then nowe encoaragied by the
fauoure of fuche a Ma:cenas, as I haue iufl caufe to name your honoure, fyth
only the refpecte of fuche vertues as it hathe pleafed you to thinke commend
able in me, hath moved your Honour not only in maner to feemc carefull for
me howe I maye hereafter with quietnede fpende my tyme in fludie (as is my
mod defire) but alfo to be more ernefl in folowing the fame, then I might
without prefumption demaunde, and muche lefTe without defertes dequire.
As touchinge the which matter (right Honorable) as it was no parte of my
diuife, but fuche as the Mailer of Savoy had then in hande as I fuppofe no
lefie to pleafure hym felfe and his frende then for xx'i therof to be lotted
to me for an eameft penye to begynne the booke (as he faith), Even fo
am I right forie that for fo fmaule a matter, and not fo favorable a fute as
I wolde have wyflhed, not only your Honour hathe taken fuche paynes,
but that alfo fuche contention is ryfen therof betwene the Mailer of Sauoy
and Mailer Baptifl of the privie chamber, that by reafon therof the pardon
being lleyed be your Honour, the younge gentleman his kynfman (as he
hathe informed me) is in Daungiour of his lyfe. But vnder your honours
fauour to fpeake playnelye as I thinke, I fuppofe that here Aliquid laid
quod lion apparel, ffor as this fute for dyuers confyderations at the firll
dyd not greatly like me, yet perceauing his emeftnelTe therin for the fafe-
garde of his kinfmans life and gratifying his frendes, I no lelTe willing
therin to do hym pleafure alfo, was well contented to affent to his requeft,
and to llande to his appoyntment, not fufpecting his frendelliippe, but
rather commending his wyfdome, fo to doo for his frende as therwith not
to forget hym felfe, quia nihil fapit quifibi nonfapit. But if at that tyme,
I might fo boldelye haue prefumed vppon your honours fauour, as by your
erneftnelfe in my behalfe I nowe perceaue I might haue doonne, I wolde
haue moued your Honour of an honefter fute (for a leafe to be had at the
queenes liandes) wherof I made hym priuie, and was longe fenfe fo mynded
to haue doonne, but that he Deterred me frome the fame, alleaging certen
commifTionars to haue the Doinges therof, and that therfore no fuche thing
might be had at her Maieflies handes : Albeit, I haue fythens hard of
Dyvers that haue obteyned the like. Notwithftonding (as in my former
letters I wrotte to your Honour) my meaning is, fo to move your Honour
hereof, as neyther to be an importunate futer ; or otherwyfe to thinke the
fame to be folowed, then (hall feeme good vnto your Honour, vnto whof[e]
will I fubmitte my felfe in all thinges: Only putting your Honour in re-
memberaunce of the commodious place and tyme that I nowe enioye for that
purpofe : for the contynuance wherof, I was a futer vnto your Honour for
your letters vnto the gentleman my frende in whofe house I yet remayne,
Who alfo being one that fauoureth leaminge, and my greate frende, and no
lelTe gladde to further fo good a purpofe, is well willing the rather to my
vfe, to departe frome a piece of his commoditie, in fuche forte as appeareth
by the byll herein inclofed. Wherof, further to aduertyfe your Honour if
you (hall fo thinke it convenient, he will hym felfe repayre vnto your Honour
to giue you perfecte informacon of all thinges as touching the fame.
And wheras the Matter of Savoye tolde me that your Honour fum-
what Doubted that the booke coulde not be tranflated into the Englyfdie
toonge, I alfure you Honour that this I Dare faye without arrogancie, that
to trandate the variable hiflorie of Plinie into our toonge, I wolde be
alhamed to borowe fo muche of the Latine as he Dothe of the Greke,
althowgh the Latine toonge be accompted ryche, and the Englyflhe indigent
and barbarous, as it hathe byn in tyme pall, muche more then it nowe is,
before it was enriched and amplyfied by fundry bookes in manner of all
artes tranflated owt of Latine and other toonges into Englyfflie. And it
is not vnknowen vnto your Honour that the Latins receaving bothe the
fcience of philosophic and phifike of the Grekes, Do flill for the mofl parte
in all ther tranflacions vfe the Greke names, in fo muche that for the
better vnderflondyng of them, one Otto Brtimfelfms, a learned man, hathe
writen a large booke Intiteled Onomajlicon medicince, where he hathe thefe
woordes. Res ipfas, atque artiumvocabula, /cite, appofite, defignatceque efferre,
atque ad Polycleti regulam (quod aiunt) exprimere, res ejl noii minus difficilis
quam gloriofa. Quo, nullum Jludii genus, inaiori conjlat molejlia. Id quod
in caufa effe reor, quod hodie tarn pauci in ta palccjlra fefe exerceant etc.
Agen, it is not vnknowen vnto your Honour that ons all toonges were
barbarous and needle, before the knowleage of thinges browght in plentie
of woordes and names. Wherby it maye well appeare that men in the
firfl age of the worlde, had a fhorte language, conliflingt; of fewe woordes :
which eucr after increafed by the knowleage and inuention of thinges.
Exercife alfo maketh fuche woordes familier, which at the firfl were
Difficulte to be vnderflode. ffor children at the firfl (as faithe Ariflotle)
caule all men fathers. But fhortely after by exercife, caule them by there
names. And I haue learned by experience, that the maryncrs vfe manye
xfiii
xliv
The Life and Labours of Richard Eden.
Englyfflic woordes which were as vnknowen vnto me as the Chaldean
toonge before I was conuerfant with them. It maye therfore fuftice that
the woordes and termes of artes and fciences be knowen to the profefTours
therof, as partely by experience, and partely by the helpe of dictionaries
defcribing them. Per proprium, genus, et dtffercntiam, as the logitians
teaclie, and as Georgius Agrkola vfeth to do iu the Germanye toonge :
which as well in that parte of philofoj^hie as in all other, was barbarous
and indigent before it was by longe experience browght to perfection.
But not to trouble your Honour any longer with this matter, one thinge
remayneth wherof I wolde gladlye haue certified your Honour at my laft
being at the courte at Grenewich, if I might haue had conuenient accefie
vnto you. And this is. That perceauinge your Honour to take pleafure
in the wonderful woorkes of arte and nature (wherin doubtlelTe (hyneth the
fparke of the diuine Spirite that god hathe gyuen you) I was then mynded
to ha[ue] delyuered vnto your Honour this philofophicall booke, whe[r]in
is defcribed (as appeareth in folio, ii.) fo excellent and precious an experi-
ment, wrought by arte to the fimilitude of the vniuerfall frame of the worlde
made by the omnipotent and greate God of nature, that I beleue the like
was neuer doonne fynfe the creacion of the worlde. And maye therfore in
my iudgement, more woorthely be cauled Michrocofmos, then eyther man
or any other creature that euer was made of corporall fubftance. Angelus
PcUtianus in his epiflells, defcribeth an inftrument cauled Automaton made
in his tyme in the citie of Fflorence, obferuing the exacte mouing oi Priinunt
Mobile and Octaua Sphara, with alfo the mouinges of the ^ planetes in there
fpheres, in all poyntes agreable to there mouing in the heauen. Of the
like inftrument alfo, our Roger Bacon wrotte longe before in his booke Oe
Mirabili potejlate artis et natura, where he writeth in this maner. Maius
omnium Jigurationum et rerum figuratarum ejl vt Celejlia defcriberentur
fecundum fuas longitudines et latitudines in figura corporali, qua mouentur
corporaliter motu diurno. Et hac valeret Regnum homini fapienti etc. The
which inftrumente doubtlelTe, althowgh it be of a diuine inuention : yet
dothe this Michrocofmos fo far furmount it, as nature paffeth arte, and as
Motus animalis pafleth Motus violentiis, for as the other is moued only by
waight or wynde inclofed (as is feene in clockes and organs) fo is this
moued by the fame Spirite of life wherby not only the heauen, but alfo all
nature is moued : whofe mover is god hym felfe as faith S. Paule : Ip/us
eft in quo vivimus, mouemur, etfumus. As alfo Ariftotle, Plato, and Philo,
in there bookes De Mundo, do affirme. And efpecially Marcus ManiUus
in AJlronomicis ad Auguftum Cir/arem, writing thus :
Hoc opus immenfi conjlructum corpore Mundi,
Membraque natures diuer/a condita Jorma,
ALris atque ignis. Terra:, felagique iacentis.
Vis animce diuina regit : Sacroque vieatu
Confpirat Deus, et tacita ratione gubernat, etc.
Aire libratum vacuo, qui/ujlinet orbcm. Item Lucanus
Totius pars rnagnus louts.
And wheras the autoure that defcribeth this Michrocofmos affirmeth that
the Chaos therof, is Materia Lapidis Philofophorum (which is alfo Chaos, vel
Ouum, vel prima Materia Mundi maioris) it feemeth to agre with that
Cornelius Agtippa hathe written in his feconde booke De Occulta philo-
fophia, in Scala Vnitatis, where he wryteth thus : Lapis philofophorum ejl
vnum fubiectum et inflrumentum omnium virtutum naturalium et tranf-
tiaturalium etc. And that this greate and diuine fecreate of this Michro-
cofmos maye not feeme incredible vnto your Honour, I affure you that I
that am Minimus Philofophorum, dyd long fenfe (as I haue to wytnelfe Mr
Thomas Whalley, th[e]elder foonne of Mr Richard Whalley) woorke a
fecreate practife fumwhat like vnto this, in maner as foloweth. I diffolued
two fubftances in two waters. Then I put the waters togyther in a glalTe,
fuffering them fo to reinayne for a tyme. Then I flilled of[f] the water
frome the maffe or Chaos lefte of them bothe. And put it on ageyn. And fo
dyd dyuers tymes. In fine, the mafle being diffolued in the water, I let it
refl all night in a coulde place. In the morning, I founde fwymming on
the water and in the myddeft therof, a little rounde Hand as brode as [a]
riall or fumwhat more, with at the leaft a hundreth fyluer trees abowt an
ynche high, fo perfectly formed with trunkes, ftalkes, and leaves, all of
moft pure and glyftering fyluer, that I fuppofe no lymne[r] or paynter is
able to conterfecte the like. Then fhaking the glafle, all fell in pieces into
the water, and fille[d] it with glyftering fparkes, as the firmament (hyneth
w[ith] flarres in a cleare wynter nyght. Then putting the glade to a fofte
xUv
fyre vppon warme affhes, all turned agen into cleare water, which agen
being put in a colde place all night, made an Hand with the like t ees as
before. What this wolde haue byn in fine, god knoweth, and not I. But
of this I am fure, that if the floure of learning of our tyme and fumtyme
Tutor and brother in lawe vnto your Honour Mr [i.e., Sirjohi] Cheeke>
had feene any of thefe two fecreates, he wolde greatly haue reioyfed : As I
knowe the diuine fparke of knowleagc that is in your Honour partely reccaved
of hym, will move you to doo the like, fythe to a philofophicall and vertuous
man, there is nothing fo delectable as to beholde the infinite poure and
wyfdome of God in his creatures, in the which, his deitie is not only vifible,
but in maner palpable, as fum philofophers haue written. And as touching
thefe matters, I haue red a maruelous fentence in an olde written booke
where thefe woordes are written : Qui potefl fatei-e Mediam naturam, potefl
creare Mundos nouos. But to difcourfe of this oracle, or to interprete the
fame, it were to muche to moleft your Honour therewith : and an argument
muche meeter for a feconde Socrates then for me. And of thefe fecreates,
writeth Roger Bacon in his booke before alleaged, where he hathe thefe
woordes : Alulta funl archana cutmiranda in operibus artis et natures: Qisce
licet multam vtilitatetn non habeant (habent vcro maxim\ani\ vt fapientibus
cognitum efl) tamen fpectaculum incffabile fapicntiie prtcbcnt et pofjiint
applicari ad probationem omnium occultorum quibus vulgus inexpertuin
contradicit, et indicat fieri per opera Dicmoniorum, etc.
And thus mod humbly defyring your Honour to pardon my boldnefle in
writing vnto you, and according vnto your accuftomed clemencie to accept
in good parte this my prefumptuous attempte which only the loue I beare
to your vertues hath moued me vnto, my truft is that thefe thinges (hall
not be all togyther vnpleafaunt vnto your Honour otherwyfe occupied in
greate affayres bothe in the courte and common wealthe, as was Plato with
King Dyoniftus, Ariftotle with greate Alexander, and Cicero Senator and
Conful of Rome. The eternall God and immortall mover of the greate
worlde and the lelTe, preferue your Honour in healthe and profperitie.
Ffrome the ffolde byfyde Barnet. The firft of Auguft. 1562.
Moft. bownde to your Honour.
RiCHARDE Eden.
Ttta Dominationi addktus, alios non qiuero pienates.
Sententia Hippocratis. — Infccretis et occultis,fecretus et occultus ejh.
Endorsed — Primo Auguftl 1562. Richard Eden.
Lands. MS. loi, art. 5.
The advancement which Eden sought, came almost immediately after he
wrote this letter : but it is sad to know, that it ultimately ruined him both
in health and fortune, and brought him to a premature grave.
We must now introduce a celebrated historical personage, with whose
wanderings and trials Eden's life was for the next ten years indissolubly
identified ; and in the narration of which, we shall be telling the story of
our Author's life during the period he was on the Continent. In doing
which, we thankfully acknowledge our obligations to the Vie de yean de
Ferriires, Vidame de Chartres, Seigneur de Afaligtty, by a Member [Count
L. de Bastard] of the Historical and Natural Science Society of the
Yonne. 170 copies only of which, were printed at Auxerre in 1858.
A Vidame was originally the principal lay officer of a bishop. In
France, however, only five bishops had such an officer, viz., those of
Rheims, Amiens, Mans, Laon, and Chartres ; together with certain
Abbeys. In process of time, however, it became a mere hereditary title ;
dependent for its renown on the person who held it and the wealth where-
of he was possessed.
Jean de Ferriires, disinherited by his father, Franjois de Ferriires,
in 1540; became Seigneur de Maligny in 1544; went to Rome in the
embassy of M. de Urfe in 1549 ; accompanied the then Vidame, Franfois
de Vendome, to the relief of the Siege of Metz in 1553 ; and went to
Piedmont in 1557. Francois de Vendome having died on 22d December
1 560 : the Seigneur of Maligny then became Vidame of Chartres ; and
thereby immensely rich, if he could have enjoyed his own in peace. But
not daring to administer to his vast estate in person, for fear of attracting
the attention of his enemies to it : his sister Beraude, by secret agreement
with him, presented herself as the sole heir to Francois de Vendome.
On the breaking out of the Civil Wars, Conde sent the new Vidame
(whose riches gave him great influence among the Protestant party) over to
England, with the Seigneur de Saint Aubin, to induce Elizabeth to join
The Life and Labours of Richard Eden,
xlv
in so holy and just a quarrel. Being joined by La Haye, they finally
arrived in England about 15th August 1562 ; and after many secret con-
ferences, the Treaty of Hampton Court was signed by them, on 20th Sep-
tember following. Colt. MS. Cat. E. v. f. 113, is a copy of this Treaty
bearing the signature of the Vidame.
At this moment, Eden, who was an excellent linguist, entered the service
of the Vidame. Time pressed. 3000 men under Sir Adrian Poynings, and
with them the Vidame and Eden, left Portsmouth on 2d October, and
wore in Havre on the 4th : the majority of them to be killed, or die of
the plague by the 29th of July following, when Havre was surrendered to
the French. Such as survived brought with them to England, the plague
which they had there caught.
In the meantime, the Civil Wars had been stopped by the Edict of the
Pacification of Ambois on 19th March 1563.
All the goods of the Vidame were pronounced confiscated, under
pretence that he had brought the English into Havre. The French Court,
while in progress after the Pacification, reached Troyes on the 23d March
1564 ; when the Vidame [and Eden] joined on the 8th April the Prince de
Conde there, and received a simulated welcome from Charles IX. and
Catherine de Medecis. Leaving the Court at Vitry on 27th April, he
rejoined Conde, at Paris ; where he appears to have chiefly resided for
the next two or three years.
Eden states below, and at p. xlvii., that he had been in Germany, and, among
other places, at Strasburg. He probably accompanied the Vidame there.
A fresh rising of the Protestants occurred on 27th September 1 567, when
they nearly captured by a coup de main the entire French Court. Then
came the Battle of St. Denis on loth November, and the Pacification of
Longjumeau on the 23d March 1568.
The Vidame and his newly married wife (Francoise Joubert, widow of
Ch. Ghabot) and suite [including, it is presumed, Eden] arrived on the
Cornish coast, on 28th April 1569 ; and after some delay, were allowed to
come to London. The Vidame was received by the Queen, on i8th July,
at Greenwich. On the 23d September 1569, he was burnt in effigy, for
the second time within a year, on the Place de Crhie, at Paris, by an arret
of the French Parliament.
In consequence of the Peace of St. Germain ; the Vidame, after about a
year's stay in England, returned in October 1570, by Dieppe, to Paris :
where some of his servants being attacked in the street, he retires to Boubige,
in Poitou. In February 1572, he was at La Ferte, on private affairs.
Soon afterwards he returned to Paris ; where he found all the chiefs of
the Huguenot party lulled into a belief of perfect safety, through their trust
in the King's word. He, however, did not trust the Court, and would not
reside in the city, but in the Faubourg of St. Germain. When questioned for
the reason of this ; he replied 'that the air of the Faubourgs was better than
that of the City, and that of the fields better than that of the Faubourgs.'
Maurevert, the assassin of the Count de Mouy, attempted the assassination
of Admiral Coligny ; but fails to kill him. Charles IX. had hardly left the
wounded Huguenot chief; when the Vidame called on him, and let loose
his indignation at the dastard cowardice of the act.
On the next day, Saturday, 23d August, at a meeting of the Protestant
chiefs at Coligny 's house, the Vidame urged that the Admiral should be
conveyed out of Paris ; and that the Protestants should quit the city : but
he was overruled.
That night, occurred the M.\SSACRE of St. Bartholomew, com-
mencing on the right bank of the Seine. The Vidame, his brother-in-law
Jean de la Fin, and ten others [including probably Eden], who were living
on the left bank of the river — warned by the firing — escaped for their lives,
riding first to La Ferte. Hearing, however, that the Duke de Guise had
sent the Sieur de St. Leger to take them : they hurriedly left the Chateau,
and — after some wandering up and down the country — managed to reach
the coast ; where they found a ship, which carried them safely to England.
The Vidame arrived in London on 7th September 1573.
1573. Sept. The Vidame, in a very flowery letter, solicits of the
Queen, that Richard Eden, who had given him good
and faithful companionship for the space of ten years,
may be admitted one of the poor knights of Windsor. He also refers to
his erudition, and the experience he had acquired in the secrets of Nature.
He further encloses the three following autographic memoranda ; by the
side of which, we have put an English translation : —
Siplaceat suae Maieslaticoncedere
Richardo Eden proximam vocation-
em Militum illorum, qui Winsori
Milites Oratorij vocantur, i Rege
Henrico 8° fundati.
If it may please Her Majesty to
grant to Richard Eden the next
vacant place among the Knights,
who are called the Knights of the
Oratory of Windsor, founded by
King Henry VIII.
It.
Richardus Eden natione Anglus,
ex honesta familia natus in agro
Herfordensi, ubi adhucsororem habet
viventem, sua; Maiestati bene cogni-
tam, nempe uxorem equestris ordinis
viri lohannis Butleri de Lamer : A
pueritia educatus in bonis Uteris,
studuit in Achademia Cantabrigiensi
decern annis sub tutore doctissimo
viro, domino Thoma Smyth, nunc
Secretario sure Maiestati, qui de eius
eruditione et morum integritate satis
testari potest.
Deinde a serenissimo Rege Hen-
rico Octavo ab achademia vocatus,
ipsius Regis mandato, in ^rario
officium obtinuit, ubi usque ad
mortem Regis, hoc est duobas annis,
permansit ; qui etiam moriens illius
non immemor assignavit illi domus
distillatorii officium. Quod tamen
Rege mortuo Sumerseti Dux illi
concessit qui nunc fruitur.
Postea uxorem duxit, ex qua in
xiiij. annis xij. infantes generavit, ut
vel hac ratione videatur de patria
bene meritus.
Qui etiam tempore aliquot Rei-
publicje utiles libros ex sermone
Latino Italico Hispanico traduxit,
qui typis impressi extant, ut Decades
de Novo Orbe, liber iusti voluminus,
vizt. 600 foliorum ; ac deinde librum
de Arte Navigandi a Martino Cor-
tesio in lingua Hispanica ad Carolum
V. scriptum ; insuper ex Pyrotechnia
Italica multa de rebus metallicis, qua;
antea in nostra lingua extitere.
Tempore vero Marire Regina; His-
panorum quorundam nobilium fauore,
denuo in Regis Philippi ^rarium
electus : hereseos apud Wintoniense
Episcopum accusatus a Watsone Lin-
colinensi Episcopo, officio privatus
est.
Mortua vero uxore, illius fama ad
illustrissimi Domini Vidami aures
pervenit. Cum quo, quomodo his x.
annis et amplius in Germania et
Gallia vixerit in utraque fortuna, nee
mercenarius nee desertor, et semper
illi charissimus, ipsemet Dominus
Vidamus pro sua humanitate, veri-
tate testimonium feret. A quo etiam
multis amplissimis muneribus dona-
tus, si tamen non ditatus nulla pro-
fecto illustrissimi Domini incuria vel
Richard Eden, an Englishman,
born of a respectable family in Here-
fordshire,— where he still has a sister
living, well known to Her Majesty,
being the wife of a knight, John
Butler of Lamer, — was well educated
as a boy, studied at Cambridge for
ten years under that most learned
man. Sir Thomas Smyth, now Her
Majesty's Secretary [of State], who
can testify to his erudition and blame-
less character.
Afterwards, being summoned from
the University by the most serene
King Henry VIII., he held, by his
order, an office in the Treasury,
where he remained for two years
until the King's death ; who, when
dying, did not forget him, but as-
signed to him the office of the distil-
lery. After the King's death, the
Duke of Somerset granted the ofiico
to the present holder.
Afterwards he married, and in
fourteen years begot twelve child-
ren, so that for this reason also he
seems to deserve well of his country.
At this time he translated from the
Latin, Italian, and Spanish several
books useful to the State, which are
still in print, as Decades de Novo Orbe,
a book of good size, viz. six hundred
folios; zxiiahooV De Arte Navigandi,
written by Martin Cortes to Charles
V. in Spanish ; and in addition many
portions of Pyrotechnia Italica con-
cerning metals ; which did not exist
before in our language.
In the time of Queen Mary, he
was again placed in the Treasury
of King Phillip, through the favour
of certain Spanish nobles : but being
accused of heresy before [Gardiner]
the Bishop of Winchester by Watson,
Bishop of Lincoln ; he was deprived
of his office.
After the death of his wife, his
repute came to the ears of the most
illustrious Lord the Vidame. How
he lived [with him] for ten years
and more in Germany and France,
with varying fortune, neither a mer-
cenary nor a deserter, and always
most dear to him ; the Lord Vidame
himself will kindly bear witness.
From whom also he received many
large gifts. And assuredly it is not
through carele!;sneos or oblivion on
r
xlvi
The Life and Labours of Richard Eden.
oblivio in causa fuit, sed sola volu-
bilis et nouercae fortuna culpa.
Nunc vero, senio affectus, et cor-
porisinfirmitate, cogitur peregrinandi
finem facere ; nihil magis habens in
votis quam ut suje Maiestatis gratia
et favore, possit tandem in patria
honestis studiis et Reipublicie utili-
busvitam finire. Nulla vero magna-
rum divitiarum, aut honoris ambitione
flagrans solam vitam tranquillam et
studiis commodam exoptat.
Deus optiraus maximus suam Csel-
situdinem semper seruet incolumen.
the part of his illustrious Lord, but
only in consequence of changeful and
adverse fortune ; that he was not
enriched.
Now affected by age and bodily
infirmity, he is obliged to make an
end of wandering ; desiring nothing
more than, by Her Majesty's favour,
to end his life in his own country,
in honourable studies, and useful to
the State. He h.is no ambition
for great riches or honour ; but only
desires a quiet life, suitable for study.
May God ever preserve Her Ma-
jesty.
III.
Quandoquidem maxima parshomi-
num non est semper melior pars, sed
reperiuntur quamplures Ardeliones
quibus nihil est magis gratum quam
ex quauis leuissima occasione bonos
viros calumniari. Ideoque ut agni a
luporum fauciljus in tuto vivant, ne-
cessum erit ut leonis animalium regis,
hoc est, Regia autoritate tueantur.
Quis enim nunc in Anglia potest
Paracelsi admiranda medicamenta ex
metallis et mineralibus componere
(quae cum Alchimiaaliquomodosym-
bolizantur) nisi statim ab ignaris et
calumniatoribus Alchimise legibus
prohibitae infamiam et periculum in-
currat. Cui malo obuiando Principis
diplomats opus erit. Nee dubito
quin quum Brocardo multisque aliis
peregrinis libere permittitur exercere.
Idem mihi a;quiori iuditio Principis
autoritate concedatur.
Since, indeed, the greater part of
mankind is not always the better
part, but many busybodies are found
who have no greater pleasure than
in calumniating good men on the
most trifling occasions ; therefore
that lambs may live safe from the
jaws of wolves, they must be pro-
tected by the lion, the king of beasts
— that is, protected by royal autho-
rity.
Who can at this present time, in
England, compound the admirable
medicaments of Paracelsus from
metals and minerals (which are sym-
bolized by an alchymical method),
without immediately incurring from
ignorant calumniators the infamy
and peril of practising alchmy,
which is prohibited by the laws.
To obviate this evil, a royal license
is needed. Neither do I doubt that
since it is permitted to Brocardus
and many other foreigners freely to
practise [the art] ; that the same will,
with more justice, be granted to me
by the royal authority. — State Papers,
Dom. Eliz., Vol. 92, No. 32.
There were thirteen poor knights of Windsor, whose annual allowance
was paid by the Dean of Windsor. It consisted of jf 18 : 5s. in money ;
a gown or coat of red cloth ; and a blue or purple cloth mantle with
the badge of St. George embroidered on the left sleeve. Eden's application
does not appear to have been successful. — See Tighe and Davis, Annals
of Windsor, i. 223. Ed. 1858.
1573. Sir W. Winter is knighted this year. — See Sylvanus
MotgaviS Sphere 0/ Gentry, Book 3,/. 14, Ed. 1661.
1574. "Win- Eden writes the following dedication to SirW. Winter
tertide. of his translation of John Taisner's book De nalura
magnetis, &'c., which he designed as a complement
to a new edition of his previous translation of Martin Cortes' Arte de
Navigar. Though written at this time, it did not appear in print for four
or five years afterwards, in consequence of the successive deaths of Eden,
Richard Jugge the printer, and his son John Jugge.
The most important allusion in it is the account of Sebastian Cabot's
death, the only one on record.
A very neceflarie and profitable Booke concerninge Nauigation,
compiled in Latin by loannes Taifnierus, a publike profeffor in
Rome, Ferraria, and other Vniuerfities in Italic of the Mathema-
ticalles, named a treatife Of coniinuall motions. Tranflated into
Englilhe, by Richarde Eden.
Imprinted at London by Richarde Jugge.
xlvi
To the ryght woorfliipfull Syr Wylliatn Wynter, Knyght, Maiflcr
of the Ordinaunce of the Queenes Maiefiies Shippes, and Stir-
ucyor of the fayd Shippes, Richarde Eden wyfluth health and
prosperitie.
T is nowe about twelue yecres pafte (gentle Maifter Wynter)
fince the curtefie and fauour which long before I founde at
your hande, mooued me no lelfe for the good wyll that I
haue euer borne you and your vertues, to excogitate or
deuife fomethyng, within the compalTe of my poore abilitie,
that myght be a « itnefle, and as it were a feale, to teftifie both that I haue
not forgotten your gentlenefle, and alfo how defyrous I am to pay the
debtes of frendelliyp which then I promifed you, and alfo attempted to
perfourme : But beyng at that tyme preuented, by meanes of my fodayne
departyng out of Englande, with my good Lorde the Vidanu, with whom I
remayned for the fpace of ten yeeres, vntyll the calamities of that miferable
countrey, with lolTe of goods, and danger of lyfe, hath dryuen me home
agayne into my natiue countrey : Where fyndyng my felfe at fome leyfure,
and defyrous to pafle foorth parte of my tyme in fome honeft exercife,
which myght be profytablc to many, domagable to none, and a meanes to
geat me newe freendes, the olde in my fo long abfence, in maner vtterly
wafted : I chaunced in the meane tyme, to meete with my olde acquayn-
tance and freend, Richard lugge. Printer to the Queenes Maieftie, who
had many yeeres before, printed the Booke of Marten Curtes, of the Art of
Nauigation, by me tranflated out of Spanyflie tongue. Whereof, hauyng
with him fome conference, he declared that he woulde prynt that booke
agayne, yf I woulde take the paynes to deuife fome addition touchyng the
fame matter, that myght be ioyned thereto. At whiche tyme, hauyng with
me in the Latine tongue, thefe books here folowyng printed, whiche I brought
with me out of Fraunce, I foone agreed to his honeft requeft, to tranflate
them into Englyflie : Whiche beyng accomplyflied, this onely remayned,
accordyng to the common cuftorae, to confecrate and dedicate the fame to
fome worthie perfonage, whofe fame, auc[t]horitie, and dignitie, myght
defende them from the euyll tongues of fuch as are more redie rather to
reprooue other mens dooynges, then to doo any good them felues. And
therfore (gentle Maifter Wynter) knowing your aucthoritie and fame in
well deferuyng, and honorable feruice vnto your Prince and Countrey, to
be fuche as all men thynke fo well of, and fo greatlye efteeme, to whom
(rather then to you) may I dedicate this booke of Nauigation ? In con-
fyderation v/hereof, and the hope that I haue in your approoued curtefie,
fauourably to accept this dedication, as procee[d]yng from one that defyreth
nothyng more then to doo you feruice, and rem.iyne in your grace, I fliall
thynke my trauayle wel beftowed, and fufficiently recompenced, yf it fliall
pleafe you to accept the fame as thankfully, as I wyllyngly ofi"er it vnto
you.
For yf there be any thyng in me, wherein I maye by good reafon
pleafe my felfe, it is cheefely this, that I haue euer loued and honoured
men of finguler vertue or qualitie, in what fo euer laudable Art or Science,
euen of thofe whereof I mee felfe haue litle knowledge, as are Geometric,
Aftronomie, Architecture, Muficke, Payntyng, feates of Armes, inuentions
of Ingens, and fuche lyke : Of the whiche, this our age maye feeme not
onely to contende with the Auncientes, but alfo in many goodly inuentions
of Art and wyt, farre to exceede them. For (not to fpeake agaynftall the
marueylous inuentions of our tyme) what of theirs is to be compared to the
Artes of Printyng, makyng of Gunnes, Fyre woorkes, of fundry kyndes of
artificial Fyres, of fuche marueylous force, that mountaynes of mofte harde
rockes and ftones, are not able to refyft their violence, but are by them
broken in peeces, and throwen into the ayre with fuche violence, that
neyther the fpirite of Demogorgon, or the thunderboltes of infernal Pluto
can doo the lyke. What fhoulde I here fpeake of the woonderfuU inuen-
tions of Fartalio, in his booke De Arte maiori ? or of many other, whereof
Vannucius Beringocius wryteth in his booke, entituled, Pyrotechnia. As
touchyng which terrible inuentions, and the lyke, although fome men be of
opinion that they were inuented by the inftigation of the deuyll, for the
deftruction of mankynde : yet other weyghyng the matter more indifferently
thynke that the inuention of Gunnes hath ben the fauyng of many mens
lyues, becaufe before the vfe of them, men were not woont fo long tyme to
lye batteryng in the befiegyng of Townes or Fortrefles, but in ftiort fpace
to come to hande ftrokes, and to foughten feeldes, to the great flaughter of
great multitudes. And feeyng that nowe our cnimies the Turkcs, and
TiiK Life and Labours of Richard Eden.
xl
VI 1
other Infidels, haue the vfe of thefe deuylyihe inuentions (as they name
them) it may be thought requifite for vs, agaynft fuche deuylles to vfe alfo
the lyke deuylydie inuentions, lefl refufyng the fame, and geuyng place to
euyl, we flioulde wyllyngly fuffer the kyngdome of the deuyll to triumphe
ouer vs, not otherwyfe able to refyft, and much leffe to ouercome fo puilTant
and horrible enimies (except befyde al hope) myght aryfe in our defence
fome newe Moyfes, or Elias, or the Prieftes of lericho, whiche onely with
the noyfe and founde of Homes or Trumpettes ouerthrewe the walles of
the towne. Neyther wyl the example of Dauid and Goliath, or of Samfon
and tlie Philiflines, ferue our tume at this tyme, although I beleeue that
the arme of the Lorde is not weakened, yf there lacked not a Moyfes with
his rodde, and woorthie Aff -lentes, which myght helpe to holde vp his
weerye arme.
But to retume to fpeake of ingens, and ingenious inuentions, whiche
inuented and vfed to the glorie of God, and defence of his people,
againft the furie and tyrannic of Infidelles, they may as woorthyly be
called the gyftes of God, as were the inuentions and Art of them that
buykled eyther the Temple of Hicrufalem, or the Arke of God : And
F.xod XXXV y^' '^ '' there wrytten of thofe Artificers, that God gaue
Kezaleel and them the fpirite of knowledge and cunnyng in fuche Artes.
'^ And therefore I thynke it may alfo be fayde without offence,
that the knowledge of Archimedes, and other men in fuche commendable
inuentions, are the gyftes of God, for as muche as the gyftes of God are
free, and not bounde to any nation or perfon.
And yf it may be graunted that the fpirites of men, or the fpirite of
God in men, may be diuided (as was the fpirite of Moyfes to twelue other)
or otherwyfe that the fpirites of dead men may reuiue in other (after
the opinion and tranfanimation of Pythagoras) we may thynke that the
foule of Archimedes was reuiued in Beffon, that excellent Geometer of
our tyme, whom I knewe in Fraunce the Maifter of the engins to the
Frenche kyng, Charles the nienth, vnder whom that lamentable flaughter
at Paris was committed, in the whiche were flayne fo many noble men.
Whiche crueltie the fayde Be/son abhorryng, fled hythei into England,
and here dyed, in the yeere. 1573- and left in witneffe of his excellencie
in that Art, a booke in prynt, conteynyng the fourmes or portractes of
fyxtie engins of marueylous ftrange and profytable deuice, for diuers
commodious and neceffary vfes. Of the whiche, for as muche as
three of them, that is to meane, the 54. 57. and 60. be engines cheefely
parteyning vnto Shyppes, it Ihall not be from my purpofe here to make a
breefe rehearfal of them.
The. 54. therefore (as he wryteth) is an engin not vnlyke vnto that
whiche in auncient tyme Archimedes inuented for the Syrcuu/ians, where-
with a man with the ftrength of onely one hande, by helpe of the
inftrument called Trifpajlon (which in our tongue fome cal an endlelTe
Scrue), brought a Shyp of marueylous greatneffe from the lande into
the fea, in the fyght of kynge Hieron, and an infinite multitude, whiche
with all their force coulde not doo the fame. &c. Of the which alfo, our
countrey man, Roger Bacon, a great Philofopher (and no Nicromancer, as
that ignorant age (laundered him) feemed to haue had fome knowledge :
For in his booke of the marueylous power of Art and Nature, he maketh
_, . . . mention of an Inflrument (as farre as I remember) no bygger
Of this instru- , , , . , , ,
mcnt reade, the then a mans hande, wherey/ith one man myght drawe to
iiesSi*'"' "^ '^y™ "'^ ftrength of three hundred men. And I well re-
member, that at my beyng in Fraunce, I hearde credible
reporte, that the Earle of Rocumdolfe, an Almaine, made an engin, where-
with the fayde kyng Charles when he was but. xvi. yeeres of age, lyfted
from the grounde a weyght, whiche the ftrongeft man in the courte was not
able to remooue. Almofle the lyke deuice we vfe in the bendyng of a
Croffebowe. Alfo at my being in Germanic in the citie of Strofburge, a
woorthy and learned Gentleman, Monfieur de Saleno, tolde me that in that
citie one had inuented an engin of iron, no bygger then a mans hande,
wherevnto faflenyng a rope, with a hooke of iron, and caftyng the hooke
vpon a wal, tree, or other place, where it myght take holde, he coulde with
that engin lyft hym felfe vp to the wal, or other place. But to retume to
the other two engines of Beffon, parteynyng to our purpofe. Therefore
the. 60. fygure (as he there wryteth) is the inuention of an engin, fcarfely
credible, wherewith by ballance and eafie motion, beyond the order of
nature, a Shyp may be fo framed and gouemed, that in the calme fea it
fhall mooue forewarde, and in litle wynde haften the couife.and in too much
wynde temper and moderate the fame : A thyng woorth tl.e knowledge to
a kyng, as he fayeth. Of the thyrd engin, which is the. 57- fygure of his
booke, he wryteth thus. An Artifice not yet diuulgate or fet forth, whiche
placed in the pompe of a Shyp, whyther the water hath recourfe, and
mooued by the motion of the Shyp, with wheelcs and weyghtes, dooth
exactly fliewe what fpace the Shyp hath gone. &c. By whiche defcrip-
tion, fome doo vnderftand that the knowledge of the longitude myght fo be
founde, a thyng doubtlelTe greatly to be defyred, and hytherto not certaynely
knowen, although Sebajlian Cabot on his death bed told me that he had the
knowledge thereof by diuine reuelation, yet fo, that he myght not teache
any man. But I thinke that the good olde man, in that extreme age, fome-
what doted, and had not yet euen in the article of death, vtterly (liakcn of
all worldlye vayne glorie.
As touchyng whiche knowledge of the longitude, to rehearfe the faying
of that excellent learned man, Johannes Fernelitis, in his incomparable
booke De abditis rerum caujis, where in the Preface to King Hcnrie of
Fraunce, he writeth in this maner. We haue put our helpyng hande
to the Arte of Nauigation and Geographic : forby obferuation of the houres
of the Equinoctialles, we haue inuented howe, in what fo euer region or
place of the worlde a man (halbe, he may knowe in what longitude it is :
which certaynly we haue not taken of the fountaynes of the ancientes, but
fyrfle, of all other (as I thynke) haue drawen it of our ryuers, as our owne
inuention. &c. So that (faith he) whiche way fo euer you tume your eyes,
you may fe that the pofteritie hath not ryotoufly wafted the inheritance of
Artes and sciences, left them by their predeceffors, but haue greatly en-
creafed the fame, and inuented other : For certaynely, the multitude of
thinges incomprehenfible, is infinite, and fo therfore inuentions muft
needes alfo be infinite, and without ende. And therefore, as touchyng this
thing (fayth he) to fpeake freely what I thynke, they feeme to me to offende
as muche, whiche contende that the auncientes haue inuented and compre-
hended al thynges, as doo they whiche attribute not vnto them the fyrfl
inuentions, fo depryuyng them of theyr right poffeffion. For whereas nowe by
the benefite of almightie God (who hath geuen vs his Chrifte, and with hym
all good thynges) the lyght of trueth (hyneth in our vnderftandyng by godly
infpiration, there is no iuft caufe why we (houlde in fuche thynges thinke vs
inferior to the auncientes . Of which Argument, who lyfteth may reade more
in the fayde Epiftle of Fernelius.
And for as much as I haue made mention of fuch inuentions, it Ihal not
be from the purpofe, to defcribe the goodly inftrument wherof
Angelus Policianus in the fourth booke of Epiftles to Fran- ;„ motion agree-
cifus Cafa, wryteth in this manner, I haue receyued your yng with the
Epiftle, wherein you fignifie vnto me, that you haue hearde heauen.
of the flrange engine or inftrument Automaton inuented, and Anno Domo.
made of late by one Laurence a Florentine : in the which is
expreffed the courfe and motions of the Pianettes, conformable and
agreeyng with the motions of heauen : And that (for as muche as the
reporte thereof is hardly beleeued) you greatly defyre that I fhould wryte
vnto you, what certayne knowledge I haue of that thing, wherein I am
redie to obey your requeft. And although nowe it be long fmce I fawe
it, yet as farre as I beare in memorie, I wyll breefely declare the fourme,
reafon, and vfe thereof. And yf the defcription of it flial feeme vnto
you fomewhat obfcure, you fliall not afcribe it altogeather to my declara-
tion, but partly to the fubtiltie and nouiltie of the thyng. It is in fourme
of a fquare pyllet, ftiarpe towarde the top, in maner of a Pryamis, of
the height of almoft three cubites : ouer and aboue it, in maner of a
couer, is a fiat or playne rounde plate of gylted copper, garnylhed
with fundry colours, on whofe other part is expreffed the whole courfe of
the Planets, and whofe dimention or meafurc is fomewhat (horter then a
cubite, and is within turned or moued with certayne litle denticle wheeles,
an immouable circle comprehendyng the hygheft border or margcnt, and
diuided with the fpaces of xxiiii. houres within it, in the hygheft turnyng
rundel, the twelue fignes are difcerned by three degrees. Further, within are
feene eyght rundels, in maner all of one greatneffe. Of thefe, two obteyne the
myddle poynt, the one faftened in the other, fo that the loweft beyng fome-
what bygger, reprefenteth the Sunne, and the hygher the Moone. From the
Sunne a beame commyng to the circle, ftieweth in it the houres : and in the
Zodiacke, the monethes, dayes and number of degrees, and alfo the true
and halfe motion of the Sunne. From the Moone alfo procedeth a pynne,
or wyre, whiche beneathe or downwarde in the border or margent of the
zlvU
xlviii
The Life and Labours of Richard Eden.
greateft nmdell, (liewcth the honres : and pafling by the center of the Epi-
cicle of the Moone, and extendyng to the Zodiacke, (lioweth the halfe
motion of his Planet. Another alfo ryfyng from thence, and cuttyng the
border of the center of the Moone (that is of the Epicicle) fheweth her true
place, whereby are feene the flownefle. fwyftnefle, al motions and courfes,
coniunctions alfo, and ful Moones. About thefe are fyxe other rundels :
of the whiche, one, whom they calle the head and tayle of the Dragon,
flieweth the Eclipfes both of the Sunne and Moone. The other are attri-
buted to the Planets : from euery of whiche, proceede two poyntes, align-
ing the motions (as we haue fayd) of the Moone : but they alfo goe back-
wardc, whiche chaunceth not in the Moone, whofe Eclypfe is mooued
contrarywyfe. And thus the reafon of coniunctions, departynges, and lati-
tudes, is manifeft in all. There is alfo an other border lyke vnto a Zodi-
acke, cutting or diuidyng vpwarde or aboue, thofe fyxe litle rundels (whereof
we haue fpoken) being the rundels of the Pianettes : whereby appeareth
the degrees of the Eaft fignes, and the fpaces of the dayes (that is to fay)
at what houre the Sunne rifeth, by the whiche, e\iery of the Pianettes are
carried in their rundels or circles by courfe, in the day tyme to the Eaft,
and in the nyght to the Weft. Agayne contrarywyfe, the greateft rundel
of al, draweth with it al the Pianettes, in the nyght to the Eaft, and in the
day to the Weft, in the fpace of. 24. houres. Az which, to agree with the
motions of heauen, both reafon and experience doo confyrme. And ther-
forc ought ye not to marueyle, yf thefe thynges feeme incredible to many.
For (as fayth the wyfe Prouerbe) fayth is flowlye geuen to great thynges,
for euen we fcaifely beleeue our owne eyes, when we fee fuche thynges.
And therefore, whereas in tyme paft 1 read, that fuche a lyke inftrument
was made by ArcJiiinedeSy my faith yet fayled me to geue credite to fo great
an Aucthour, which thyng neuertheleffe this our Florentine hath perfourmed.
The worke doubtlefle beyng of fuch excellence, that all prayfe is inferior to
it, and can not therfore for the woorthyneffe thereof be otherwyfe praifed,
then to fay that it paffeth all prayfe. The Artificer him felfe alfo being a
man of fuch integritie of maners, that the funne is nothing inferior to the
excellencie of his wyt : in fo much that he may feeme a man fent from
heauen, where he learned the makyng of this heauen, by the example of the
other. Hylherto Polidanus. Of the lyke inftrument, Roger Bacon alfo
maketh mention in his fayde booke, of the maruellous power of Art and
Nature, affyrmyng the fame to be woorth a kyngdome to a wyfe man.
But for as muche as the fubiect whiche I haue nowe in hande, is cheefely
touchyng inuentions parteinyng to Shyppes, and the Art of Nauigation, I
thynke good to fpeake fomewhat of the inuention of a certayne Italian
wryter, named Leonardo Fiorauan/i, who in his booke, entitled
"' * ' Spfcchio de fcientia vniuerfale, doeth greatly glory in the in-
uention of Shyppes, whiche can not perylhe eyther on the fea, or the lande,
affyrmyng that the lyke was neuer inuented fince the creation of the worlde.
But I feare me, left vayne glorie of difcourfyng in the Italian tongue, hath
caufed him more then needes, to commende his owne inuention, as for the
mofte parte is the maner of the Italian writers. Therfore
ofa Shj'p ^ committing the iudgeraent hereof to men of greater experi-
which can not ence and knowledge in thefe thynges, I wyl onely tranllate
his woordes, whereby in the booke before named, he
defcribeth the fayde Shyppe in this maner. Take beames of Fyre, or
Pyne tree, which of their owne nature can neuer goe downe, or fyncke, or
abyde vnder the water, and with thefe beames forme an engine (Mac/iina,
yf I may fo call it) of the length of three fcore foote, and of the breadth of
twentie foote, and of the heyght of fyxe foote, laying the fyrfte ranke in
length, and the other trauerfe, or ouerthwarte, and the thyrde againe in
length, fafliionyng the fore parte lyke vnto other Shyppes, and in lyke
manner, bryngyng the poupe or hynder parte to good forme : then with
fuch irons as apparteyne, bynde it, and ftrengthen it in fuche maner that it
can not breake. And vpon this frame or fundation buylde your Shyppe,
of fuche fafliion as you thynke beft. &c. It were here too long to rehearfe
with what proude woordes and oftentation he magnifieth this inuention.
But whether this frame or engine (houlde be bylden vpon the keele or
bottome of the Shyp, or othenvyfe, I commit it to them of better iudge-
roent, as I haue fayde.
But wheras it may for this tyme fuffife to haue wrytten thus muche
of thefe thynges, I wyll make an ende with onely a breefe rehearfal of
the inuention and encreafe of the Art of Nauigation. After that the Art
of Nauigation was founde, euery man began to chalenge vnto hym the
xlviii
dominion of the fea, and there to dwel and kepe waiTe euen as on the land.
Minos (as wryteth Strabo) was the fyrft that ruled on the fea, whiche
neuertheleffe, other afcribe to Ncptunus, who fyrft founde the Art of Naui-
gation, and was therefore (as wryteth Diodorus) appoynted by Salurnus to
be Admiral of the fyrfte Nauie : and thereby the pofteritic afterwarde
afcribed to him the gouernaunce of the fea, and named him the God
thereof. After whom the Creleti/es euer were efteemed moft expert in the
Art of Nauigation. But (as wryteth Plinie) boates were fyrft inuented,
and with them was the fyrfte faylyng in the Ilandes of the redde fea, vnder
kyng Erythra, as alfo witnelfeth Quinlilian, faying, If none had proceeded
further then the inuentions of our predecelfors, we had had nothyng in the
Poets aboue Andronicus, and nothing in hiftories aboue the Annates or
Cronicles of Byffhoppes, and had yet haue fayled in troughes or in boates.
Other haue afcribed this inuention to diuers other nations and perfons, as
to the Troians and Myfians in Hellefponto, and alfo that the ancient Britanes
made boates of leather or hydes, and fayled with them in the Ocean fea.
Plinie wryteth, that Danaus was the fyrft that brought a Shyppe out of
Grece into Egypt. Some alfo geue the fime to Alinerua. But moft ryght-
fully, the inuention both of the Shyp, and Art of Nauigation, is afcribed to
Noe, who (as wryteth Eu/ebus) was longe before Neptune or Danaus.
For doubtlelfe (fayth he) the Arke of Noe was none other then a Shyp, and
the fyrfte and onely exemplar of the buyldyng of all other Shyppes or
velfelles of faylyng. Alfo the mofte ancient wryter Bero/us the Chaldean
(as wryteth lofeplius) calleth the Arke of Noe, a Shyp. The fame Jo/ephus
alfo fayth, that the Nephues of Noe, departyng to inhabite diuers partes of
the worlde, vfed many Shyppes. &c. Long after Noe, the Tyrians were
counted moft expert in the Arte ol Nauigation : and after them, diuers
other nations. For whereas no Art is fo perfect, but may receaue encreafe,
hereof doth it folowe, that this Art alfo hath been greatly augmented, and
brought to further perfection by witty inuentions of the pofteritie, euen
vnto our age : whereof, who fo lyfteth to know further more particulerly
who inuented all other partes and inftrumentes parteyning to al fortes of
Shyppes, and Art of Nauigation, may read ye thyrde booke of Polidor
Virgil, Cap. xv. De Inuentoril). Rer. and Bayfiiis, de re nauati.
Thus gentle Maifter Wynter, befeechyng your woorfhyp to t.ike
in good part this teftimonie of my thankfuU hart (fuche as it
is) I befeeche the immortall God to profper all your doo-
inges to his honor, and the benefite of your Countrey.
1576. The last work which it was permitted to Eden to
undertake, w.-is an English translation from a Latin
version of Ludovico Barthema's Travels in the Eajt in
1503, which was posthumously printed by R. Willes, the next year.
He was also endeavouring to collect the Reports of the Agents of the
Moscovy Company, which form so important a part of Hakluyt's Collection ;
when death exchanged his earthly life of troubles and labours, for, we can
but think, the blessed peace of heavenly rest.
I am indebted to my friend the late Mr. C. Bridger, Hon. Mem. of the
Soc. of Ant. of Newcastle, for the following note :
1576. July 20. Letters of Administration were granted, in the Pre-
rogative Court of Canterbury, to the estate of Richard
Eden, of the parish of St Dunstan's in the East, (the same
parish in which Sir John Hawkins lived), in favour of Alban Eden, his son.
1577. Summer. R. Willis published a second and altered edition of
the Third Work here reprinted, under the title of The
History oj Trauayle in the West and East Indies, Ss'c.
1586. April. It would appear from T. A. D'Aubigne's Histoire Uni-
versdle, iii. book i. c. 3, /. 15, Ed. 1620, that the Vidame,
after many wanderings, was captured by one Captain
Carles: who (not crediting that a member of so good a
family was unable to pay his ransom) suffered this distinguished Nobleman,
whom the King of Navarre had called his Uncle, and who was now about
sixty-six years ; to die like a dog, while bound to the m-igazine at the bottom
of the hold of his galley. A prisoner so placed would be situated immedi-
ately below the planking of the passage which extended between the two
rows of galley slaves from the prow to the stern of the galley : and there-
fore, when the galley was in motion, would ceaselessly suffer from all the
noise of the sixty or eighty rowers ; from whom he would be separated, only
by the thickness of the planking above his head.
Richard Eden's
Contributions to our Literature,
during the reigns of
Edward VI. and Mary.
I553-I555 A.D,
[The Second English book on America.]
C ^ tVtnt^it 0f tftt nth^t India,
toitfi 0titer neiu founlre lanlrts^
anlr Hatnlrr^, aftortl eatiSttoarlrt a^S
toes^tiuatrlrt, a^ titeg are fenotow
ani founlr i\\ tftete oure iragt^,
after tfte ires^cripcwn of ^e6as-
tian ^vax^itx (n Itis^ Softe of \mxv
tterf all CoCmograpItie : tolterin tfte
Irilifltnt reatrer mag ^tt the goolr
SuaefCe anlr retoartre tA noile
anlr ftont^te enterprgfes?,
l» rgrfteiS are aBtagiretr,
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lavs^tr.
f:ran!ilateTr ffut wf Eatitt inta i^fnalt^fte. aSg
1^" Prater spem sub spe.
^ To THE RIGHT HYGHE AND MIGHTY PrINCE,
THE Duke of Northumberlande,
HYS grace.
Reade in auncient writers (mod noble prince) how
that mightie kyng and conquerour of the world,
Alexander the great, at fuch tyme as he beheld ye
tombe of fearfe Achilles, and therewith called to his
remembraunce howe excellently the Poet Homere
had fet forth his heroical factes, which notwithfland-
ing he thoughte to be muche inferiour vnto his, he
fighed and fayde : Oh the moft fortunate, which hafte
founde fuche a trompe to magnifi thi doinges, mean-
ing hereby, that the fame of Achilles was no leffe
notable to hys pofteritie by homers writing, then
it was in hys lyfe tyme by hys owne marciaJ
afifayres. Wherby we maye perceue fuch magna-
nimitie to haue ben in our prediceffours, men of
noble and flout courage, yat they thought it not fufficiente in their life time to deferue prayfe
and honour, except the fame might alfo redounde to theyr pofteritie, yat they mighte therby
bee encouraged to do the like. Whyche thing truely hath ben ye caufe, yat in al ages
noble enterprifes haue ben commended, and fuch as haue attempted ye fame, haue
bene honoured. Wherfore if honeft commendacions be a iuft reward dew to noble
enterprifes, fo much do they robbe and fpoyle from ye dignitie therof, which in any
poynt diminifhe the fame : no leffe confoundinge the order of thinges, than he whiche
cloteth an ape in purple, and a king in fackecloth. This I fpeake ye rather, beecaufe
there chaunfed of late to come to my handes, a fhiete of printed paper, (more worthy fo to
bee called then a boke) entytuled of the newe founde landes. The whyche tytle when I
readde, as one not vtterlye ignoraunt hereof, hauynge before in my tyme readde Decades,
and alfo the nauigations de nouo orbe, there feemed too me no leffe inequalitye betwene the
tytle and the booke, then if a man woulde profeffe to wryte of Englande, and
entreated onelye of Trumpington a vyllage wythin a myle of Cambrydge. Wherefore
partelye moued [by] the good affeccion, whyche I haue euer borne to the fcience of
Cofmographie, whyche entreately of the defcripcion of the worlde, whereof the newe
founde landes are no fmal part, and much more by ye good wyll, whych of duetie I
beare to my natyue countrey and countreymen, which haue of late to their great praife
(whatfoeuer fuccede) attempted with new viages to ferche ye feas and newe found
landes, I thought it worthy my trauayle, to their better comfort, (as one not otherwife
able to further theyr enterprife) to tranflate this boke oute of latin into Engliftie.
The which, albeit it do not fo largely or particulerlye entreate of euery part, region or
commoditie of ye fayd new found landes, as the worthines of the thing might requyre :
yet fure I am that afwel they which fet forth or take vpon them this viage, as alfo
they which fhal hereafter attempt ye lyke, may in this fmal boke as in a little glaffe,
fee fome cleare light, not only how to learne by the example, dammage, good <'ucceffe,
Eden.
Es
[Deification to the Duke of Northumberland^
and aduentures of other, how to behaue them felues and direct theyr viage to their
mofl commoditie, but alfo if dew fucceffe herein fhoulde not chaunce according vnto
theyr hope and expectation (as oftentimes chanceth in great affaires,) yet not for one
foyle or fal, fo to be difmayd as with fhame and difhonor to leaue wyth loffe, but
rather to the death to perfift in a godly, honefte, and lawful purpofe, knowing that
whereas one death is dewe to nature, the fame is m.ore honourably fpent in fuch
attemptes as may be to the glorye of God and commoditie of our countrey, then in
foft beddes at home, among the teares and weping of women. Which manlye
courage (like vnto that which hath ben feen and proued in your grace, afwell in forene
realmes, as alfo in this oure countrey) yf it had not been wanting in other in thefe
our dayes, at fuche time as our fouereigne Lord of noble memorie Kinge Henry the.
viij. about the fame yere of his raygne, furnifhed and fent forth certen fhippes vnder
the gouernaunce of Sebaftian Cabot yet lining, and one fyr Thomas Perte, whofe
faynt heart was the caufe that that viage toke none effect, yf (I fay) fuch manly
courage whereof we haue fpoken, had not at that tyme bene wanting, it myghte
happelye haue comen to paffe, that that riche treafurye called Perularta, (which is now
in Spayne in the citie of Ciuile, and fo named, for that in it is kepte the infinite ryches
brought thither from the newe found land of Peru,) myght longe fince haue bene in
the towre of London, to the kinges great honoure and welth of this his realme.
What riches the Emperoure hath gotten oute of all the newe founde landes, it
may wel appeare, wheras onlye in the Ilandes of Hifpaiia or Hifpaniola and Cuba
and other Ilandes there aboute, were gathered in two monethes twelue thoufand
poundes weyght of gold as youre grace maye reade in this boke, in the defcripcion of
the Ilandes. Yet fpeake I here nothynge of perles, precious ftones, and fpices.
Neyther yet of the greate aboundaunce of golde, whiche is engendred almofl in al
regions neare vnto the Equinoctial line. And whereas I am aduertifed yat youre
grace haue bene a greate fortherer of thys viage, (as you haue bene euer fludious for
the commoditie of your countrey,) I thought my trauayl herein coulde no wayes be
more worthely beflowed, then to dedicate the fame vnto your grace : Mofl humbly
defiringe youre honoure fo to accepte mine intente herein, as one whofe good will
hath not wanted to gratifie your grace with a better thing if mine abilitie were
greater. Thus Almighty God preferue your grace in health and honour long to
continue.
C Your graces poore o-
ratour Rychard Eden.
C Rycharde Eden to the reader.
Hereas in this Booke (welbeloued Reader) thou mayeft.
reade many llraunge thinges, and in maner incredible, except
the fame were proued mod certayn by dayly experience, and
approued auctoritie, (as (hall hereafter appeare) I thought it
good for thy better inRruction to make this Preface, wherby
thou mightefl more playnly and fenfibly comprehend the reafons
and caufes, yf not of al, yet of fome of the chiefefl thinges,
which are conteyned in the fame. Therfore wheras thou fhalt
reade of the great abundaunce of gold, precious flones and
fpices, which the Spaniardes and Portugales haue brought from
the South partes of the worlde, as from the newe founde landes
and Ilandes, the fodeyn flraungenes or greatnes of the thing
fhal not fo much aniafe thy wittes, and gender in thee
incrudelitie, yf thou confider the faying of wyfe Salomon, who
affyrmeth yat there is no new thing vnder the Sunne, and that
the thing that hath been, cometh to paffe again : which laying
doeth greatly confyrme the trueth, of fuch thinges as are fpoken
of in this Boke, wheras the fame perhappes to fome men might otherwyfe feme in maner incredible,
yf the lyke had not been fene in tyme pafle, and approued by auctoritie of mofle holy fcripture, which
declaring the great wyfdom, ryches, and noble viages of King Salomon, fayth that God gaue him wifdom
and vnderflanding exceding muche, and a large heart, and that he prepared a nauie of fliippes, in the
porte of Azion Gaber, by the brinke of the redde fea, which fayled to Ophir, and brought from thence.
xxL fcore hundreth (which is. xlii.M. [forty-two thousand]) weyght of golde. Agayne, that the weyghte of
golde which was broughte to Salomon in one yere, was. vi. hundreth, thre fcore and. vi. talentes of gold,
wheras the Hebrue talente, called Talenie Hcebraicum fanduarij, was of our flerling money 500. pounde,
and Taletit Habraicutn uulgare, was halfe fo much Lykewyfe yat filuer was nothing worth in the dayes of
Salomon, and yat he made filuer and gold in Hierufalem as plentious as flones Agayn, that he ouerlayd
the houfe of the Lord with precious flones beautifully, and the gold wherwith he couered it, was golde of
Paruaim. Alfo that the kinges nauie of fliippes v/ent once in thre yere to Tharfis, and brought Gold,
Siluer, Apes, Peacockes, and Elephantes teeth. Which wordes furely feme fo to confirme fuch thinges as are
fpoken of in the nauigacions wherof this boke entreateth, that nothinge can make more for the truth of the
lame : and briefely to fpeake of the places whether Salomons Ihippes fayled for Gold, as Tharfis and Ophir.
This ought to be confydered for a general rule, that nearefl vnto the fouth partes of the world betwene the
two Tropikes vnder ye Equinoflial or burning lyne, where the funne is of greatefl forfe, is the chiefefl place
where gold is engendred, although it be fometymes founde in colde regions as in Scotland, in Crayford
more, likewyfe in Hungary, yet nether pure of it felf, nor in great quantitie : the reafon whereof is largely
declared in the Bookes of George Agric, and Albertus Magnus. And wheras it is written in ye Boke of
Kinges in the Actes of Salomon that he prepared his fhippes in Azion Gaber, beyng by the brinke of the
readde fea, and fayled from thence to Ophir for Golde, it is apparaunt, that (howfoeuer the names of thinges
haue altered and periffhed in tyme) he fayled from thence fouthwarde towarde the Equinoctial lyne, for
afmuche as there is none other paflage oute of the narowneffe of the readde fea, but onely into the mayne
South fea, by the which the Portugales euen at this daye make theyr viage to Calicut, Samolra, Madagafcar,
and fuch other Ilandes in the South ead partes of the worlde, where Golde, Spyces, Apes, and Elephantes
are nowe founde in lyke manner. But as for Tharfis beynge a cytye of Cilicia in Afia the lefle and the
natiue countreye of S. Paule the Apoflle, and fituate muche more toward the North, then is ludea, and in
maner directlye ouer againfle ludea on the otherfyde of the fea called Mare Mediteraneum, and in the
fame clime, in the which (landeth the Ilande of Sicilia, and the cytie of Ciuile in Spayne, it hardelye agreeth
with the principles of Philofophie and common experience, that golde fhould be there engendred in lyke
abundaunce as in Regions more towarde the fouth, much leffe Elephantes and Apes, which are no where
engendred farre from the Equinoflial lyne, or beyonde the two Tropikes, nor yet wil engendre j^ they be
Nothine new
vnder the Sunne.
3- «•-■.'• 4
3- Keg. 9
3. Re. 10.
2. Par. 1
1 Par. 3.
T^harsis.
Golde Apes
Elephantes.
Salomons
shippes.
Ofhir.
Where Gold is
engendred.
Scotland.
Hungary
3- R=S- 9
Azion Gaber.
The Equinoc'ial
line.
Thnrsis in
Cilicia.
Sicilia.
Ciuile in Spayne.
8
\Epistle to the Reader.^
Spyces.
Pepper.
Orange tree.
E:ist India.
Solomon boughte
golde of
marchauntes.
The south and
southeast.
Mat. 12.
3 Reg. X
X. Par. 9
The quene of
Saba, the quene
of the south.
2 par. 9
3 Reg- »
Saba in Ethiopia
viider EgipL
Saba in Arabia.
Trie quene of
Saba came from
the Hand of
Meroa.
From Rome to
England.
The viage of our
men to catliay
Norway, Lappia,
Finmarchia.
Globes and
mappes.
Ptolomeus.
America,
The strayghtes of
Magellanus.
The Ilandes of
Molucca.
Passage by the
north sea mto
the East.
Pitts secuncins.
lib. I. Capit ii.
Note wel the
passage by ye
North sea.
Augustus
th[e]emperour
Citnltria.
Caspin.
The warres of ye
M icedcuiaiu
broughte into thofe partes of the world. The lyke is to be vnderflande of Popingiayes and fpyces, and
dyuers other beades, fmites, and trees, which are engendered in certayne climes of the worlde, and
wyll not profpere in other places : the reafon wherof were here to longe [to] declare. For lyke as pepper
wyll not growe in Spayne, no more wyll the Orange tree bringe foorth fruite in Englande. Wherefore, it
may feme by good reafon, that the Golde, Apes, and Elephantes teeth which were broughte from Tharfis (yf it
were Tharfis of Cilicia) were not engendered there, but rather brought thether by merchauntes from the fouth partes
of the world, out of Mauritania, Marmarica, Ethiopia, Libia, and Arabia, or otherwife by lande, from the Eaft.
India, lyke as at this daye, the greate multitude of Spyces, Golde, Precious flones, Sylke, and luerye, whyche is at
Calicut and Cambaia, growe not al in the regions there about, but are brought thether from dyuers other countreys,
as doeth more largely appeare in this Boke. And that Salomons factours for exchaunge of other marchaundyfe,
bought the fame in Tharfis, beyng brought thether from other countreyes, as it is written in the thyrde Boke
of the Kinges, that Salomon had great plentie of Gold of Marchauntes and Apothecaries. So that to
conclude, I would rather thinke (fauing reformacion of other better learned) that this Tharfis (and not
Tharfis of Cilicia,) from whence Salomon had fo great plentie of Gold and luerie, were rather fome other
countrey in the fouth partes of the world, then this Tharfis of Cilicia. For, not onely olde and newe
Hiftories, dayly experience, and the principles of natural Philofophie doe agree, yat the places mod apte to
bring forth gold, fpices, and precious flones, are the South and Southeafl partes of the world, but alfo cur
Sauiour Chrifl approueth the fame, declaring that the Quene of the South (meaning the Quene of Saba)
came from the vtmofle partes of the worlde to heare the wyfdom of Salomon. And lyke as by the auctoritie
of thefe woordes it is playne from what partes of the world fhe came, the fame to a philofophical head is
apparent by fuche ryches and prefentes as fhe broughte with her. For albeit that in the Chronacles of
Salomon it is not written by expreffed wordes that fhe came from the Southe, yet is it wTytten that flie came
to Hierufalem with a very great trayne, with camels laden with fpyces, fwete odours, and exceading much
gold and precious flones, which defcripcion doeth well agree, both with the fituation of the cytie of Saba in
Ethiopia vnder Egipt : and alfo with the countrey of Saba, being in the middel of Arabia, inuironned about
with great rockes wherein is a great wood of Precious trees, fome of Cinomome and CalTia, and fome bring-
ing forth frankencenfe and myrre, as writeth Plinius lib. 12. and Theophrafiiis It. 9. de Hifi. Plant. Wherefore
the Quene of Saba myghte worthely be called the quene of the South, forafmuch as bothe Saba (or rather
Sabat) in Ethiopia, whiche lofephus thinketh to be the Hand oi Mcroe, now called Elfaba, beinge in the ryuer
of Nilus, and that the quene came from thence, and alfo Saba in Arabia, are fituate farre Southwarde from
Hierufalem, euen in maner in the middefl of the lyne, called Tropicus Caricri, and the Equino^ial lyne, where
the Pole Artike is eleuate not paffmg. 13. degrees or thereabout (as in MerocB) where as the fame pole is eleuate
at Hienifalem. 32. degrees : whereby it may appeare yat the quene of Saba (whom Chrifte calleth the quene
of ye fouth,) came from the fouth partes about, xi. hundreth and. xl. miles from Hierufalem for the fame
diftaunce is from Saba in Mcroe to Hierufalem, as betwene Rome and England. But as touching this
matter, it fhall fuffyfe to haue fayde thus muche. Nowe therefore to returne home from thefe farre countreys,
and to fpeake fomewhat of this viage which oure countreymenne, haue attempted to fayle into the Eafte
partes, by the coafles of Norway, Lappia, and Finmarchia, and fo by the narrowe tracte of the Sea by the
coafles of Grouelande, into the frofen fea, called Mare Congelatum, and fo forth to Cathay (yf any fuche
paffage may be found) whiche onely doubte doeth at this daye difcorage many faynte hearted men, fpeciallye
beecaufe in the mode parte of Globes and Mappes they fee the continente or fyrme land, extended euen to
the North Pole without any fuch paffage. Which thing ought to moue no man greatly, forafmuch as the
mod parte of Globes and mappes are made after Ptolomeus Tables : Who, albeit he was an excellent man,
yet were there many thinges hyd from his knowledge, as not fufficientelye tryed or fearched at thofe dales, as
manifedly appeareth in that he knew nothing of America with the hole fyrme lande adherent thereunto,
which is nowe found to be the fourth parte of the earth. Neyther yet knew he any thinge of the paifage by
the Wede into the Fade, by the drayghtes of Magellanus as you fhal reade in this Boke. Neyther of the
Ilandes in the Wede Ocean Sea, nor of the Ilandes of Molucca fituate in the mayne Fade Indian Sea. And
as touchinge this paffage, albeit, it were not knowen in Ptolomeus dayes yet other auctors of later time, who
perhappes haue hadde further experience of the thing (as good reafon is) doe wryte not onely that there is
a paffage by the Northe Sea into the mayne Fade Sea, but doe alfo further declare, howe certayne fliippes
haue fafely fayled throughe the fame, as Pius fecundus (otherwyfe called ALneas Siluius) an excellente
auctour defcrybeth in his Boke of Cofmographie, where he hath thefe wordes folowing. Of the North Ocean
Sea, whether it may be fayled aboute or not, the contencion is greater, yet is it apparaunte that the greatede
parte thereof aboute Germanic, hath been fearched by the commaundemente of Augudus th[e]emperour, euen
vnto the promontorie or landes ende of the people, called Cimbri. The feas alfo and coades of Cafpia were
fo fearched during the warres of the Macedonians vnder the dominion of Seleuctis and Anthiocns, that al
\Episile to the Reader^
9
mofl all the Noilh on euery fyde was fayled about. Plinie rehearfeth the teflimonie of Cornelius Nepos, who
wryteth that the King of Sueuia (or Swethelande) gaue to Metellus ce/er, proconfuU or leauetenaunte of
Fraunce, certayne Indians or menne of Inde, whiche faylinge out of India for marchaundyfe, were by
tempefl drieuen into Germanic. We alfo reade in Otho, that vnder th[e]empyre of the Germaynes, there was
a fhippe of Indians taken in the North fea of Germanie, and drieuen thether by contrary wynd from the
Eaft. partes: which thing coulde by no meanes haue comen to paffe, yf (as many menne thinke) the North
fea were not nauigable by reafon of extreme cold and Ife. And thefe be the very wordes of Fius Seatndus,
whereunto I adde, that thys, notwithflandinge, yf it fhould fo chaunce, that ether there can no fuch paf-
fage be found, or the fame fo daungerous, or otherwyfe that the very cutte thereof by which onely perhappes
any fliippes might paffe, could not be founde, yea, or to cade the worfle, yf they (houlde perifhe in this viage, yet
I woulde wifhe all men to be of fuch corage and conftancie in thefe affayres, as are valiaunt capitaynes
in the warres : who, yf by miffortune they take a foyle, doe rather fludie how by fome other wayes to recouer
theyr honour and reputacion diminifl".ed by the fame, then with fliame, loffe, and difhonour, euer afterwarde
to geue place to theyr enemyes, or forfweare the warres. Wherefore, to conclude, yf no good can be done this
way, it were worthy the aduenture to attempt, yf thp fame viage may bee broughte to paffe, another waye, as
by the (Irayght called Fretum trium fratrum, weflward and by North from England, whiche viage is fufficiently
knowen to fuche as haue any fkyll in Geographie. As for other landes and Ilandes in the wefl fea, where
the Eagle (yet not in euery place) hath fo fpled his winges, that other poore byrdes may not without offence
feke theyr praye within the compaflfe of the fame, I wyll fpeake nothing hereof, bycaufe I wold be loth to lay
an egge, wherof other men might hatche a ferpent Wherfore to let this paffe, and to entre into another
matter. Forafmuch as in thefe our dales hath chaunced fo great a fecret to be found, as the like hath neuer
been knowen or heard before, (what foeuer God meant to kepe this miRery hyd fo long) I thoughte it good
to fpeake fomwhat hereof; trufling yat the pleafaunt contemplacion of the thing it felfe, fhal make the length
of this preface leffe tedious, efpecially yf it find a reader whofe foule delyteth to prayfe God in his workes.
The thing therfore is this, how the hole globe of the world (of the earth and water I meane) hath been fayled
aboute, by the Weft, into the Eaft, as doth more largely appeare in this boke in the nauigacions of Magdlatms,
who from Spayne fayled Weftward to the Ilandes of Molucca being in the Eafl fea, farre beyond ye furtheft
partes of Eaft. India : and the portugales came to the fame Ilandes from Spayne fayling Eaflward by the
coaftes of Aphrica, Arabia, and the vttermoft. India beyond the ryuer of Ganges where, in yat Indian fea the
fayd Ilandes of Molucca are fituate. A thing furely moft wonderful, and in maner incredible, but that the
fame is proued moft certayne by experience, the teacher and meftres of all fciences, for lacke of whofe ayde
(experience I meane) lyke as many greate wittes haue fallen into great errours, fo by her ayde, many bafe
and common wittes haue attayned to the knowledge and practife of fuch wonderfull effectes, as could hardely
be comprehended by the difcourfe of reafon. Which thing or other lyke, I fuppofe was the caufe why the
noble Philofopher Ariftoteles fayde : Quod nihil ejl in inUllectu quod noii fuit prius in fetifu^ that is, that
nothinge is in vnderftandinge, but the fame was fyrft in fenfe, that is to faye subiect to ye fenfes. Yet would
I not that any raftie witte (houlde hereby take holde, as thoughe eyther Ariftotle or I, meant that fence
were more excellent then reafon, but rather that reafon vfing fenfe, taketh his principles and fyrft fedes of
thinges fenfyble, and afterwarde by his owne difcourfe and fearching of caufes, encreafeth the fame from a
feede to a tree, as from an acome to an oke. Nought els to fay, but that experience to be moft certayn
which is ioyned with reafon or fpeculacion, and that reafon to be moft fure which is confirmed with
experience, accordinge as the Phificians determen in theyr fcience, that neyther practyfe is fafe without
fpeculacion, nor fpeculacion without practyfe. Wherfore, whereas men of great knowledge and experience,
are to great affaires, theyr attemptes haue for the mofte parte good fucceffe, as doeth mofte playnly appeare
in all hiftories : notwithftanding that fome ignoraunt men wyl alledge that certayn rafhe aduentures haue
profpered well : which fayinge proueth no more then yf a man ftiould fay, that twife or thrife a man vnarmed
flew a man armed (as dyd fometyme the wyld Irilhmen at bullen) Ergo, it were better to fight vnarmed
then armed. And wheras I haue here fpoken of knowledge ioyned with experience, I meane by knowledge
yat which we commonly call learning, whether it be gotten out of bokes (which are the writinges of wyfe
and expert men) or othervvyfe by conference and educacion with fuch as are lemed : meaning nought els by
learning, but ye gathering of many mens wittes into one mans head, and the experience of many yerer,
and many mens lyues, to the lyfe of one, whom we call a learned, wyfe, and expert man. The which
defynicion and effect of learning, the noble and learned cortier Baltaffar Caftaglione (the auctour of the boke
called in the Italian tongue il cortegio>to,) diligently confideringe, doeth greatlye blame and reproue the
frenfhmen in that they thinke yat the knowledge of letters doeth hinder the affayres of warre, ye which
perfwafion he proueth by many reafons and examples to be moft falfe. But as conceminge the matter
whereof this boke entreateth the greate Philofopher Albertus Magnus, onelye by learninge, wythoute
Plinitts,
Cornelitts Nepos.
Siteuitiy called al.so
Snecia nere vnto
eolhland and
norway.
A ship of Indians
driuen from the
East into the N orth
The viage to
Cathay
Westwarde and
by north.
The earth
compassed about
The viage of
lilagetlatttis.
The Ilandes of
Motucciu
Experience, yc
teaclier of al
sciences.
Sense and
vnderstaudinge.
A sentence of
AristoteU.
Experience ioined
with specuhitiuii
A perticnier
proueth no
vniuersall.
What is
knowledge and
learning
Baltassnr
Casiaglioiie.
A false
?crswasion of ye
'renshmen.
A Ibfrius Magnus
10
\Epistle to the Reader^
Tempcnit re^nons
vnder ye
EqutHOCtial line.
An error of S.
Augustine and
L,actantius,
A niipodes.
A^iaHus.
LactaHtittS.
The roundnes of
ye earth.
S. augustync
Apianja.
The apostles,
Antipodes ih^
one againste
th[e]other.
The spanyardes
and the Indians
are Autipoiies.
S. augustine of
the heresie of
Alanickeus.
S. augustines
boke of retractes.
Mountaynes, let
not ye ruundnus
of the earth.
Agalle.
A .Sentence of S.
augustines.
Commendacton of
s. augustin
iMct^ntint.
experyence, affyrmed that habitable or temperate Regions myghte be vnder the Equinoctial or buminge
lyne, as appeareth in hys Boke de Natura locorum, contrarye to the opinion of other wryters whyche were before
hys tyme, and yet is nowe proued by experience to bee mode true, albeit not in all places vnder the fayde
lyne, the cauft whereof were here to longe to declare. And lyke as Albertus Magnus by knowledge of
Aftronomye (wherein he excelled) came to the vnderflandinge hereof, euen fo that greate Gierke (but better
dyuyne then Phylofopher) Sayncte Auguflyne and alfo Lactantius, for lacke of lyke knowledge in that fcience,
fell into a chyldifhe erroure, denyinge that there is anye people, called Antipodes, of whom the greate
Aflronomer of our tyme, Apianus wryteth in thys maner. Antipodes are they, whyche walke wyth theyr fete
dyrectelye contrarye agaynlle cures, and haue the heauen dyrectelye ouer theyr heades as we haue. Yet haue
we nothinge common wyth them, but all thinges contrarye : for when the Sunne caufeth Sommer wyth vs,
then is it Myddewynter wyth them : and when it is day wyth vs, it is nyghte wyth them : And when the daye
is longefte wyth vs, then is the longefle nyghte wyth them, and the fhortefle daye. Whiche, Lactantius, a
manne otherwyfe well learned, in his thyrde Booke, Capittulo foure and tvventye, childiffhelye erringe, wyth
hys lyghte and opinionate argumentes, denyeth that there is anye fuche, and mocketh the Aflronomers,
beecaufe they aifyrme the earth to bee rounde, whiche neuertheleffe they proue wyth mofle certayne and
apparente demonflracions of Geometrye, and vnfayleable experymentes. Whome, Sayncte Auguflyne
folowing, in his fixtenth Booke. de Ciuitat. Dei. Capittu. ix. wryteth after thys forte. Suche as fable that
there is Antipodes, that is to faye, menne of the contrarye parte, where the funne ryfeth when it falleth to vs,
and to haue theyr feete agaynlle oures, we oughte by no reafon to beeleue. Thofe bee the woordes of
Sayncte Auguflyne. Nothwithftandinge (fayeth Apianus) putte thou no double Gentle Reader, that the
Apoflles of Chrifle were Antipodes the one to the other, and flode feete to feete the one agaynfle the
other, when lames th[e]elder and brother to lohn the Euangelifle, the fonne of Zebedeus, was in Spayne in
Galitia, and Thomas the Apodle in the hygher India, they were moofte certaynelye Antipodes, walking feete
to feete one agaynfle the other, almofl as directly as a diametrical lyne. For the Spanyardes are Antipodes
to the Indians, and the Indians in lyke maner to the Spanyardes. Which thinge alfo the excellente and
aunciente Auctour Strabo confyrmeth to bee true, and likewife Plinius Nat. Hijl. lib. 2. Cap. 67. Dolateranus
alfo, and all other Cofmographers and Aflronomers. Hetherto Apianus : and to declare my opinion in fewe
woordes, I thinke it no greate marueyle that Saincte Auguflyne (houlde fall into an erroure in the fcience
of Aflronomie in whiche he trauayled but as a flraunger, forafmuche as he erred in many thinges in diuinitie
which was his chief profeffion : and was longe of the herefye of Manicheus beefore he was conuerted by
Saincte Ambrofe : and wrytte alfo at the lengthe a Booke of retractes, in whych he correcteth hys owne
errours. And I beleue playnely that, that excellent witte of hys, could not haue remayned in yat errour yf
he had been wel exercyfed in Aflronomy, or had knowen any fuche experyence as is fpoken of here beefore,
howe the Spanyardes by the Wefle and the Portugales by the Eafle compaffed aboute the earth, whiche
coulde neuer haue come to paffe yf the earthe were not rounde (Quantum ad maximas fui partes) as they call
it For, as for hylles and Mountaynes, though they be neuer fo greate, yet in refpecte to the byggenes of the
earth, they doe no more lette the roundneffe hereof, then doe the lyttle knobbes of the berrye, which we call
a galle, lette the roundneffe of the fame. Wherefore I am certaynely perfwaded, that yf Sayncte Auguflyne
had continued hys fludye in Aftronomye (as it hadde been pytye he fhoulde) or were alyue at thys daye, he
woulde alfo haue retracted this erroure. But yf here anye fuperfticious head fhall thinke it a heynous matter
in any poynte to contrary Sainct Auguftyne, lette hym hearken howe Auguftine h)'m felfe fayeth : that
he wyll neyther hys writynges or other mennes, of howe greate name or fame foeuer they be, otherwife
to be beleued then the fame fhall, by reafon bee approued to be true : Neque quorumlibet difputaciones, &>€.
And lyke as the greate Philofopher Ariftotel, when he WTyte agaynfte hys mayfter Plato of the queftion
de Idais, and agaynfle Socrates who by the oracle of Apollo was proued to be moft wyfe, and certayne
of hys frendes afked hym why he durfte be fo boulde, he aunfwered that Plato was hys frende, and
fo was Socrates : but trueth hys frende more then they bothe, euen fo I thinke it no iniurye nor
contumelye to Saynct Auguftyne, yf the fame were fayde of hym alfo geuynge hym otherwyfe hys dewe
commendacions, as he was furelye an excellente man, of dyuyne witte, and knowledge, and fo trauayled in
fettynge foorth Chriftes true Relygion in thofe turmoylous dayes, in perpetual combatte, agaynfte learned
heretykes and Prynces of the worlde, that he is worthelye called a Doctour and Pyller of Chriftes Churche.
And as for Lactantius, the intente of whofe wrytinges was chiefelye to thys ende, to dyminifhe th[e]eftimacion
of Philofophye, (as at thofe dayes it was neceffarie to doe amonge the Gentyles) and to aduaunce Goddes
woorde, (whyche they contemned for the fimplicitie of the fame,) albeit, he attempted as farre as hys leam-
inge woulde feme hym, to make all thynges in Philo[fo]phie vncertayne, yet are hys argumentes fo flender,
that vnleffe G O D by the fecrete working of hys fpyryte, hadde called the Gentyles to the true Faythe, I feare
me leafte fewe or none of them, (fpecyallye of the greate wyttes) woulde haue been conuerted by Lactantius
\Episth to the Reader-I
II
argumentes. Howe he dalyeth in denyinge the yearth to bee rounde, and that it is poffyble that it
myghte bee longe and rounde, (lyke an Egge,) or otherwyfe longe and holowe lyke a bote, (meanynge I
fuppofe that the Sea myghte bee conteyned in the holowneffe of the iame, wyth fuche other opinyons
grounded of no reafon, it were to longe to rehearfe. Yet, forafmuche as he was a learned manne, and
for the better fatifiyinge of fuche wyttes as are defyreous to know fome apperaunce of truth by naturall
reafon and demonflracions, lette vs admytte that the earth were rounde after anye of thofe faflhions whiche
he defcrybeth : yet can it not bee denyed, but that it is conteyned wythin the holoweneffe (yf I maye
fo call it) of the ayre, hauynge the heauen in euerye place dyrectelye ouer euery parte of the lame, as fayeth
the Poete and Philofopher Virgill, Ccelum undique furfum : Excepte perhappes Lactantius fhoulde thinke
that it honge by fome thynge, or were otherwyfe borne vppe wyth pyllers as the Poetes Fable, that the
Gyaunte Atlas beareth the worlde on hys fhoulders, whereby they meane that a manne of valiente mynde
mufl. floutelye beare the chaunces of the worlde. Of whyche hangeinge or bearynge of the earth, I reade
a better and more true fayinge in the holye Scripture, where it is written, Fert 07imia uerbo oris fui, that
is, that God fuflayneth and beareth all thinges with the woorde of hys mouth.
Holye lob alfo fayeth, that the LORD flretcheth oute the Northe ouer the emptye, and hangeth the
earth vpon nothynge : Meaninge by nothinge, the ayre, becaufe to oure fenfes it appeareth in maner as
nothynge : Or otherwyfe that it is not dependynge of anye other fubflaunce, but to bee fuflayned onelye by
the power of G O D who hath appoynted the Elementes theyr places and lymittes, and caufeth the heuye to
flande fade : as wytnefleth Moyfes in hys fonge, fayinge : By the wynde of thy noflrels the waters gathered
together, the flouddes floode llyll as an heape, and the deepe water congeled togeather in the heart of the Sea.
Wherefore yf the heauen be rounde (whiche no manne can reafonably denye that euer fawe the Sunne and
flerres moue.) And yf the earth bee the center of the worlde dependinge as we haue fayde beefore, then
mufle it needes folowe, that they whiche inhabiting the Northvvefle partes of the earth, haue the Pole Artike
eleuate thyrtye degrees, mud needes bee Antipodes to them whiche inhabitinge the Southeafle partes of the
earth, haue the Pole Antartike eleuate in the fame degree, and fo the lyke to bee vnderfland of all other
eleuacions and degrees. And yf here anye wyll obiect, that eyther the earth or firme land is not fo large, or
fo farre extended, or other wyfe not inhabited althoughe it were fo large, or that the fea is greater then the
lande, to thys I aunfwere, that no man knoweth further hereof then is tryed and founde by experience, as
we haue fayde beefore. And albeit that the fea were larger then the firme lande, yet forafmuche as there are
Ilandes founde in all places of the mayne Sea, and in maner all inhabited, there is no reafon to the con-
trarye, but that the people of thofe Ilandes maye be Antipodes to fuch as dwel on the fyrme lande, on the
contrary parte, whether the earth bee round and longe, yea or fquare, (yf you wyll) notwj'thftandynge. But
wyth what certayne demonRracions the Aflronomers and Geometricians, proue the earth to bee rounde, and
the Sphericall or rounde forme to bee moofle perfecte, it were to longe to declare. I wyll therefore make
an ende of thys matter wyth the fayinge of Sayncte Paule in hys Oracion, to the menne of Athens. That
GOD made of one bloudde, all nacions of menne, to dwell vpon the hole face of the earth.
C I hadde entended here (well beeloued Reader) to haue fpoken fomewhat of fuche flraunge thynges
and Monflers, whereof mencion is made in thys Booke, to th[e]ende that fuche as by the narownes of theyr
vnderflandinge are not of capacitie to conceaue the caufes and natures of thynges, myghte partely haue been
fatiffyed wyth fome fenfyble reafons. But beynge at thys tyme otherwyfe hindered, it Ihall fuffife al good
and honed wittes, that whatfoeuer the Lorde hath pleafed, that hath he done in heauen and in earth, and in
the Sea, and in all depe places.
n Ecclefiadicus. Capit. i.
€[ The eye is not fatiffyed withfyght, and ilte eare is not fylted with hearinge.
Of the rounden^*
of ye earth.
The earth hangeth
in ye aire
The fable of
Atlas.
The word of God
beareth vppe the
world.
lob. 26.
The elementes.
£xa J
The eleuation of
the pole.
The larecnes of
the earth.
Ilandes
Astronomers and
Geometricians.
Act xvij
PS.-1. J3S
12
C The Table.
C Of the Ilande of laua.
Of the Ilande of Madagafcar.
Of the Ilande of Zanzibar.
Of the two Ilandes in the which men and women dwell a funder.
Of the mightie Empyre of Cathay, fubiect vnder the dominion of the great Cham or Cane,
Emperour of Tartaria.
Of certayn Prouinces fubiect vnder the dominion of the great Cham.
Of the Prouince of Mangi.
Of the Region of Tangut.
Of the newe Ilandes, howe, when, and by whom they were founde.
Of the two Ilandes lohanna and Hifpana.
Of the Canibales, which eate mens flefhe.
Of the maners of the inhabitantes of Hifpana.
How Chriftophorus Columbus, after that he had founde the newe Ilandes, returned to Spayne :
and preparing a new nauie, failed agayn to ye Canibales.
How Columbus the Admiral, paffed many Ilandes and what chaunced to hym and his in that viage.
Of the newe India, as it is founde and knowen in thefe oure dayes.
Of the Adamant flone, otherwife called the Diamant.
Of the Kingdoms and cities of Narfmga and Canonor
Howe the Elephantes in India are prepared to the warres.
Of the beafle called Rhinoceros.
Of Cahcut, the mofle famous markette towne of India.
Of the maners of the Indians in Calicut
Of Pepper and other fpyces which growe in the Region of CaUcut
Of the byrdes and beades which are found in the Region of Calicut : and of the wyne of the tree.
From whence all kyndes of fpyces are brought to the cytie of Calicut
Of the Hand of zaylon, and of the cinomome tree.
Of the cytie of Tamafferi, and of the maners of the cytezyns.
Of the excellent cytie and Kingdom of Pego.
Of the Ilande of Sumatra, or Taprobana.
Of the Ilande of BomeL
Of the Ilande of Giaua.
Howe the Spanyardes abufed the fubmiflion and frendfliip of the inhabitauntes of the Ilandes.
Howe the Portugales foughte newe Ilandes in the Eaft. partes, and howe they came to Calicut
Howe Magellanus by a ftrayght or narow arme of the Sea, fayled by the Wefte into the Eafte
to dyuers Ilandes, where alfo he was flayne.
Howe the Spanyardes came to the Ilandes of Molucca, and of the people with great hanging eares.
The third nauigacion of Chriftophorus Columbus.
[How Petrus Alonfus foughte newe Ilandes.
How Pinzonus companion to the Admiral, fought newe Ilandes.
The foure nauigacions of Americus Vefputius to the newe Ilandes.
The fyrfle viage of Vefputius.
The fecond viage of Vefputius.
The thyrde viage of Vefputius.
The fourth viage of Vefputius.
Howe the Kyng of Portugale fubdued certayne places in India, and of the ryche cytie of Malacha.
Of the Ilande of Medera, and the fortunate Ilandes, otherwyfe called the Ilandes of Canaria.
[Whether vnder the .^Equinoctial circle or buminge lyne (called Torrida Zona) be habitable Regions.
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1 n IS.
13
1 Of the newe India,
as it is knowen and found in thefe our dayes.
In the yeare of oure Lorde. M.D.LI 1 1.
After the defcripcion of Sebaftian Munfler in
his Booke of the vniuerfall Cofmographie.
Lihr. V. De terris Asi(2 Maioris.
And tranflated into Englifhe
by Richard Eden.
Here are two viages or nauigacions made oute of Europa into
India. The one foutheafl from fpayne, by the coafles of
Aphrica and Ethiopia, euen vnto Arabia to the citie called
Aden. And from thence to the Ilande of Ormus, and from
Ormus to the citie of Cambaia, and from thence euen vnto the
citie of Calicut Cambaia is fituate nere vnto the floudde Indus.
This citie is of great powre, riche, and abundaunt in al kyndes of
grayne and come. The foyle hereof bringeth forth fondry
kyndes of fwete oyntmentes, and cotten which groweth on certain
trees called Gofsampini, this cotton, is otherwyfe called Bombage
or fylke of the trees. The Kynge of Portugall fubdued this
cytie, and bylded hard by the fame a ftrong fortreffe : with
which thing the Turke beeing fore greued, commaunded a greate
nauie of fhippes with greate fumptuoufnes to bee furniflied in
the goulfe called Siiius Arabiais: to the ende that he might
dryue the Portugalles out of India, and the better to acconi-
plifhe this his purpofe, he appointed one Soliman a noble man of
warre (beyng alfo the Captayne of Alcayre,) to be the admiral general, or gouemour of his nauie, hauing in his
retenue. xx. thoufand fouldiers beefyde mariners and gonners, whiche were in numbre foure thoufand. This
nauie was appointed in the hauen Suezio, beeinge a port of the redde fea, in the yeare of Chrifl. 1538. And
arryued fyrfle at the citie Aden : where laying anker, the gouemour of the nauie fent letters to the king of
Aden, certifying him that he woulde take his viage into India, from thence to expell the King of Portugall.
The Kinge of Aden whiche was then tributarye to the King of Portugall, receyued the Turkes letters thanke-
fuUy, offering him felfe and all that he might make, to fo mightie an Emperoure, defyringe the gouemoure to
come forth of the fhip, and to beholde the cytie obedient and readye at his commaundemente, in the which alfo
accordinge vnto his digniue and office, he fhould be worthely interteyned : but the gouemour agayne allured and
entyfed hym to come out of his citie, and fo by crafte circumuented him, that he toke him priefoner, and com-
maunded him to be hanged on the fayle yarde of the fhyp, and with hym foure other of the rulers of the citie of
Aden, affyrming that he was commaunded of the Turke fo to handel them, becaufe the cytiezins of Aden had
not only made a leage with the Portugales, but had alfo payde them tribute : whiche nacion the Turke playnely
entended to drieue out of India. And thus after the Kynges death, that mod riche and beautiful cytie, was euer
a praye to theues, fpoylers, and murtherers without refyflaunce. Then the gouemoure departing from thence, lefte
there behynde him a garrifon of two thoufand men of warre, and faylyng forwarde on hys viage, he came to the
citie called Diutn, whiche the Portugales held : and his armie was greatly encreafed by the waye, as wel by land
as by fea, by reafon of the great confluence of the Turkes which on euery fide reforted to him, fo that in a fliort
fpace they rowled before them a bulwarke or countremure of earth, in maner as bigge as a mountayne, which
by little and litle they moued neare vnto the trenche or ditche of the caftell, fo that they might fafely fland
Dehynde the bulwarke, (thus rayfing a mount,) they befieged the caflell on euery fyde, and battered the walks
and towres thereof very fore : yet that notwithllanding, were at the length, enforfed to departe, not withoute
greate loffe and flaughter of theyr fouldiers : for this Dium, is the flrongefl citie that is vnder the dominion of
The —
ther is
Soulhweste.
The citie of
Cambaia
Calicut.
Gossipium^
Bombage or
cotton of the trties.
The turkes nauie
agaynste the
king of Portu^.alc.
The cytie of Aden.
The kinge of
Aden is nangcd.
The destruction
of the citie of
Aden.
The turke
besiegeth the
cytie of D U-n.
The turke is
repulsed.
14
\0f the newe India, as it is knowen & fontid, &c^^
The excetlencie
of the cilie of
Cambaia.
Lncha is gumme
of a tree, and is
vsed in dying of
siUcb
The Kyngdom of
iogtu
The Kyngdom of
Dechatu
The diamonde
The stone
Sideritet,
The hardnes of
the diamond.
How the diamand
is made sufte.
The montayne of
diamantes.
The citie of
Narsinga.
The kinge of
Narsinga,
Cambaia : but the cytie of Cambaia, is fituate in the goulfe called Guzerat, and is well inhabited, and in maner
mod excellent of all the cities of India, and is therefore called Cayrus, or Akayr, or Babilon of India. It is
enuironned with a walk, and hath in it very fayre byldinges. Ye Soldan or chefe ruler hereof, is of Mahumets
fecte as are ye Turkes. Lacha groweth there more plentifully then in any other countre. The inhabitauntes,
for the mofle parte goe naked, couering only theyr priuie partes : they bynd theyr heades about with a clothe
of purple color. The Soldan or prince of this citie, hath in a redines for the warres. xx. thoufand horfemen,
he hath alfo a mightye and magnifical court. When he waketh in ye morning there is heard a great noyfe of
cimbals, drumflades, timbrelles, fhames, pipes, flutes, trumpettes, and diuerfe other mufical inflrumentes, hereby
fignifying that the king lyueth and is in health and merye : in lyke maner doe they whyle he is at dyner. To
the kyngdom of Cambaia, is the Kingdom of loga nexte adioyning, which reacheth farre on euerye fide. In this
kingdom, by reafon of the greate heate of the fonne, the bodyes of men begin to waxe blacke and to be fcorched:
the people of thys countreye haue ringes hanging at their eares and colers aboute theyr neckes of fundry fortes,
al befet and (hyninge with precious Hones. The foyle hereof is not very fruitful, this region is rough with
mountaynes, the byldinge[s] are defpicable, and euyl to dwel in : there is beyonde this, another Kingdom
called Decha)t : this cytie is very beautiful to behold, and fruitful in maner of al thinges : the king hereof vfeth
great pride, and folemnitie : his pompes and triumphes are in maner incredible, they that wayt vpon the kinge,
weare on the vpper partes of theyr Ihoes certayne fliyning precious flones, as Piropi (whiche are a kind of
Rubies or Carbuncles) with Diamandes and fuch other. But what maner of lewelles they vfe in ye (lede of
collers, eareringes, and ringes, you may well confyder, whereas they geue fuche honour to theyr fete. In this
kingdom is faid to be a mountayne, out of the which Diamandes are digged.
C Of the Diamande Jlone, called in Latine Adamas,
He Diamande is engendred in the mynes of India, Ethiopia, Arabia, Macedonia, and Cyprus,
and in the golde mynes of the fame countries. That of India excelleth all other in beautie
and clearenes : that which is of the coloure of yron, is called Sideriies, it is often tymes found
in colour like vnto criflal, and though it be fometimes lyke thereto in whytnes, yet doth it
differ from criflall in hardnes, in fo much that if it be layd vpon an anuil and flrongly llriken
with a hammer, the anuyl and hammer fhall foner be wounded and leape away, then the Hone
perifhed or diminifhed : it doth not onelye refufe the forfe of Iron, but alfo refifleth the power
of fyre, whofe heate is fo farre vnable to melte it, that it can not fo muche as heate it, if we geue credit
to Plinie, and is alfo rather made purer therby, then anye wayes defyled or corrupted: neuertheles, the
fmguler and excellent hardnes of this flone, is made fo fofte with ye hoate blood of a Goate or a Lyon,
that it may be broken : and if it be put with molten lead in hoate fomaces, it waxeth fo hoate that it wylbe
diffolued : yet are not all Diamandes of fuch hardnefle, for that of Cyprus, and alfo that of the coloure of
Iron called Siderites, may be broken with hammers and perced with another Diamand: his vertue is to
bewray poifons, and to fruflrate th[e]opperacion therof, and beeing therefore greatly ellemed of Kinges and
Princes, it hath euer been of great price. The mountaine of India out of the which the Diamandes are
digged, is compaffed with a waUe on euery fyde, and kepte with a flrong defence.
C Of the kingdoms and cities of Narfmga and Canonor.
He King of Narfmga, in riches and dominion excelleth all other Kinges in thofe partes. The
chiefe cytie where the King is refident, is in fituacion and fynenes, much lyke vnto the cytie
of Milayne, but that it flandeth in a place fomewhat declyning and leffe equalL This king
hath euer in a redines manye thoufandes of men of armes, as one that is euer at warre with
other countreys, borderers nere aboute him. He is geuen to mode vile Idolatrie, and
honoureth the deuyll, euen as doth the king of Calicut. The maners and fafhions of the
inhabitantes, are after this forte. The gentlemen or fuch as are of greatefl. reuenewes, vfe to
weare an inward cote or peticote, not very long : hauing theyr heades bounde aboute with lifl.es and rowles of
fundry coloures after the maner of the Turkes. The common people, couer onli their priuie parts and are
befyde all together naked. The Kynge weareth on his head a (lately cap made of the riche cloth of Afia,
beyng two handfuUes in length. When he goeth to ye warres, he weareth a veflure of ye filke called Goffampine,
which he couereth with a cloke adorned with plates of gold : ye hemme or edge of his cloke is befet with all
maner of ouches and lewelles. Hys horfe is iudged to be of fuch valure if you refpect ye price, as is one of
\0f the newe India, as it is knowen & found, &c^
15
our cities. And this is by the meanes of ye innumerable multitude and fundrie kindes of precious ilones, and
perles wherewith ye trappers, barbes, and other furnitures of his horfe are couered, with an incredible pompe and
glori. The foyle of Narfinga, beareth nether wheate nor grapes, and is in maner without al kinde of fruites,
except citrons and gourdes : the inhabitantes eate no bread, but ryce, fifhe and flelhe, and alfo walnuttes, which
that countrey beareth, there begin fpyces to be found, as ginger, pepper, mirabolanes, Cardamome, Caffia, and
dyuers other kyndes of fpyces.
Cananu, is a very excellente cytie, fayre and beautifuU in all thinges, fauing that the Kinge thereof is an
Idolater. This citie hath a hauen whether the horfes of Perfia are brought, but theyr tribute or cuRome, is
excedinge great: the inhabitantes lyue with ryce, fleffhe, and fyfhe as do they of Narfmga: in the warres they vfe
the fweorde, the round target, fpeares and bowes, and haue nowe alfo the vfe of gonnes, they are all naked
fauing their prieuie partes, and go beare headed, except when they goe to the warres, for then they couer theyr
heades with a redde hatte which thei folde double, and bind it fafl with a lyd or bande. In the warres they
vfe neither horfe, mule, or afle, neither that kynde of camels which we commonly call dromedaries : but
vfe onely Elephantes. There is alfo in the kingdom of Narfinga another godly citie called Bifinagar : it is
compaffed aboute with a walle, and fituate on the fide of a hyll, beeyng. viij. myles in circuite hauinge alfo in it
a famous market place. The foyle is very fruitful, there are all delicate thinges to be found that may encreafe
the pleafures of this lyfe. There maye no where be found more pleafaunt feldes and woddes for hauking and
huntinge, a man woulde thinke it were a very Paradyfe of pleafure. The king of this citie is of great power, he
keepeth dayly many thoufandes of men at armes, vfinge Elephantes in the llede of horfes. And hath euer foure
hundreth Elephantes prepared for the warres.
C How the Elephantes in India are prepared to warre.
,He Elephant is a beafl. very docible and apte to be taught, and litde inferiour from humaine
fenfe, excellinge all other beaftes in fortitude and flrength. Therfore ye Indians, when they
prepare them to the warres, put great packfaddels vpon them, which they bind fafl with two
chaines of Iron,comming vnder theyr belyes. Vpon the packfaddels, they haue on euery fide
a little houfe or towre, or cage (if you lid fo to call it) made of wood. Thefe towres ar made
fafl to the necke of the bealle with certayne fawed hordes of the thickenes of halfe a hande
breath. Euery towre receyueth thre men. And betwene both the towres, vpon the back of
the beafl fytteth an Indian, a man of that countrey which fpeaketh vnto the beade. For this beade hath
marueylous vnderdanding of the language of hys natyue countrey, and doth wonderfulli beare in memorie
benefytes fhewed vnto him. It is alfo mode certayne that none other bead draweth fo nere to the excellence
of huraayne fenfe or reafon as doeth this bead, as maye mod playnly appeare, yf we confidre, how he is geuen to
loue and glory, to a certeyn frendly gentlenes and honed maners, ioyned with a marueylous difcrecion, to know
good from euil, more redy to recompence benefites then reuenge iniuries, which excellent properties are not to
be found in other brute beades. Therfore when the Elephantes go forward to ye warres, feuen armed men
are appoynted to be caried vpon one Elephant, bearing witJi them, bowes, iauelins, fweordes and targettes :
alfo the longe fnout of the Elephant (which thei cal his hand) is armed with a fweorde of two cubites in length,
and in bredth and thickenes a handfuU, flandinge righte forth, tyed fade to the fnowte of the bead, and thus
beeing furnifhed, they procede to the battaile: and whereas occafion requyreth to go forward or backwarde,
the ruler of the bead geueth him waminge, whofe voyce he vnderdandeth and obeyeth : dryke hym, fayth the
ruler, forbeare hym, be fearfe agaynd thefe, abdayne from thefe, the beade obeyeth hym in all thinges, as
though he had humayn reafon, but yf it fo chaunce that being made afrayd with fire (which thinge they feare
aboue all other) they beginne to flye, they can by no meanes bee allured to doppe theyr courfe, or retoume
agayne, for the people of that nacion, can with many fubtyl deuifes as often as them lideth, raife vp fires to make
thofe beades afrayde. There be fome men which thincke that Elephantes haue no ioyntes in theyr legges,
which opinion other affirme to be vntrue, for they haue ioyntes as haue other beades, but that they are very low
and almod at their fete. Tlie females are of greater fierceneffe then the males, and of much greater drength
to beare burdens : they are fometime taken with madnes, declaring the fame by theyr furious running. An
Elephant excedeth in greatnes thre wilde oxen called Bubali, and is much lyke of heare, and eyed lyke a fwine,
hauing a long fnout, hanging downward, with the which he putteth into his mouth whatfoeuer he eateth or
drinketh, for his mouth is vnder his throte, not muche vnlyke the mouth of a fwyne : his fnowte hath holes in it,
and is holowe within, with this they ouerthrow ye dumpes of trees : and that of fuche bignes, that the forfe of
xxiiij. men is not able to do the fame. The two great tufkes which they haue comming farre oute of theyr
The richc trapping
of the lunges
horsb.
Spices of
Naisinga.
The cytie of
Cananar.
The vse of
Elephantes in the
warres.
The cytie
Bisitiagar.
Hauking and
huntinge.
The kinge of
hisinagar.
The Elephantes
vowre.
Elephantes
vnderstandeth the
language of theyr
countreL
Seuen armed
men vpon one
Elephant
The ruler
speaketh to the
Elephant.
The Elephantes
ioyntes.
The bignes and
shape of the
Elephant.
i6
The painters erre
herein.
Vndcrstande the
handebredth with
the thumbe
stretched forth.
The Elephantes
pase.
The Elephante is
vexed with flyes.
How the Elephant
kylleth flyes.
[0/ the ne-ive India, as it is knowen & found, &c\
mouth, or placed in the vpper iawe, hauinge on euerye fyde lappes hanging downe of the bignes of two hand
brea[d]th. Theyr fete are round like vnto a flat trene difhe, hauing fyue toes like hoeues vndeuided, of the bignes
of great oyllerfhelles. Theyr tayles are lyke vnto the tayles of wide oxen, thre handful in length, hauing but
few heares. The males are hygher then the females. They are of fundry bignes : fome are of xiij. handfulle*
hye, fome of xiiij. and fome. xvi. Their pafe in goyng, is fomewhat flowe and walowinge, by reafon whereof,
fome whiche ryde on them and haue not been accuflomed thereto, are prouoked to vomitte, euen as they were
tofled on the fea. Yet it is great plefure to ride on the yong Elephantes, for they goe as foftely as ambeling
moiles. When you attempt to geat vp, to ryde on them, they bow downe toward you, as though they would
eafe you with a llerope, that you may the eafelier geat vp, which neuertheles cannot wel be done without
helpe. They are all vnbrideled hauinge neither withe nor coller aboute theyr neckes, but goe with theyr heades
al together lofe. And becaufe they are not couered with brillels or bigge heares, they haue not fo muche as in
theyr tayle anye helpe to dryue awaye flyes. For euen this greate beafle alfo (fayeth Plinie) is troubled with
this lyttle vermyne. Theyr fkinne is very rowghe, and full of chappes, and riftes, like the barke of a tree, being
fomwhat filthye and full of fwette, whiche by heate refolued into vapoure, by fauour draweth flyes vnto it : there-
fore when any flyes or other creping vermen are entered into the fayde riftes of theyr fkinnes, fodeynly bending
and drawing together their flcinne, they hold them fafl and kyl them, and this is to them in the ftede of a tayle,
a mane, or rough and briHeled heare.
C Of the beafie called Rhinoceros.
Enmitie betwene
the Elephant and
Rhinoceros,
The Rhinoceros
ii horncs
The fight betwene
H hinoceros and
the Elephant
Kkinoceros
naturally armed.
Rhinoceros sene
in Portugale.
Rhinoceros
onercometh the
ElephanL
Hinoceros is comonly found in the fame countrey, where Elephantes are engendred, and
is borne an enemy to the Elephant (as faith Plinie) no lefle feking his dedruction then doth
the dragon : wherfore the Romaynes confidering the natures of thefe beafl.es, were wont to
put them together vpon the theater or flage, for a fpectacle, therby to declare the natures of
enemies. This Rhinoceros hath two homes, whereof the one is of notable bignes, growing
oute of his nofethrilles, and is of flatte forme, and as harde as Iron. The other groweth aboue
in his necke, and is but a little one, but wonderful fl.rong : when this bead attempteth to
inuade the Elephant, he fyleth and whetteth his home on a fl.one and fl.ryketh at the belly of the Elephant,
which place he knoweth to be mofl open to his fl.ripes, and eafyefl. to receaue hurt, becaufe of the foftenes thereof,
which he cutteth with his home as with a fweord. Some auctours write that Rhinoceros is vnequall in bignes to
the Elephante : but lultus Solinus faith, that he is as long as the Elephante, but hath fliorter legges : when
Rhinoceros therfore and the Elephant ioyne together in fighte, they vfe theyr naturall weapons : the Rhinoceros
his home, and the Elephante his tuflces, wherewith he fo violentlye beateth and teareth the flcinne oi Rhinoceros
being as harde as home or fliell, and fcarcelye able to be pearfed with a dart, that he neuertheles enforfeth him
to fall downe. Rhinoceros agayne on the other partie fo woundeth the belye of the Elephante with the home of
hys nofethrilles, yf he doe not preuente hys ftrokes, yat he fainteth with bleding. In the yere of Chrifl.. 15 13.
the "firfl, day of Maye, was broughte oute of India to Emanuel the king of Portugale Rhinoceros alyue, of the
coloure of boxe, fomwhat variable and as it wer chekered, couered with fhelles lyke fcales, or rather lyke fhieldes.
This beafl, was in bignes equall to an Elephante, but had fhorter legges, and was armed on euery parte. He
had a fl.ronge and fliarpe home in his nofethrilles, the whiche (as I haue fayde) he fyleth, when he prepareth
him to fight All this great hatered betwene thefe two beafles, is for ye befl paflures which one fl.riueth to take
from the other as fome wryters faye. In the yeare of Chrifle. 15 15. King Emanuel fet forth a fpectacle in the
citie of Liflona, in which was a combat betwene the Elephant and Rhinoceros. A fight doubtleffe worthy great
admiracion. But in this fight, the Elephant had the ouerthrowe.
e O/" Calicut, the mofl faniotis market towne of India.
Lowe and simple
bouses.
He cytie of Calicut is in the continente or nlayne lande. And the houfes therof adioyning to
the fea. It is not walled about, but conteyneth in circuite. vi. thoufand houfes, not adherent
together as the maner of bylding is with vs, but one being diflant from another, a further
fpace. It is extended in length a thoufand pafes. The houfes thereof, are but fimple and very
lowe, not paflinge the heygth of a manne on horfebacke from the grounde. In the ftede
of a roofe, they are couered with bowes of trees, harde and thicke couched together, the caufe
hereof is, that yf the earth there be in anye place digged fyue handfull depth, the water
\0f the newe India, as it is knowen & found, <S'c.]
17
fpringeth forth, by reafon wherof they can lay no depe foundacions for theyr houfes, fufficiente to beare anye
heauye roofe. The Kinge of thys citie is geuen to Idolatrie, and honoureth the deuyll himfelf Yet he denieth
not but that there is a God which made heauen and earth. And the fame to be the chiefe auctour and fyrfte
caufe of all thinges. But fayth that he hath committed the rule and iudgemente of the world, to the deuil, to
whom he hath geuen power to rewarde men with good or bad according to their defertes. This deuil they cal
Detimo, but the mightie God and maker of the world, they cal lamerani. The king hath in his Chappell the
Image of this deuyl Detimi, fytting with a diademe or crowne on his head, much lyke vnto the myter which the
Romayne Biflioppes weare, faue that this deuils myter hath foure notable homes. He fytteth gapinge and hath
a greate wyde mouthe, with foure teeth and a deformed nofe, lowringe eyes, a grimme, terrible, and threatening
countenaunce, with hooked handes lyke flefhehookes, and feete not much vnlyke the feete of a cocke. Al fuch
as behold this horrible monfter, are fodeynly aflonied. For it is furely a thing mofl vyle to beholde, and no
leffe terrible. The chappel is on euery fyde ful of painted deuyls : and in euery comer thereof fytteth a deuyll
made of copper, and that fo workemanly handeled, that he femeth like flaming fire, miferably confuming the
foules of men. This deuyl with his righte hande, putteth a foule to his mouth, and with his lefte hand, he
taketh another from a place beneth. Euery morning their Priefles (called Bramint) waflie the Image of the
deuyll with rofe water, or fuch other fwete liquoure, and perfume hym with dyuerfe fwete fauours, kneling on
theyr knees and praying vnto him. Euerye feuenth day, thei take the bloud of a cocke and put it in a filuer
veffel, ful of burning coales : addinge thereunto innumerable odoriferous gummes and pouders to make a fwete
fmoke or fumigacion. Then the Priefte taketh his fenfer with burning coles, putting therto frankencenfe, and
thus maketh his oblacion to Sathan, during which tyme of facrifice, a lyttle fyluer bell, is ronge continuallye.
The king fytteth not downe to his meate, vntyU foure of his chaplains haue ofifred parte of the fame meate to
the deuyl. And when the Kynge goeth to dyner, he fytteth on the grounde withoute eyther carpet or table
cloth. And as he fytteth at diner, foure of the prielles wayte vpon him (landing : not approchinge nere vnto
hym by the diflaunce of foure pafes, geuing reuerent attendaunce vnto the kinges talke. When he hath dyned,
the Priefles take the meate that is left, and geue it to the crowes to eate : which byrdes they haue in fuch
eftimacion, yat it is not lawful to hurt them. When the king fhal marie a wife, he goeth not to bed wth
her, vntil (he be defloured of ye high Pried, whom the king for his paines rewardeth with. v. C. [five hundred]
pieces of golde.
C Of the maners of the Indians in Calicut.
Ext after the King, ye priefles which ferae ye Idols, are had in chiefe reuerence. Nexte vnto
them, the Magiflrates, called Nerl, are no leffe eflemed then amonge vs Senatoures or Lordes
of the counfayl. When thefe goe abroade, they cary with them fwordes, targettes, bowes and
iauelins. Such as are counted of the thyrde order, are in like place with them, as are Arti-
ficers with vs. They of the fourth order, lyue by fi(hinge. And to them of the fyfthe order,
perteyneth the gathering of pepper, wyne, and walnuttes. The bafeft and poorefl fort, are
they which fowe and gather ryce, beyng contemned both of the priedes and Senatours. The
Kinge, the Quene, and the inhabitantes of the cytie, haue almod no apparel, couering onely theyr fylthy partes
with cotton of the tree called Goffampine, and not with filke : and are befide altogether naked. They goe
barefoted and bareheaded. When the King is dead, yf there remayne alyue any heyres, males, either children
or brethren, or brethers children, they fuccede not in the kingdome : for by cudome of the countreye, the
fyders fonnes are inheritours to ye crown : but yf there bee no fuche lyuinge, he fuccedeth in the kingdom
which is neared of bloud to ye king, of whiche codume, the reafon is (as they faye) becaufe the Priedes defloure
the Quenes. When the King taketh any farre ioumey, or rydeth a hunting, the Priedes wayte vpon the Quene
at home, and kepe her company : for nothinge can be more thankefull to the kynge, then to haue the Quene
thus accudomed in adulterye with the Priedes, by whiche common proditucion of the quene, he maye well iudge
that the chyldren bome of her, are not to be edemed as his owne : and therfore affigneth the right of his inheri-
taunce to his fyders children, as to the nered of his blonde, becaufe his brothers children (as is fayd before) may
not fuccede him in the kingdome by the cudome of the countrey. The noble men and marchauntes vfe this
fa(hion among themfelues. Such as haue wyues, do often tymes chaunge theyr wyues, one frende with an other
for th[e]encreafe of further frendfliip. At which exchaunging of wyues, one of them fpeaketh to another after this
manner. Forafmuch as you are my veri frend, let vs chaunge wyues : on fuch condicion, that I maye haue
yours and you myne. The other aflceth him yf he fpeake in eamede. He fweareth yea : let vs goe then (fayth
his felow) to my houfe: when they are come thether, the good man calleth forth his wife, faying vnto her:
Eden. F „
The ktne honoreth
the deuU.
The Image of the
deuill.
The bisshop of
Romes vicar at
Calicut.
The deuil eateth
soules.
The deuiles
chaplins.
Sacrifice to the
deuyL
The chapleins
offer to the deuyL
The priestes wait
on the kyng.
Crowes had in
estimacion
The priestes
defloure ye
queene.
Priestes.
Magistrates.
Artificers.
Laboiu-ers.
The succession of
the kingdom.
As are ye priestes,
such is ye people.
The priestes kepe
the quene.
Exchaunginge
of wyues.
i8
\0f the newe India, as it is knowen & found, &c?^
Obedience i
euyU.
One woman
maried to seuen
men.
The punishment
of murther.
Sinne redemed
for money.
Superstition.
Outeward
clenlynes.
Deuylishe
gestures.
Woman, come hether and folow this man: for he fliall from henceforth be thy hufbanA She alketh him yf he
fpeake in eamefl : he anfwereth, in good eamefl. Then fayth the woman : I wil folowe him gladly. He taketh
her away with him, and in lyke maner fendeth his wyfe to his frende. And this is the cullome which thei vfe
in chaunging of wyues. But the children remaine with theyr fyrfte father. Other of thefe Idolaters vfe dyuerfe
other cuflomes. For among fome of them, one woman is maried to feuen hufbandes, which lie with her by
courfe one after another. And when (he hath broughte forth a child, fhe fendeth it to whiche of her feuen huf-
bandes fhe lift : who maye in no cafe refufe it When they eate, they lye along on the grounde, and haue theyr
meate in great diflhes, or treys of copper. In the flede of fpones, they vfe leaues of trees. Their meate, is ryce,
fifhe, fpyces, and fruites of the common forte. Yf any man committe murther, and bee apprehended, he is
puniflied after this maner.
They haue a kynde of gallowes made, with a pofte of the lengthe of foure pafes : On the whyche, not farre
from the toppe, are faftened two flaues with fharpe endes, ye one lying ouer the other after the maner of
a croffe : then the body of ye offender is thruft through vpon one of ye ftaues. And fo the miferable wretche
hangeth vntyll he haue geuen vppe the ghoft. But yf any man wound another, or beate hym with a ftaffe,
he redemeth th[e]offence, payinge to the king a certayn of golde. When they pray, they go fyrft before the
ryfmg of the funne, to fome ryuer or flandinge water, wherein they plunge themfelues, to th[e]intent to waflie them
cleane : And fo beeinge wafhed, they touche nothing vntyll they haue at home at theyr houfes, poured forth
theyr prayers before theyr Idols. When they laye them felues down on the grounde, fecretely to praye, they
make certayne deuyliflie geftures lyke vnto madde men, ftaring with theyr eyes, and turning them inward
after a ftraunge forte, wyth no leffe deforminge their coimtenaunce, very monftrous to beholde. When the
king prepareth him to ye warres he hath in a readyneffe a hundreth thoufand fotemen. For of horfemen they
haue no vfe, but only of fuch as fyght on Elephantes. Al that are of the Kinges bande, have a filken
fyllet of fcarlet colour, tied about their heades. When thei go to the warres they vfe round fweordes, targets,
iauelin8,and bowes.
Of Pepper and other f pices which growe in the region of Calicut.
Howe pepper
ETowetn
Fruitful grounde
without tillage
Ginger.
A rote for a fede.
Fruytes vnknowen
to us.
Aloe.
Epper groweth in ye fuburbes of the citie of Calicut. There is fome alfo gathered within the
citie. The ftalke of pepper is veri weake: fo that it can not ftande vpryghte, without a ftake
or proppe to fuflein it, as haue ye vynes. It is not much vnlike vnto luie : and in like maner
crepeth and ftretcheth forth it felf embrafing and ouerfpreading fuch trees as grow nere vnto
it. This tree (or rather ftirubbe) is deuided into many braunches, of the lengthe of two or
thre hand bredth. The leaues are lyke the leaues of an Orenge tree: fauinge that thefe are
fomewhat groffer and fatter, with fmall vaynes running betwene on the contrarye fide. On
euery twigge ther hangeth fixe thicke clufters of beries, a hand breadth in length, and of the colour of wild
grapes. They are gathered in the monethes of October and Nouember: Inclininge yet to a grene colour, andfo
laying them on mattes or couerlettes, they fet them in the funne to be dried: where, within the fpace of
thre dayes, it waxedi black, euen as it is brought hether. They vfe neyther cutting nor digging, or other tillage,
but onely the fimple and pure fniitfulnes and encreafe of the earth. Plinie fayth that the trees of pepper are lyke
TOto oure iuniper trees. And that in his time, fome affyrmed yat they were brought foorth only in the front of ye
mount Caucafus on the fouthfyde toward the fonne. But the Portugals, whiche in this our daies fayle into the
Eaft partes, haue found it otherwife. The region of Calicut, beareth alfo Ginger: which doubtles is a roote, and
is often tymes founde of the weighte of xii. vnces : but al are not of lyke bignes. This roote entreth no deper
into ye ground, then. iii. or. iiiL handbredth, like vnto the rede. When ginger is digged out of ye ground, they
leaue the knotte or ioynte of the roote, in the pytte out of which they digged the ginger: couering ye fame with
earth as a fede, agaynft the next yeare to encreafe and bring forth more ginger. It is found in playn ground of
a redde erth, as ar Mirabalanes. Ther groweth alfo diuers other frutes and (hrubbes vnknowen to vs, as laceri,
graccara, amba, Carocapel, Comolanga, and fuch other of which fome haue the tafte and fauoure of quinces, fome
of peaches, fome of damaflce prunes, fome of melones, and fome of figges, eta Aloe groweth alfo in that region :
and is a certayn gumme, gathered from a lide tree, which is faftened in the earth, onely with one roote after ye
maner of a ftaffe, pytched in the grounde. The bodie of the tree, is tender and redde, of ftrong fauour and
bitter taft. It fomtyme putteth forth droppes of gumme withoute anye cuttinge. And this of India, is muche
better then that which groweth in Iiidca.
[O/" the newe India, as it is knowen & found, &c?[
19
C Of byrdes and beafles which are found in the region <?/" Calicut: and
of the wyne of the merueylous tree.
Here is found in Calicut, diuers and fundry kyndes of foure footed beafles and foules. As lions,
wilde boores, hartes, hyndes, wolues, kyne, wylde oxen, goates, and Elephantes : whych neuer-
theles are not engendred there, but brought thether. There bee alfo grene popingiays, and
fome [of] white fethers of variable colours, lying Hke fcoutchins. Some alfo of purple coloure.
Of thefe there is fuch plentie, that they are fayne to appoint men to kepe them from the rice
which groweth there in the feldes. They are merueilous chatteringe and of fmall price.
There are alfo birdes called Sarau, fomwhat leffe then popingiayes, but make a much fweter
noyfe. There are alfo manye other kyndes of byrdes vnlyke vnto oures : Of which, euerye morning and euening
is hearde fuche a harmonic and fo fwete a noyfe, that nothing can be more delectable : In fo little mouthes
confifleth in maner al muficke, and therfore the inhabitauntes lyue in greate pleafure, as though they were in an
earthly paradife, where floures are euer fpringing, and trees continue grene al the hole yeare. The heauen is
beneficiall vnto them, and the ayre moft. temperate continually. So that thei are nether bytten with colde in
winter nor burnt with heate in fomer, but lyue as it were in continual fpringe tyme. The fame region bringeth
forth alfo Marmafets and Munkeys, whiche are great hinderaunce to ye men of the countrey : and fpecially to the
poore forte, beecaufe they clyme the walnut trees, and fpylle the fweete liquoure of the fruyte thereof, of which
the Indians make mofl pleafaunt wyne. For thefe Indians haue a tree mofl excellent aboue all other trees of
the world, which bringeth foorth dates lyke vnto the Palme tree. This tree ferueth them for firewood : and
beareth a kynde of walnuttes mofl. delicate to be eaten : Alfo a kind of cordes, fofte cloth, wine, oyle, and
fuger. But chiefly it bringeth foorth this excellent kynde of nuttes like vnto dates. From thefe they take awaye
the fyrfle rynde or barke and cafl. it in the fire. The other fruite is not muche vnlyke Goffampine cotton, or fylke.
Of the floures they make cloth lyke filke : the flaxe whiche is lefte, they fpinne agayne, and make therof fmal
roopes or cordes. The lafl barke or rinde, conteineth the nutte, whofe thickenefle is no more then the lyttle
fynger of a mans hande. Furthermore the fweete liquoure or wjoie, is engendered with the nutte, fo that as the
nutte groweth, the liquoure alfo encreafeth : In fo much that when the nut is full growen, the lyquoure fyllethe
the inne warde partes of the fame. And thys liquoure or wyne, is mofl. cleare, not muche vnlyke vnto rofe-
water : Of which neuertheles is made a very fatte oile. They cut alfo the trunke or ftocke of the tree in ye
morning and euening : by whiche meanes they gather a mofl excellent liquour, which they feeth on the fyre,
and make thereof fo merueylous a drinke, that if a man drinke thereof beyond meafure, he is drieuen into furie
and madnes. This liquour is vfed there in the flede of wyne. But let vs nowe retume to the beafles which are
found in Caliaii. Serpentes growe there vnto fuch houdge greatneffe, that they are in maner as bigge as fwyne.
They haue heades muche larger then bores heades. Thei are foure foted, foure cubites in length, engendered
and conuerfaunte in fennie and marrifhe groundes. The men of that countrei faye that thefe beafles are without
poyfon. There are alfo found other kyndes of ferpentes : of the whiche one kynde hath fo mortall venime, that
yf they drawe neuer fo lyttle blud, it caufeth prefent death. There are other ferpentes which in quantite
reprefent the ferpent called Afpis. Again, otherfome are much higher of whiche there are greate plentie.
The men of the countrey thinke yat they are fpirites fallen from heauen : and therfore haue them in great
reuerence. Thei haue conceaued this opinion of them, becaufe that in maner with touching, they bringe
prefent death. And this is the caufe whi there is fo great abundaunc[e] of ferpentes, that by the kinges
commaundement it is not lawful to hurt them : and therefore they wander fafelye where them lifleth, and
are eflemed of them as thinges that bring good fortune. For whereas the men of yat countrey, goe abroade
aboute anye bufines, thei take it for good luck to mete any of them by the waye. The popingiayes of India
are for the mofl part, of grene colour befyde ye head, which is ether redde or yelowe like golde. They haue
a great and large toung, and are therfore of a louder voyce, and fpeake more plainly. They leame the
fyrfl and fecond yeare fuch thinges as are taughte them. And beare them longer in memory. They drinke
wyne, and vfe theyr fete in the flede of handes when they feede.
Papingiayes of
dyuers kyndes.
Sweete singinge
of birdes
Earthly paradise
Temperate ayre.
Continual spring.
Munkeys.
A tree of sundrye
commodities.
Silke of trees.
Ropes of trees.
Wyne of tree*
Oyle of water
Serpents as bigge
as swine
Serpents without
poyson.
Serpentes counted
for neauenly
spirites.
Grene
poping[i]aies.
20
\0f the newe India, as it is knowen & found, &c.'\
Canonor.
Zaylon.
CorimucoU
Meluza.
Molucha.
Ormus
Camhaia.
Arabia,
China,
Samotor.
Darfiasseri.
Klephantes.
Precious stones.
Cinomome.
The Equinoctial
lyne
Weapons of redes
Narsinga.
The beast whiche
beareth the furrc
called Sables.
Foules of
ineruelous bignes.
C Of the fuiidrye kindes of Slices, which are founde in Calicut, and from
whence they are brought thyther.
Inger groweth in Calicut, yet is there much broughte thether from the cytie of Canonor.
Cinamome commeth from the Ilande oi Zaylon, whyche is fyftye leages beeyonde Calicut
Eaftwarde.
Pepper groweth in Calicut : but muche more is broughte thether from Corimucol, whiche
is. xij. leages beyonde Calicut.
Cloues are gathered in a place, called Meluza, certayn leages diflant from Caliait.
Nutmegges and Mace, growe in Molucha, beyng diflante from Calicut hundreth and thre
fcore leages, and fomewhat more.
Mufke and Cafloreum, is brought from the region of Pego, whiche is from Calicut, almofte hundreth
and fyftye leages.
Pearles of the biggeft forte, are gathered neare vnto the Hand and cytie of Ormus, fituate in the goulfe
called Sinus Perficus: And are fente from thence to Calicut, as to the generall market towne of all the Eaft partes.
Spikenarde, and Mirabalanes, are brought from Cambaia to Calicut.
Frankencenfe, and Myrre, come from Arabia.
Aloe, and Camphyre, are brought from Kyui, or Chiua. 1. [fifty] leages from Calicut.
Long pepper cometh from Samotor. Cardamome ye greater, is brought from Canonor.
Prefilium, or brafyll, cometh from Darnafseri, otherwyfe called Tarmafferi, almoft. CC. [two hundred]
leages from Calicut.
C Of the Hand of ZdcyXon, and of Cinomome found there.
^Aylon is a very large region, and bringeth foorth chefelye Elephantes in greate plentie. It hath
alfo Mountaynes of memeylous length : at the rootes wherof are found Rubines, Hiacinthes,
Saphyres, Topafes, and fuche other precious flones. In this Hand groweth the Cinomome
tree, not much vnlyke ye bayetree, fpecially in the leaues. It bringeth forth graynes much lyke
vnto baye beries, but fomwhat leiTe and whytifhe. That which we commonly call Cinomome,
is nothinge els but the barke or rynde of a tree, which is gathered after this maner. Euery
thyrde yeare they cut of the braunches of the trees, and take of the barke or rynde thereof,
which is our Cinomome. They cut not the body of the tree, but only the branches. When it is firfl gathered,
it is grene, and not perfectly fwete vntyll it be kept a moneth. This Hand is fituate vnder the Equinoctial line,
where is continuall fpringe all the yeare. The inhabitauntes weare clokes, with one arme oute vncouered,
and haue clothe made of Goffampine cotton, or of filke. A rede is to them in the flede of fworde, rapyre,
and iauelyne. And are therefore feldome flayne in the warres.
C Of the cytie <7/"Tarnafseri, and the maner of the cytezins there.
He cytie of Tamafferi, is diflaunte from the Kingdome of Narfinga. xiiij. dayes feyling
Edward, and hath a king of great puyflaunce and marueylous riche. The foyle of this citie,
bringeth forth wheate, cotton of Gofsampine trees, and plentie of filke. The fieldes bringe
foorthe all kindes of fruites ; quinces alfo and oranges. It is replenifhed with manye and
fundrye kyndes of bealles afwell wyld as tame, as kyne, fhepe, gotes, fwyne, hartes, hyndes,
wolues and lyons. There are alfo feene thofe kyndes of cattes which beare the riche furres
called Zibellini, which we call Sables. In all the fieldes and woodes of this region are founde
many Peacockes, Faulcons, and moft. fayre Popingiayes of white colour intermingled with feuen variable coloures.
There is alfo maruelous plentye of hares and partryches. There are manye of other ftraunge kyndes of foules :
and fpecially fuch as lyue by praye, whiche are muche higher then Eagles : whofe vpper beakes arc of fuche
bignes and hardnes, that handles for fweordes are made thereof Alfo the cockes and hennes of thys region are
\0f the newe India, as it is knowen & found, &c^
21
muche hygher and bigger then ours. When the people of the countreye goe to theyr meate, they lye downe on
the grounde withoute carpet or cloth : Yet vfe they woodden veffelles, workemanlye made. Theyr drinke
is water myxte with fuger : but the poorer forte, drinke onelye water. Their beddes are made of Goflampine
cotton, wyth couerlettes alfo of cotton or fylke. They goe all in generall barefooted excepte the Prieft.es. The
Kynge of this cytye, doeth not commytte his wife to the Priefl.es to bee defloured, as doth the king of Caliait,
but to whyte men, as are the chriftians and Turkes. For this office is not committed to the Idoloters. But
after that the new maried quene hath been thus defloured the fyrfl night, yf euer after (he doe diflionour
the Kyng her hufband, by violating the faith made to him, from thencefoorth neuer to knowe any other
man carnally, her punifhment is death incontinently. When the Kynges or the Priefles dye, their bodies are
laid on a great fyre, and the afhes thereof referued in erthen pottes, putting thereto a porcion of falte petre,
and buryinge the fame in theyr owne houfes. While the bodies are burning, they caft. into the fyre al
kyndes of fwete fauouring gummes, and fpices : as Aloe, Frankencenfe, Myrre, Storax, Coralle, fandalles,
and fuche other innumerable : In the meane tyme blowing trumpets and fhawmes, after the maner of them which
amonge the gentiles were canonized into ye numbre of the goddes. And within xv. dayes after ye hufbandes
death, the wyfe calleth to her all her kinffblkes, bidding them to a banket : and fo being decked with al her
iewels, flie procedeth with them to tlie place where her hufbande was buried, where a graue is redye digged for
her, inclofed about with filken cloth, hauinge in it a fyre made of fweete wood. When the woman hath
thus feafled her kynffolkes, flie eateth much of the herbe called Betola, wherby fhe is driuen into a madnes. In
thys meane whyle, innumerable trumpetters (wearing fuch veflures as they vfe in the deuyls feruice) go as it were
on proceffion aboute the graue, while the woman runneth vp and down, daunfing continually like a frantike
bodie. And thus when the ceremonies are fynifhed, fhe cafteth her felfe headlong into the fyre and graue :
and that with no lefle cherefulnes then yf fhe (hould be receaued into heauen. And vnlefle the woman fliould
performe thys cuflome, (he fhould incurre moft vyle infamie, and be a mocking (locke to all her nacion, as one
that loued not her hufband. But the common people vfe not thys cuflome : but only the rulers and
princes. And therfore the king him felfe is often tymes prefente at thefe folemnities.
C Of fhe kingdoms and cities of Pego and Bangella.
ilRom the cytie of Tantafferi, to the cytie of Bangalla, is. xi. dayes faylinge. This cytie hath a
kynge : and the countrey is very fruyteful with great plentie of wheat, flefhe, fuger, ginger, and
goflampine cotton : and hath therfore very rich marchantes. There yearely paffeth from this
citie fyftie (hyppes frayghted wyth goffampine cotton, and filke clothes : which are caried from
thence to the Turkes, Syrians, Arabians, Perfians, Ethiopians, and Indians. Here are alfo
founde certayne Chriflian merchaunt men, which come out of Th[e]empire of the great Cham
of Cathay : bringing with them Aloe, Caftoreum and the fwete gumme called Laferpitium, with
other fwete fauours. In this cytie, the men fpinne and carde and make clothe, and not the womenne. From
this cytie Eaftwarde, is another great citie called Pego, beyng fituate by a verye fayre ryuer. The Kinge of
thys cytie, is an Idolater, and hathe innumerable menne of warre, both horfemenne and footemenne. The
foyle beareth wheate plentifullye : and bringeth foorth in maner all kyndes of beafles, and hath therfore great
abundaunce of flelhe, yet are there but fewe Elephants : But of other beafles and foules, great plentie as is at
Calicut: and fpeciallye of popingiayes, whiche are of louder voice then in any other place. There is litrie
trafficque or marchaundife in this region, except iewels and precious flones, and fpeciallye Rubies, called Pyropi,
whiche are broughte thether from the cytie of Capelan. Thefe precious flones fhyne fo brighte in the darke
nyghte, as thoughe it were the fonne beames. The countrey adioyning, bringeth forth Lacha, Sandalum, called
(aunders : Alfo brafile, goffampine cotton and fylke. From Pego to the cytie of Malaccha (whiche fome call
Melaqua) is eygh[t]e dayes faylinge: where on the other fyde is fene a great Hand called Sumatra, otherwife
Samotra, and was in time pafle called Taprobana. This Malaccha, hath a goodly and commodious hauen : by
reafon wherof, moe (hippes arriue there then in any other place: bringinge with them fpyces and other
marchaundife in great abundance. The region is not generally fruytful, yet hath it wheat and flefhe: but
greate fcarceneffe of wood. The foules wander in the feldes as they doe in the region of Calicut. But the
popingiayes are here much fayrer. It bringeth foorth alfo fpices, faunders, tinne, elephantes, horfes, (hepe,
wilde oxen, pecokes, and fuch other kyndes of beafles. It is not lawfull there to bye and fell, except you bye
fpices and fylke. It is alfo there very daungerous to walke in the citie in the nighte feafon, beecaufe of the theft
and cruelnes of the inhabitantes, which kil one another like dogges. And therfore the marchaund ftraungers
lodge not out of their fliippes. How the Portugales fubdued Malaccha, flialbe faid hereafter in the defcripcion
of the newe llandes.
F2 n
Beddes of silke.
Pricstcs.
The quene
defloured of white
Adulter! punished
with death
Howe the kinge
is buried.
Ministrels.
ITie quene dyeth
willingly.
The herbe Bctola.
What crcdulitie
maye doe in false
religion.
Honour dcrc
boughte.
The king and
citie of Bangella
Silke.
Christian men of
Cathay.
The citie of Pega
Rubies shyning by
night
Lacha, Lacca, or
Lacta, is ye
gumme of a tree_
wherewith silke is
colored.
Malaccha.
Sumatra,
Taprobana
22
\pf the newe India^ as it is knowen & founds &c?^
The Hand of
Taprobana.
Men of a hundreth
yeres of age.
Shelles of fishes
for houses.
Great pearles.
Coyned golde and
siluer for moneye.
Fishes of
monstrous
bignesse.
Lacha.
Pepper solde by
measure.
Cathay.
The Hand of
banda.
rhe nutmeg tree.
Mace.
The Hand of
Monoch.
Cloues.
Charles Waine.
Pole Antartike-
Idolote:
Camphi
C Of the greate and ryche Ilande of Sumatra, or Samotra, sometyme
called Taprobana.
Ome thinke this Sumatra, to be that Hand which of the old writers is called Taprobana. It is
verye great and riche : and hath in it foure Kinges crowned wth Diademes. They are
Idolaters: in religion, maner of lyuinge, and apparell, not muche vnlyke the Kinge of
Tarnafseri. They exceade all other men in bigneffe of bodie. They haue greye or blewe
eyes, and are of cruell countenaunce, and terrible voyce. They are long lyued and lyue euen
vntyl an hundreth yeares of age. The fea in certaine chanels is of fuch heigth and depth, that
no anker may come to the bottome therof The inhabitantes are great fyfliers on the fea, and
haue great pleafure to take the ihelle fyflie, called the Tortoyfe of the fea : of whiche, fome are of fuche houdge
bignes, that the ftielle of one of them may fuffife to make a houfe well able to receaue a hole famelie. For
fome of them beare fhelles of xv. cubites in length ; and are therefore apt for that purpofe. The mofl part of
this Ilande is bumte with heate, and hath in it many defolate places and wildemelTes. There are founde many
and greate Pearles. For theyr money, they vfe coyned golde, fyluer and tynne. The golden coyne, hath on
the one fyde a deuils head grauen, and on the other fyde a chariot which Elephantes draw. This region
bringeth foorth more plentie of Elephantes, of greater flature, and a better broede, then are found in any other
place. In the fea about this Ilande, are often tymes fene the great monflrous fyfhes, and kynde of Whales,
called Balene, which bring many incommodities to the inhabitantes. They are of fuch monflrous bignes, that
when they approche to the Sea bankes, they feeme lyke vnto hylles : they haue rough backes full of (harpe
prickes. And except men walke very warely by the fea bankes, they are in daunger to be fodeynly fwalowed
vp of thefe monflers. Some of them haue fo greate and wyde mouthes, that they fometymes fwallowe whole
fhippes with the men. This countrey bringeth foorthe Lacha, Lacca, or Lada, which fteyneth filke and cloth
in high redde or crimifon coloure. It is engendred in a tree, not much vnlyke vnto our walnut trees. Ther is
alfo great plenty of pepper, higher then is founde in other places. In their mother tonge pepper is called
Malaga. It is folde there by meafure, as wheat is with vs, and not by weight. There is fo great plentie hereof,
that there are yearely certayne fhippes laden therwith to Cathay, where ye aire is colder. From Sumetra to
the Hand of Banda, which is but rude and barren, and of playne and lowe grounde, whofe inhabitantes are
barbarous, and little differinge from beafles, hauing lowe houfes, and no apparell but fhertes, barefoted and
bareheaded, with long heare, of defpicable flature, dulle witted, of no ftrength, and Idolaters. The foyle of
this countrey, bringeth forth nothing but nutmegges, and a few other fruites. The ftalke or bodi of ye nutmeg-
tree, is not much vnlike ye (lalke of a peache tree, bringing forth lyke braunches and leaues, but fomewhat
narower. Before thefe nutts be rype, ye mace crepeth on the tree, lyke a florifliing rofe. And when the nutte
waxeth rype, the mace embrafeth it round about. And fo they gather both together in commune, at a tyme
appointed : for they vfe no diftribucion thereof, but he that gathereth mofl, hath mofl. This tree bringeth
forth his fruyte plentifully without any arte of hufbandrye or tyllage. They are gathered at fuch time as we
gather cheftnuttes. From this Hand within fixe dayes fayling, is the Hand of Monoch, in the which cloues are
founde, as alfo in other Ilandes, therto adioyninge. The tree whiche beareth cloues, hath his ftalke not much
vnlike vnto the boxe tree, with leaues lyke the Cinomome tree, but fomewhat rounder. And when the cloues
beginne to waxe rype, they beate the trees with redes, fpreding fyrft couerlettes or mattes vnder ye fame. The
grounde where thefe trees grow, is of ye colour of cleye or fand. This region is fituate fo low, that ye feuen
flarres called Septentriones (being not farre from Vrfa maior, called charles wayne) can not there be fene,
becaufe ye fouth pole (called pole Antartike) appeareth aboue the earth.
C Of the Ilande of Bornei.
He Hand of Bornei (which fome call Pome) is diftant from Monoch fiftie leages. The inhabi-
tantes are Idolaters, very quick witted, and of maner of liuing not greatly to be difcommended.
Thei vfe not al one kynde of apparell. Some weare ftiertes of goffampine cotton, fome
beafles fkinnes, and fome high cappes lyke myters, of redde colour. This Hand bringeth
forth yearely great plentie of Camphora, called camphyre, whiche they afiirme to be the
gumme of a certayn tree. Of this Ilande I wil fpeake more hereafter in the nauigacions
toward the Eafl partes.
\0f the newe India, as it is knowen & found, &c.]
23
C 0/ the Hand of Giaua.
He Hand of Gyaua, is diflant from Bornei. v. dayes fayling towarde the fouth. This Hand is
fo great, yat it conteineth in it many kingdoms : ye inhabitantes ar geuen to idolatri. It
bringeth forth filke, which of it felfe groweth there plentifullye in the wooddes. The precyous
flone called Smaragdus (which is ye true Emerode) is found there more excellent, then in any
other place of the worlde. It hath abundaunce of golde and copper of the befl kynd. The
foyle beareth wheat and other come, with al kindes of fruites in great plentie. When the
men of this countrie goe to the fea, theyr weapons are bowes, and arrowes of redes. They
vfe alfo to infect theyr arrowes with venime, and to blowe them oute of a trunke as we doe pellets of claye :
with the which yf they drawe neuer fo little bloud, prefente death foloweth immedia[t]lye. They haue alfo this
cuflome, that when they fee theyr parentes by reafon of age to be vnprofitable, they bring them to the market
towne, and there fell them to the people called Anthropophagi, which eat mens flefhe, of whom they are incon-
tinently flayne, and eaten. The fame doe they with the yonger forte alfo, yf they fall into any defperate difeafe.
C Of the Hand of laua.
Here are two Ilandes of thys name, as laua the more and laua the leffe. The biggefl.
reacheth forth toward the South, and is fayd to haue in it many kingdoms. The
inhabitantes are Idolaters and haue a peculier language. In this Hand is greate plentie
of pepper, Nuttemegges, Spikenarde, Galangale, and other fpices. Mani marchauntes of
other countreies are wont to reforte thether, and geat great riches by ye fpices which
they carie from thenfe. In this Hand alfo are people called Anthropoph<^i, which are
wont to eate mens fleflie.
C Of the Hand of Madagafcar,
His Hand is counted to be one of the greatefl and rychelle Ilandes of the worlde. The
inhabitantes are of Mahumets fecte as are the Turkes. It bringeth forth many Elephantes,
by reafon wherof there is greate plentie of luerye which is the Elephantes tothe. For it
is thought that there is no greater plentie of luerie, then in this Hand and in the Hand of
Cuzibet. They eate the flefhe of none other beaft.es, but onely of Camels, becaufe the Ilande
is full thereof, and alfo that it is founde to be more holefome for the people of that
countrey then any other fleflie. There are alfo in this Hand many woddes that bringe
foorth redde fanders, for the which many marchauntes refort thether. In the fea about this Hand, great
whales are taken, out of the which amber is gathered. There are lions, leopardes, hartes, hyndes, goates, and
many other beaftes and foules, by reafon whereof, they vfe muche haukinge and huntinge.
C Of the Hand of Zanzibar.
He Ilande of Zanzibar, hath a peculier Kinge and language. The inhabitantes are idolaters,
and are of grofle and fliorte ftature : but yf theyr heygth dydde aunfwere to theyr thickenefle
and breadth, they mighte feme to be giauntes. They are all blacke, and goe naked,
onely couering theyr pryuie partes. The heare of theyr heades, is merueylouflye corlde.
They haue greate mouthes, nofethrilles flyrtting vpwarde and wyde, with great eares
and cruell eyes. Theyr women are deformed by reafon of theyr greate eyes, greate mouthes,
and greate nofethrilles. They Hue with milke, flefflie, ryce, and dates. They lacke ^vyne :
yet they make a pleafaunt drinke of ryce, fuger, and other fpices. Many marchauntes reforte thether for yuerie
and Amber, for there is greate plentye of Elephantes and greate whales.
Silke groweth in
woodes.
The smaragde or
emert)dc
Go'de and copper
Arrowes of redes.
Arrowes infected
with venime.
A strange
custome.
Anthi opophagi.
Spyces
Mahumetistes
Elephantes.
luerie
The Hand of
Cuzibet.
Camels fleshc
eaten.
Woddes of redde
Sanders.
Whales
Amber.
Lions, and
Leopardes.
Bigge men of
low stature.
People deformed
Ryce and Dates.
Drinke of spices.
Amber.
24
\0f tPie newe India, as it is knowen & found, &c?[
The Hand of men.
The Hand of
women-
Christians
Fishing.
The great Cham
of U'artari
Famous cities
vnder the greate
Cham.
Manye wyues.
What naturall
affection may doe
A strange
custome
The people of
Cat/uty.
Idoiotours.
Money of paper
C Of the two Ilandes, in one of the which dwell onely men, and in the
other onely women.
jlN the mayne fea, there are two Ilandes, diflante the one from the other aboute. viiij. or. ix.
leages toward the fouth, fituate betwene the cytie of Aden and Calicut. In one of the which
dwel onely men without the company of women, and is called the Ilande of men. And in
the other dwell onely women, without men, and is called the Ilande of women. They
are Chriflians and contract niatrimonie. The women neuer come to the Ilande of men, but
the men are accuflomed to vyfyte the women once in the yeare, and tarye with them
thre monethes continually, euery man with his owne wife in his owne houfe : after which time
they returne agayn to [t]her owne Ilande, where they remayne all the yere after. The women kepe the
men children with them vntyll they bee xv. yeares of age, and then fend them to theyr fathers. The
women haue nought els to do, but to take charge of their children, and to gather certayne fruites. But
the men labour and haue care how they may fynde theyr wyfe and chyldren. They are exercyfed in
fylhmg, and fell fylhes both newe taken and olde dryed, to marchaunte llraungers, whereby they receaue
great commodities.
C Of the greate Empyre of Cathay, being under the dominion of the great
Cham (whiche fome call the great Can) Emperoure of Tartaria, in
olde tyme called Scythia,
He fuperiour or high India, whiche is nowe called Cathay, is a region excedinge large and
of greate power, whofe Emperour is ye great Cham of Tartaria, hauinge vnder him many
Prouinces, people and Princes, and innumerable Ilandes in the great Eafl fea, called
the greate Ocean. He hath vnder his dominion great and famous cities, as are thefe :
Cambalu, Quenquinafu, Mien, Cacaufu, Canglu, Tadinfn, Tingui, and dyuers other. Among
the people of this countrey, one man hath manye wyues, whiche declare theyr loue to
their hufbandes after this fort. When the hufband is dead, euery one of his wiues
pleade their caufe before a iudge, to proue which of them was mofl louing to her hufband and befle beloued of
him : fo yat fhe which by the fentence of the iudges is found to haue been mofl faythful and diligente, decketh
her felfe mode gorgioufly in all her fumptuous araye, and procedeth like a Virago floutly and cherefully to the
fire, where the corps of her hufbande was bumte, caftinge her feUe into the fame fyre, embrafmg and kiffing the
dead bodi of her hufband, vntyll flie alfo be confumed by the f)Te, whiche flie reputeth for an honourable
fepulture : whereas his other wyues are eflemed to lyue in iTiame and infamie. They ioyne in manage, neyther
in refpect of riches or nobilite, but onlye for loue and beautie : and rather for ye encreafe of pofleritie, then for
pleafure. There is alfo another flraunge cuflome among thefe Indians : and yat is, that whereas the
poorer fort are not able to geue any dowry with theyr doughters to mariage, they bringe them forth, euen in ye
floure of their age to ye market place, with trumpettes and fuch other inflmmentes as they vfe in the warres.
Where, the multitude beynge called together, the maydes fyrfle of all, difcouere theyr backe partes, euen vp to
the fhoulders, and afterward theyr forepartes in lyke maners. And vpon this declaring their pouertie and
nakednes, are maried to fuch as lyke them bed. This people of Cathay, are of the nacion of them
which in tyme part, were called Scythians, a kind of men (as faith Haitho) of fubtill wyt : affyrming that
onely they fee with two eies, and that all other men befyde them are blind of the one eye. Theyr quickenes or
witte is great, but their boafling is more. The hole nacion is perfwaded that they greatly excel all other men
in fubteltie of wit and knowledge. The 'inhabitantes are whyte men, with fmall eyes, withoute beardes,
and vtterly voyde of all godly knowledge. For fome of them pray to the funne, fome to the mone,
fome to Images, fome to an oxe, and fome to other monflers of theyr phantaflicall fuperflicion. They haue no
law written, and are of no faith. And albeit that in workemanfhip and artes they are marueylous wyttie,
yet haue they no knowledge of dyuine or godly thinges. It is a timorous kynde of men, and greatly fearinge
death. And are therefore in theyr warres, more politike then valient. In the warres, they vfe arrowes, and
certayne other kyndes of weapons vnknowen to men of other countreis. The monie which they vfe, is made of
a certayne paper, beeinge foure fquare, with ye Kinges ymage printed theroa Theyr houfliolde Huft'e is
\0f the newe India, as it is knowen & found, &c^^
of golde and fyluer and other metals. They haue greate fcarcenes of oyle. The great Emperour of Cathay,
keepeth his courte in the riche and mightie cytie called Catnbalu, being the chefeft citie of all the Empyre, and
of fuch greatnefle that it conteyneth in circuite fixe leages. This citie is foure fquare, fo that euery quadrature
or fyde of the wall, hath in it thre principal portes or gates. Alfo in all the comers of the walks, are veri faire
palaces, in which the artillery or armure of the cytie is referued. The flretes are made very flreyght and right
forth : fo that from any one gate to the other beinge directly ouer againfl the fame, a man may fe plainly
through the cytie, hauing ye houfes on euery fyde lyke palaces, placed in goodly ordre, mod beautifull to
behold. Without the cytie, there are twelue great fuburbes, adherent to the. xii. gates of ye cytie, whether the
marchauntes and llraungers, haue their continual recourfe as to ye burfe or flrete. It can not be fpoken what
great abundaunce of marchaundife and riches is brought to [t]his citie : a man wold thinke that it were fufficient
to feme all the worlde. Precious flones, pearles, filke, and fpices of dyuers kindes are brought thether,
from India and Matigi, and other regions. There paffeth not a daye in the yeare in which there are not about a
thoufand waynes laden with filke which are brought to this citie by flraunge marchauntes. What greate pompCj
glory, and fomiture of all thinges, is obferued in the Emperours courte, it can not be fpoken. He hath
in his courte twelue thoufand horfemen, whiche haue the cuflodie of his body : and diflribute their
waytinge dayes after this order, yat whereas one of ye captaynes of this garifon with his thre thoufand fouldiers
hath wayted vpon the kinges perfonne, three dayes, another captayne in lyke order wyth as manye
menne fuccedeth in hys rowme for other three dayes, and lykewyfe an other after hym, executethe the
fame offyce. When the Emperoure maketh anye bankette, it cannot be faid what great pompe is
obferued. He hath fytting at his lefte hand his chefefl quene whom he mod eflemeth : and at his
right hand hys fonnes, and fuche as are of the kinges bloud : but thei fyt fomwhat lower and further of
The other noble men which wayte not, fytte in a place yet fomewhat lower. All fuch as in the court fyt
at meat, vfe none other drinking cuppes then of gold. The Princes whiche wayte on the Emperoure at
hys meate, haue all theyr mouthes couered with fyne filken clothes, lead in any cafe they lliould blow or
breath on the kinges meate or drinke. And when the Emperour lifteth vp his cup to drinke, al the muficions
and minflrels that fland about him, playe on theyr inflrumentes, while in the meane time all fuche as wayte on
hym, floupe downe and make lowe curtefie. How great honoure is exhibited to this Emperour, and howe many
precious and riche prefentes are offred vnto him by his Princes, Dukes, Leauetenauntes and prefydentes
of prouinces, and rulers of cities, no man is able to exprefle, forafmuche as he hath vnder him in maner
innumerable Kingdomes, Prouinces, Nacions and Dominions, which are on euery fyde about Cathay, and
acknoweledge him to be theyr onelye Lorde and King, whom they honoure and reuerence as a great God
and mighti Mahumet In what pompe and triumphant magnificence he fheweth him felf when he goeth
to hauke or hunt, and how many tentes he pitcheth in the felde, which being fene afarre of, a man
would thinke to be a greate cytie, he that defyreth to knowe, let him reade Paulus Ve)ietus, in the fecond
boke of hys nauigacions into India, where he fhal find thinges to marueyl at. In Cathay they make a pleafaunt
drinke of ryce and certayne fpyces, which in drinking excelleth the fwetenes of wine. In many places they haue
great lacke of wood : In the flede wherof, they digge out of the mountaynes a certayn kinde of blacke flone
whiche burne in the fyre like coles, and continue fo long, that yf they be kyndled ouer night, they kepe
fyre vnto the morning.
C Of certaine Prouinces and regions fubiect vnder the dominion of the
greate Cham Emperour of Cathay.
Here paffeth through the kingdom of Cathay, a certayne greate ryuer called Pulifachnites, which
emptieth it felfe in the great Ocean Sea, by the whiche ryuer, fliyppes haue their paffage
into that lande. Ouer this ryuer is a very fayre bridge of marble, beyng in length three
hundreth pafes, and in breadth, eyghte pafes, with, xxiii. arches, and grauen Lions on euery
fyde, adouming the rayles or highefl margentes of the fame. From hence it is not farre to
the fayre and greate kingdom of Tainfu, in the which are many goodli vynes. For in the
kingdom of Cathay there groweth no wyne, but is brought thether from this region. In this
kingdome is greate vfe of marchaundyfe, and hath plentie of conning artificers, fo that al the armure which the
great Chim vfeth in his warres, is made there. Toward the region of Mangi, is fituate the ryuer Caromoram,
whiche fi)r the greate breadth and depth, hath no bridge. In this region is greate abundaunce of Ginger, filke,
bjrdes, and fpeciallye Phefantes. Somewhat beyonde this, is the great cytie of Qiienquinafu, beynge the chief
cytie of the fame kingdome. In this region are founde many mufjcecattes. This beaft. in this countreye, is
2'5
Golde and Sylucr.
The cytie of
Cantbalu,
Marchandyse.
Precious stones
and spyces.
Note.
The Icing of
Cathay his court
The Quene.
Golden plate.
Worldly glory.
A liuing Idol.
Paulus Venetus-
Drinke of rice and
spyces.
Digged cole-
A greate bridge ol
marble.
The kingdome of
Tainfu.
Connyng artificers
Ginger.
Quenquinafu.
The muske catte.
26
\0f the newe India, as it is knowen & found, &ci\
but lyttle and fayre, aboute the bigneffe of a meane catte, with groffe heare lyke a harte, hauinge blunte clawes
on his fete, with two longe teeth in the vpper iawe, and two in the nether iawe : and hath nere vnto the nauell
si«et or muske. a bladder full of a certayne matter like vnto bloud, being of wonderful fragrant fauoure, and is the true
mulke.
C Of the Prouitice ^Mangi, and merueylous cyties conteyned in the fame.
Marchandyse.
Salte.
Sylke.
Qoch of golde.
Ryce.
VL M [six
thousand] bridges
of stone.
The great citie of
Quinsai.
xij. M. [twelve
thousand] bridges
of stone.
Artificers.
Marchauntes.
Common
banketinge houses.
A good prouysion
againste fyre.
Flesh of horses
eaten.
A prouision
against rebellion.
Anthropophagi.
Hennes hauinge
heare in the stede
of fethers.
The way from
Persia to Cathay.
The cytie of Loj .
The iomey by j :
desertes.
BUter wateis.
He Prouince of Mangi, hath in it many notable and great cities, in the whiche is great exercyfe
of marchaundyfe: and fpecially in the citie of Coni^angui, is folde great plentie of fait In
the cytie of Panchi, there is great fale of filke. In the cytie of Sianfu, is made great plentie
of clothes of golde and filke. In the cytie Singui is a famous market, where great abundance
of marchaundife is brought by the ryuer. Nere vnto the citie of Caigui, groweth plentie of
blade and ryce, that it is caried from thence to the court of the greate Cham. In ye citie of
Singui, are numbred to be about fixe thoufande bridges of flone, hauinge fo highe arches, that
greate fhippes maye paffe vnder the fame without bo\ving down of the maft. There is another citie called
Quinfai, which is fo fayre and great, that there is thought to be no bigger in al the worlde. It conteyneth in
circuite, a hundreth Italien miles, which make. xxv. leages. It hath twelue thoufande bridges of Hone, and thofe
fo highe that greate fhippes with the made flanding vp right, maye paffe vnder. This cytie is fituate in a marififhe
ground, muche lyke vnto venes. Therfore if they (hould lack bridges, they could not paffe ouer from the one
fyde of the (Ireete to the other. It hath innumerable artificers and many marchauntes. The cytezins lyue
pleafantly, and fpecially the women, which are fayrer then in other partes of India. Toward the South fyde of
the cytye, there is a great lake or poole within ye walles of the cytie, whiche conteyneth in circuite about, viii.
leages, hauinge about the bankes therof many noble mens houfes, very fayre both without and within. In the
middefte of this lake, there are two litle Ilandes and in euery of them a goodly palace, in ye which are referued
al fuche omamentes and veffels as they vfe for theyr manages and folemne feaftes, for whereas any of the
cytezins entende to make any great banket, or feafl, they bring theyr geftes to one of thefe palaces, where they
are honorably enterteined. In the flretes of ye citie, are certaine comon towres, into ye which, al fuch as
dwell neare therto, carie theyr goodes and (luffe, yf it fo chaunce, yat fyre be in the citie. The inhabitantes
are Idoloters : and eate the flefhe of horfes and camels, and of other vnclene beafles. The great Cham hath in
this cytie a myghtie garifon to the intente to auoyde rebellion, thefte and murther. For on euery bridge there
wayteth dayly and nightlye. x. watchmen for the fame purpofe : and becaufe the Prouince of Mangi is exceding
large, the great Cham hath deuyded it into nyne Kingdomes, affigninge vnto euery one a peculier Kynge :
whiche are al of greate powre, and yet fubiecte to the greate Cham. One of them dwelleth in the citie of
Quinfai. In thys Prouince of Mangi, is an other Kyngdomme, called Fugui, in whiche the people eate mannes
fleffhe, fo that they dye not of any difeafe. They drinke the bloud and eate the flefhe of fuch as are flayne in
ye warres. There are hennes found in this region, which in the (lede of fethers, haue heare much lyke cattes
heare of blacke colour: And laye very goode egges.
C Of the region of Tangut, and of the great desertes, andvoyces of deuylles
hearde in the same, and of the Salamandra.
Rom the Kingdome of Perfia, there are two ioumeyes to the region of Cathay. For
either the fouth fide muft be obferued towarde India, or elles to paffe by the prouinces
of Carcham, Cotam, and Peim, Northeaffwarde to the citie of lop, beynge the greatefl
and mod notable cytie in all that region, lying betwene the Eaff and the North at the
entraunce at the great defert. In this cytie, al fuche marchauntes, as entende to paffe
the defertes, make preparacion for all thinges neceffarye for their youmeye : And reft in the
fame, vntill they are well prouided of ftrong affes and camels to carye there vitayles.
And when in ye defert their vitayles begin to fayle them, they kyl their affes or leaue them there in the
wyldemes, becaufe they can no longer prouide them of pafture, vntyll they haue paffed ouer the deferte.
But they preferue theyr camelles, beecaufe they are fufteyned wyth leffe meate, and beare greater burthens.
In this deferte are often tymes founde bytter waters : but more often freflhe and fweete waters : fo that
in maner euerye daye for the fpace of thyrtye dayes, a man maye fynde freflhe water, but that in fo
lyttle quantitie that it doeth not fuffice al the marchauntes whiche paffe that waye together. That
\0f the newe India, as it is knowen & fotmd, &c?^
27
deferte is verye full of mountaynes. And when you are come to the lowe and playn ground, the refidue
of the iourney is all together by the fandes : it is throughout baren and faluage, fo that it is not able to nourifhe
any beaftes for lacke of paflure. In this wildernes are often tymes heard and fene, as well by daye as by night,
fundrie illufions of euyl fpirites. And therefore fuche as trauayle throughe the fame, haue nede to take great
hede lead they diffeuer or depart farre in fundre, or leafle any Unger behynde his companie, afwel for that he
may hereby lofe the fight of them by reafon of mountaynes or hilles, lyinge beetwene, as alfo becaufe
there are heard voyces of deuyls, calling them that wander alone, by theyr proper names, conterfeyting
the voyces of theyr companie that goeth beefore, by this meanes withdrawing them from the right waye,
and bringinge them to dellruccion. There is often tymes heard in the ayre, as it were a noyfe of muficall
inflrumentes : but more often like the founde of drumflades or timbrels. This great defert being paifed ouer,
they come to the cytie called Sachion, which is fituate in the enteraunceof the greate Prouince of Tangut, where
amonge certayne Mahumetifles, are found a fewe Chriflian men called Nejloriani of the fecte of Nejlorius.
There are alfo manye Idoloters, hauinge theyr monafleries confecrated to dyuers Idols, to which they
ofTre many facrifices and attribute greate honor to deuyls. And when a man hath a fonne borne, he
forthwith commendeth him to fome Idol, in whofe honoure he nourifheth a ramme al that yeare, which
after that his fonne be twelue monethes olde, at the nexte feafle of the fame Idoll, he and his fonne
offre with many ceremonies. When this oblacion is finiflied, thei bringe the facrificed flefhe to a place
appoynted, where al his kinffolkes being gathered together, they eate that flefhe with great religion, and
kepe the bones reuerently in a certayn veflell : but in the funeralles of the dead they vfe thefe ceremonies and
fuperilicions. Al the neighbors of the dead, prouyde that the dead corps be burned : which cuftome all
the people of the Eaft partes do obferue. Yet fome of them kepe ye dead bodye by them certayne
dayes beefore they bume it : As fome, feuen daies : fome for the fpace of a moneth and fome fixe
monethes, preparing for the fame a clofe chefle, fo inuoluinge with cereclothe, and pouderinge with fpyces the
bodye therein inclofed, that no euyll fauoure maye paffe foorth. Thys done, they paynte the chefle very
curiouflye, and couer it with a precious clothe, placinge theyr dyninge table harde by the fame, where they
dyne continually as long as the dead bodie is thus referued at home. And in the dyner tyme for the
fpace of one hole houre, they fette wyne and meat vpon the chefle, fuppofing the foule of the dead bodye
to be partaker of the fame. The Region of Tangut, is verye large, and conteyneth in it many priuate
Prouinces, as the Prouince of Catnul, of Cinchital, and Suchur, wyth dyuerfe fayre Cyties, whiche are all
Subiecte and obeye to the great Cham of Cathay. Some of the inhabitantes beleue in Mahumet : fome
acknowledge Chrifle after the herefye of Nejlorius. In the land of Chinchital, is a Mountayne oute of the whyche
is dygged the myne of flele and Audanicl There is alfo founde the Serpente called Salamandra, which
lyueth in the fyre wythoute any hurte. Of the heare of this ferpent, is made a certayne cloth, which
being call in the fyre when it is foule, is thereby made cleane and very white if it remaine there for ye fpace of
an houre. Such other innumerable and marueilous thinges, writeth Paulus uenetus that he hath fene and
founde in his nauigacions into thefe partes : of whom alfo I haue gathered thus muche, lettinge paffe
manye other thinges whereof he fpeaketh more at large.
C Here endeth the defcripdon of the Nauigacions
from Spayne to the newe India Eafiward,
and foloweth
Of tJie newe Ilandes and India found in the Wejl Ocean fea,
from Spayne Wejhvard and Southwejle.
Illusions of euyl
spirites
Voices of deuyls.
Straunge noises
in the ayre.
The citie of
Sachion.
Christians
of the heresie
of Nestorius.
Monasteries of
Idoloters.
A strange custome
Ceremonies in
funerals
A grosse and
vayne pcrswasion
The region of
Tangitt.
Mahumetistes.
Stele.
Salamaniira.
Paulus Venetus
28
tt Of the newe India,
and Ilandes in the West Ocean Sea,
how, when, and by whom they
were found.
Ckristopkonis
Columbus.
Great enterprises
have euer ben
counted
phantasticall
The fyrst viage
of Chrtsiophffnts
Columbus,
The Ilandes
called GacUs.
The Ilandes of
Canaria,
^Hrijlophorus Columbus, a Gentleman of Italia, and borne in the
citie of Genua, when he had been longe conuerlaunt in the Kyng
of Spaynes courte, he applyed hys mynde to fearche vnknowen
partes of the worlde. And for his better furtheraunce herein,
made humble peticion to the kinge, to ayde him in this his
enterpryfe, which doubtleffe fhoulde redownde to his great
honour, and no little commoditie to all the hole countreye of
Spayne, yf by his helpe and charges, he might fynde new regions.
But the Kinge and Quene laughed him to fcorne, faying : that
his yniaginacion was but vayne and phantaflicall. At the length,
eyght yeares beynge passed cuer, and Columbus ftyll perfiftinge
in his purpofe and fute, the Kyng began to geue eare to his
talke, and after muche reafoninge and debating of the matter,
determined to trie the witte of the manne. And there vpon
commaunded a foyfl, and two brigantines to be furnifhed with
all kynde of ordinaunce and vitalyes : which being pre-
pared, the fyrft. of September, in the yere of Chrift 1492, Columbus departed from the coaftes of Spayne, and
wente forwarde in his viage longe defyred. And when he had paffed the Ilandes called Gades, he diuerted
toward the fortunate Ilandes called Infula Fortunata, which are now called CanaricB, becaufe they are full of
dogges. They were in time pad called Fortunate, for the excellente temperatenes of the ayre, and greate
fruytefulnes. Columbus departinge from henfe, fayled towarde the Wefle, and at the length founde certayne
Ilandes, of the whiche two were very greate, wherof the one he called Hifpana, and the other Johanna.
Johanna.
Hispana or
Hisfaniola.
Gold for earth
and glasse.
The king of the
Hand.
Bylding without
the vse of Iron.
C Of the two Ilandes lohanna and Hifpana.
j]S Columbus came to the Ilande whiche he called lohanna, he hearde a memeylous fweete noyfe
of innumerable byrdes, and efpeciallyeof Nightingaleswhiche wandred in the thicke wooddes
in the Moneth of Nouembre. He founde alfo mooRe fayre Ryuers, fwete to drinke, and many
goodly hauens. And as he fayled by the cofles of the Ilande SouthweRe warde, and coulde
fynd no ende, he thought it had been the mayne land, and therfore determyned to drawe
backe, being partly enforfed by roughnes of the fea : and thus returning fome what Eaflward,
he came to an Hand whiche heafterwarde caWtA Hifpana, where arriuing to the land, he and
his companye was fene of the Inhabitantes of the Hand, which fodeinly fled into the thicke woodes: whom the
Spanyardes purfewinge, toke a womaime whome they brought to theyr fliippe, entreatinge her verye gentillye,
fyllinge her with delicate meates and wyne, and clothing her in fayre apparel, and fo let her depart : for thei goe
naked, and are not vfed to delicates. And as this womanne returned to her companie, fome beyng moued by
the lyberalitie declared vnto her, came by greate multitudes to the fea bankes, bringinge golde with them, which
they chaunged for earthen pottes, and drinkinge glaffes. Thus a further frendfhip by this meanes contradled,
the Spanyardes begonne more diligently to fearche theyr maner of lyuinge and maners, and fo vnderilode that
they had a king. And therefore entering further into the Hand, they were honorably receyued of the king. Thei
vewyde their houfes, and memeyled to fee them fo bylded without the vfe of Iron, which they are vtterly without:
in the flede whereof they vfe a certeyn flone, whenvith the cut and fawe theyr timbre.
[0/ the newe India, and Ilandes in the IVest Ocean Sea, &c?^
29
C Of the people cat/ed Canihsdes or Anthropophagi, which are accujlomed
to eate mans flejhe.
jHeras the people of the forenamed Ilandes, fled at the fight of our menne, the caufe thereof
was, that they fufpected them to haue been Canibals, that cruel and fearfe people which eate
mans flefhe, which nacion our men had ouerpaffed, leauinge them on the fouthfyde. But
after they had knowledge of the contrary, they made greuous complaynt to our men, of the
beaRly and fearfe maners of thefe Canibales, which were no leffe cruel agaynft them, then
the Tyger or the Lyon agaynfle tame beafles. Declaring furthermore, yat when foeuer they
take any of them vnder the age of xiiij. yeares, they vfe to gelde them, and francke them
vntyll they be very fat, as we are wont to doe with capons or hennes ; and as for fuche as drawe towarde. xx.
yeare olde, to kyll them forthwith and pull out theyr guttes, and eate the fame frefhe and newe, wyth other
extreme partes of the bodye, pondering the refidue with falte, or keping it in a certayne pickle as we do iegottes
or fanfages. Yet eate they not the women, but referue them to encreafe, as we doe hennes to lay egges. And
if thei take any old women, they kepe them for drudges. And therfore when the Canibales make incurfion, the
people of thefe Ilandes flye with all fpede. For albeit they vfe arrowes, yet are they not able to refyfle theyr
fearfenes.
C Of the maners of the inhabit antes of the Hand ^ Hifpana and of fuche
thynges as are found there.
He inhabitantes of this Ilande, vfe in ye flede of bread, certayne rotes Hke vnto nauie rotes,
hauing the tad of foft and grene cheflnuttes. Gold with them is in eflimacion, for they hange
certayne peces therof at their eares : they go not out of ye hmities of their own contrie, nor
exercife any niarchandife with (Irangers : thei gather gold in ye fandes of a certen riuer which
fpringeth out of veri high montaines They gather it with great laboure and melte it and
cafle it, fyrfle into maifes or wedges, and afterwarde into brode plates. They haue no foure
foted beaftes, except connies : they haue ferpentes of monftrous greatnes, but without hurte
or venime. They haue alfo wylde turtle doues and duckes, muche greater then ours, and gefe whyter then
fwannes, fauing yat they haue redde heades. Thei haue alfo many popingiayes : fome grene, fome yelowe,
and fome not muche vnlyke them of India, with redde circles about their neckes. This Hand bringeth forth
alfo Majlix, Aloe, and fuche other gummes: and efpecially certayne redde graynes, which are fliarper
then pepper.
C How Columbus, after he had found new Ilandes, returned agayne to
Spayne, where preparinge a newe nauie, he take his viage to
ye Canibales.
Olumbus, not a Uttle ioyeful of the landes newly found, the fpring tyme drawing nere, he
determined to retume to his countrey : leaning with the king of the Hand. 38. men which
fhould diligently fearche the fituacion of the Ilande, the maners of the people, and the
natures of trees and fruites. But he, hoyfeninge vp his fayles, directed hys viage towarde
Spayne, bringing with him tenne menne of the fayd Ilande, to th[e]ende that they mighte
leame the Spaniflie tonge, which they might eafely doe, becaufe al the wordes of theyr
language may well be written with our letters. Columbus, after thys his retume, and fortunate
fucceffe in his fyrfte viage, was honorablye receyued of the Kynge and Queue, and greatlye magnified with
innumerable glorious tittles : willinge that he (hould no more thenceforth be called Columbus, but the Admiral
of the great Ocean Sea: and prepared for him towarde his fecond viage. xvij. foiiles and. xij. brigantines, wel
fumifhed with al kynd of artillerye and plentie of vitayles, and in them twelue hundreth men wel appoynted :
Canibales
Afithropophagi,
The fe.irsenes of
the Canibales.
Mans fleshe
poudered.
Rootes in ye
slede of bread
Gold in estimacion.
Howe golde is
gathred.
Serpents wythowt
venime.
Popingi?,yes.
Spices and
Gummes.
The Indian tonfi
Columbus, at his
retume, is made
Admiral of the
Ocean sea.
The second viagr
of Columbus
30
[0/ the newe India, and Ilandes in the West Ocean Sea, &c?\
Codes,
The Ilandes of
Canaria,
The Hand of
Dominica.
Insula Cntcis,
Lisertes.
Houses of trees.
Young men stalled
to be uiadc fatte.
Fine cokerye.
CanihaUs allured
wyth lyberalite.
Matinina An
Hand of women
onelye.
The names of
sundrye Ilandes.
Arrowes infected
with venime.
Archipelogus.
Bucheina
Come alfo to fowe, and al kindes of feedes and plantes. For, excepte pine apple trees and date trees, there
growe none in thefe Ilandes that are knowen to vs. The Admirall toke alfo with him al fortes of Iron tooles
to th[e]intent to byld townes and fortreffes where his men might lye in fafegarde. Therfore the firfl day of
September departing from the Ilandes called Gades, with a profperous wind he arryued at the Iland of Canaria
the fyrft daye of October: from whenfe directing his viage towarde the lefte hande, he fayled toward ye South,
and at ye length came to the Ilandes of the Canibals. And becaufe he came thether on the Sundaye called the
Dominical day, he called the Iland where he arryued, Dominica : which when he perceyued to be but feluage
and rude, he fayled on further : and in twentie dayes fayling, came to another Iland replenilhed with al kindes
of trees, from which came a marueylous fragrant fauour : By reafon whereof, fome being allured by the pleafant-
nes of the place, went aland, where they fawe no kynde of lyuinge beafles, fauinge lyfertes of wonderful houdge
greatnes. This Ilande he called Injula Crucis, whiche was alfo an Ilande of the Canibales, as afterward they
proued in dede. For as they fayled about the Iland, they founde certayne lowe cotages made of trees, lyke
vnto (lagies. For they fet trees vpright in order round about, faflening pofl.es in them croffe ouer, where vnto
the trees cleaue faft,e, fo that by this meanes they cannot fall. They frame the roofes of thefe cotages, with
fliarpe toppes after the maner of rownde tentes. And lafl, of al, they inclofe and couer thefe trees thus fet in
order, wyth the leaues of date trees, and certen other trees, to th[e]intent to make them a flronger defence
agaynft wynd and wether. And within the cotage, they tye the pofles together with ropes of bombage cotton,
and a certayne longe roote. They haue couches made, one aboue another, the flowres whereof they fljawe
wyth heye and cotton. And as foone as they hadde fpied our men, they fled incontinente. And when oure
men came into theyr houfes, they found in theym certayne young men bound to pofles, and kept to be made
fatte, and lykewyfe many olde womenne whiche thefe Canibales kepte to be their drudges. They founde there
alfo earthen veflelles of all fortes, in which they fodde mens fleflie with popingiayes, geefe, and duckes fleflie, al
together in one veflell. They rofled alfo mans fleflie vpon fpyttes, referuing the bones of the armes and legges,
whiche they vfe in the flede of Iron, to piece and typpe theyr arrowes. For they are vtterlye without Iron.
The[y] found alfo the head of a yong man, yet bleding and faftened to a pofte. But certayne womenne whiche
had fledde from the Canibales to oure menne, the Admiral commaunded to be gorgioufly decked after the
maner of our women, and with manye rewardes to be fent agayne to theyr owne companye. By meanes
whereof, the Canibales beynge aflured by the lyberalitie and gyftes of our men, hoping that they alfo flioulde
be lykewyfe rewarded, came running toward our men: but when they drew fomwhat nere vnto them, they
fled immediatly into the nexte wooddes. And thus our men departing from thence, returned to the Ilande
of Hifpana.
C How the Admirall pajfed manye Ilandes, and what thynges chaunced
to hym and his companie in that viage.
S the Admirall departed from the Iland of the Canibales, and went foreward on his viage,
he pafled by many Ilandes : among the whiche was one called Matinina, in whyche
dwell only women, after the maner of them, called Amazones, as he learned of the men
of the Ilandes which he brought with him into Spayne at his fyrile viage, and faued
them from the fearfenes of the Canibales. He pafled alfo innumerable other Ilandes of
which to fome he gaue names, as Mons Farratus, SanHa Maria rotunda, Sanlla Martinus,
Sanila Maria antiqua, and Sanila Crux. Into the which oure men entering to th[e]intent to
fetche freflie water, found foure Canibales, which had taken foure yonge women : who, as foone as thei
had fpied our men, wringed theyr handes, feming therby to defyre ayde of oure men : at whofe coming
to delyuer them, the men fled into the woodes and left the women. Shortly after, our men faw a bote coming on
the fea with. viij. men and as many women : with whom oure men bickeringe lofl. one of theyr companions,
by reafon that thefe barbariens are accuftomed to infecte theyr arrowes with venime : yet oure men preuayled
and flewe parte of them, and broughte the refydue by forfe to the Admyrall. As they departed from
hence, they found many other Ilandes, but fuch as they could not come to for the roughnes of the fea
and multitude of rockes. But fome of the fmallefl brigantines which drewe no great depth, went fomewhat
nearer, and noumbred aboue feuen and fortie Ilandes, and called the place Archipelagus. Sayling from hence,
they found another Iland called Buchema, into the whiche ye Canibales make fundry incuriions, by reafon
wherof the inhabitantes are at continual warre with them. Thus at the length, the Admiral with his hole nauie
ret'imed to the Iland of Hifpana : but in an euyl tyme. For they which he hadde lefte there for a
\0f the newe India, and Ilandes in the West Ocean Sea, &c^
31
garrifon, were all dead : as were alfo they whiche he toke with him from the fame Ilande into Spayne to
vfe them for intrepretours. Of whiche feuen dyed by chaunge of the ayre. One of them was permitted of the
Admirall to departe, when the nauie came neare to hys countrey. The refidue flole awaye priuelye, and
fwamme to lande : but the Admirall doubting whether all his men were dead or no, whiche he lefte in
the Hand, commaunded certayne ordinaunce to be fliot of, that by the noyfe thereof they myghte haue
warning to come forth, yf any laye lurkinge in comers : but none appeared, whofe fatall dayes had
fynifflied theyr lyfe. At the length, the kyng of the Ilande beyng therto enforfed, declared the hole
matter to the Admyrall as well as he coulde by interpretours : affyrming that there were in the Hand
other Kynges befyde him : and of greater power then he, which were fore offended that the Spaniardes
hadde fubdued the Ilandes : and in reuenge therof, came to the town where the Spaniardes lay, which
they ouercame and burnt, and flew al the men therin : and that he alfo at the fame conflicte, taking part
with our men, was fore wounded with an arrow on the arme, for the better tryall whereof he bore hys
arme in a towell, becaufe it was not yet hole of that wounde. But fliortelye after they had knowledge,
that the King fayned this tale : fo that he hardely efcaped the handes of the Admiral, who was determyned
wyth fome kynd of punifhment to haue examined him further. But he fufpecting the matter, fled into ye
inner partes of the Hand, declaring therby, that he was the deftruction of our men : whom, certayn of
our companie, purfuinge, founde manye marueylous thinges : and efpeciallye ryuers in whiche is founde muche
golde, and a mountayne, whofe fande is fparkeled with gold. In this place, the Admiral bylded a citie, which
he compaffed about with a walle. And departing from hence, he fearched almofl all the Hand : in ye
inner partes wherof he bylded a towre, and named it S. Thomas towre, whiche he made to th[e]intent that
he might the more fafely fearche out the fecretes of fo plentifuU a region, and efpecially the gold mines of the
iame : and thus leauinge a garrifon there, he departed, takinge with him three foyftes, wherwith he fayled to
feke newe Ilandes, and came firft. to the Ilande of Cuba, and from thence to lamaica, being greater then SicUia,
very fruytfuU and wel inhabited. Which, when he had vewed, he departed from thence, and fayled about the
fea cofl.es where he fawe innumerable other fmall Ilandes, llandinge fo thicke, that the fliip was in maner
borne a lande : and was therfore enforfed to returne home, the lame way which he came.
C How the Spaniardes abufed the fubmij/ion and frendejhippe of the
inhabitantes of the Ilandes.
N this meane tyme, the Spaniardes which the admiral had left in the Hand of Hifpana,
had euyll entreated the inhabitauntes : fo that for wante of vitayles and foode, they begonne
to famyne : imputinge the fault hereof vnto the Chriflian men, which had digged vp al the
rootes wherwith thei were accuft,omed to make theyr bread. And whereas they yet per.
ceaued, that ye Chriflien men entended to continue there, thei fent an ambafiadour to the
admiral to defyre him to reflrayne the outragioufnes and crueltie of his men, at whofe handes
they fuftained fuch iniuries and violence, as they fcarcely loked for at the handes of mortal
enemies. Declaringe further, that vnder the pretence of feking for gold they committed innumerable wronges
and mifchieuous actes, fpoyling in maner all the hole region : and that for the auoyding of fuch enormities and
oppreflions, they hadde rather paye tribute, then to be thus dayly vexed with incuriions, and neuer to be at
quiete. Vpon this complaynte it was agreed, that they fhoulde paye yearely tribute to the Chriflian king and
that they fliould applie them felues to gather and encreafe theyr rotes, whiche were to them in the ftede
of flowre and wheat, and fo confumed that with great labour they coulde fcarcelyJynde any in the wooddes.
They payde therefore for their tribute, euery thre monethes, certayn pound weyghtes of gold : but fuche as had
no gold, payde fpyces, and goflampine cotton. In the meane time the Spaniardes, who fliould haue been
occupied in digging for golde, gaue them felues to play, wantonnes and idlenes, contemning, and falling
into hatered with their gouemour, by which theyr licentioufnes, the people of the Hand beyng prouoked, became
more difobedient and wyld, degeneratinge from al kind of honeflie and faithfulnes : yea ye fpaniardes alfo
became fo negligent in feking for gold, yat fometyme the charges exceaded the gaynes. Neuerthelefle in the
yere of Chrift, 1501. they gathered within ye fpace of two monethes twelue thoufand poundes weyght of golde.
But the Admirall appoyntinge his brother Bartholomeus Columbus, to be gouemour of the Hand, he in the
yeare. 1495. determined to retume to Spayne, to certifye the kyng of al thefe matters. In which viage,
he manfullye defended him felf in battayl againfl the rebelles of certayne other Ilandes which had confpyred
agaynft the Spanyardes.
Chaunge of ayre
is daungerous.
The kine
dissembleth with
the AdmyralL
Goldefound in
riuers and
mountaines.
The Ilandes
of Cuba and
lantaica,
A multitude of
Ilandes
The crueliie of the
Christian men
Crueltie of
couetousnes.
Bread of rotes
The tribute of
the barbarians
Disobedience
foloweth Idlenes
Note.
BarthoIometfS
Columbus,
32
\0f the newe India, and Ilandes in the IVest Ocean Sea, &c.]
The bishop of
rome deuideth ye
world.
Hesperides or
Caput -ueride.
How the
Spanyardes and
ye Portugales
deuided the world
betwene them.
Gold and Pearles
The EgmfMctial
lyne.
The ryiier of
Ganges,
Calicut
Taprobana.
Satnotra.
The great cytie
of Malaccha.
The region of
Sinarunt
The Ilandes of
Molucca,
Sayling into the
East by the west
The roundnes of
theerth.
The finne land
Spices
The viage from
the West vnto
the EasCe.
Afnerica.
The firme land.
Regio
BaccaUaruTH
Terra Florida.
The king of
spayne sendeth
foorth shippes.
The viage of
Magellanus by
the west into ye
east
The Ilandes of
Molucca
The Ilandes of
canaria.
Pronwtorium S.
Marie,
CattihaUs
The eleuadon of
the south pole. 46
degrees
TTie Region of
giauntes.
C How the Portugals fought new Ilandes in the Eajl partes, and how
they came to Calicut.
N this meane tyme that ye Spanyardes foughte newe and vnknowen landes m the Wed
partes, the Portugales attempted to doe the fame in the Eafte partes. And leafl one of
them fhould be a lette or hinderaunce to the other, they deuyded the world betwene them
by the aucthoritie of the Bifhop of Rome, Alexander the. vi. of that name. And that on
this condicion, that from the Ilandes called Hefperides (whiche are now called Caput ueride)
the one (hould fayle Weflwarde, and the other towarde the South pole, thus deuyding the
world betwene them in two equal partes. So that whatfoeuer vnknowen landes (houlde be
difcouered in the Eafte partes, the fame to be dewe to the Portugales : And all fuche as (houlde be founde in
the Wefte partes, to appertayne to the Spanyardes. Whereby it came to paffe, that the Spaniardes, euer by the
South, fayled into the Wefte, where they founde a large mayne land, with Ilandes great and litle innumerable,
hauing in them great plentie of golde and pearles, and other great riches. But the Portugales, by the Southe,
and coftes of the Ilandes called Hefperides, and EquinoHial lyne, and Tropicus Capricorni, came into ye Eaft,
by the goulfe called Sinus Perficus, euen vnto the coftes of India, within the riuer of Ganges, whereas is now the
great market towne, and kingedom of Calicut. And from thence to the Hand of Taprobana, (now called Sumetra,
Zamara or Satnotra) and fo forth to Aurea C/ierfonefus, whereas is nowe the great cytie of Malaccha, beyng one
of ye moft famous market townes of al ye Eaft partes. From Malaccha, they entered into a great goulfe,
by which they came to the region of Sinarum. Not farre from Malaccha, are the Ilandes called Moluccce,
in which al kyndes of fpyces growe and are brought to the cytie of Malcucha. But the Spanyardes hauing
knowledge what greate coramoditie the Portugales had receyued by the Ilandes oi Molucca attem[p]ted to
proue yf they alfo might find the fame Ilandes in fayling fo farre Weftward that they mighte at the length by
Weft and fouthweft come into the Eaft, as by good reafon they prefuppofed the roundneffe of the earth would
permitte, if they were not otherwyfe lette by the fyrme or mayne land lyinge in the waye and ftoppinge theyr
paffage, whereof as yet was no certeyntie knowen. And this dydde they to th[e]intent that by this meanes they
myghte more eafelye and wyth leffe charge bringe fpyces from thence into Spayne. Therefore, tlie maner of
this viage was, that they fhould fayle from the Wefte, vnder the loweft hemifpherye or halfe compaffe of the
earth, and fo to come into the E^ft, A thinge furelye that myghte feeme verye harde to attempte, beecaufe it
was vncertaine whether that, moft prudente and beneficiall nature, (who worketh al thinges with moft
high prouidence) had not fo deuided and feperated the Eaft from the Weft, partely by fea, and partely
by land, that there might by this way haue been no paflage into the Eaft, For it was not yet knowen, whether
that great region of America, (whiche they call the fynne or mayne lande) dyd feperate the Wefte fea from the
Eaft ; But it was founde that that fyrme lande extended from the Weft to the South. And that alfo towarde
the North partes were found two other regions, whereof the one is called Regio Baccalearum, and the other
Terra Florida : which, if they were adherent to the fayde fyrme land, there could be no paflage by the Wefte feas
into the Eaft India, forafmuch as dier was not yet founde any ftrayghte of the fea, wherby any enteraunce
mighte be open into the Eaft. In this meane while, the kyng of Spayne beynge elected Emperoure, prepared
a nauie of fyue fhippes, ouer the whiche he appointed one Magellanus to be captayne, commaundinge him that
he (hould fayle towarde the coaftes of the fayd fyrme land, dyrectinge his viage by the fouth partes thereof, untyl
he had eyther found the ende of the fame, or elles fome ftreyghte wherby he mighte pafle to thofe odoriferous
Ilandes of Molucca, fo famoufly fpoken of for the great abundaunce of fwete fauours and fpices founde therein.
The fhippes therefore, beyng well furniffhed with all thinges neceflarie, Magellanus departinge from Ciuile in
Spayne, the tenth day of Auguft, in the yeare of Chrift. 1519. came fyrft to ye Ilandes of Canaria, and
from thence to ye Ilandes called Hefperides: from whiche dyrectinge hys courfe betwene the Weft and
the Eaft toward the fayd fyrme land, in few dayes with profperous fayling, he difcouered a corner or poynt of
the fayd mayne land, called Promontorium S. Maria, where the people dwell, called Canibales, whiche are
accuftomed to eate mans fleflie. From hence he fayled on fouthwarde by the long tracte of this firme
land, which reacheth fo farre into ye fouth and extendeth fo many degrees beyond ye circle called Tropicus
Capricorni, yat the fouth pole (called pole Antartike) is there eleuated fortie and fyxe degrees. And
thus beyng brought into the Eaft, they faw certayn Indians gatheringe ftiel fyflies by the fea bankes :
beyng men of very high ftature, clothed with beaftes flcinnes. To whom, whereas certayne of the Spaniardes
went aland, and fhewed them belles and paynted papers, they begon to daunce and leape aboute the
Spaniardes, with a rude and murmuring fonge. At the length there came three other, as thoughe they
\0f the iiewe India, and Ilandes in the PFest Ocean Sea, &c^
were ambafladours, whiche by certayn fignes defyred ye Spaniardes to go with them further into the land,
making a countenaunce as though thei wold intertayn them wel, where vpon, ye captayne Magellanus fent with
them. viL men well inllructed, to th[e]intent to fearche ye region and maners of the people. And thus
they went with them into ye defertes, wher they came to a low cotage couered with wylde beafles
fkinnes, hauing in it two manfions, in one of ye which were women and children and in the other only
men. They interteined their gefl.es after a barbaros and beaftly maner, whiche neuertheles femed to
them princelike : for they killed a beafl, not much vnlike a wylde affe, whofe fleffhe (but halfe rofted) they fet
before our men, without any other kind of meate or drinke. Here were our men of neceffitie conflrained
to lye al night vnder thefe fkinnes, by reafon of the great abundaunce of fnowe and wynde. And when it was
day, our men were very eamell with them, and would in maner haue enforfed them to goe with them to
the fhippe : which thing thei perceauing, couered them felues from the head to the foote with certayn horrible
beafles flcinnes, and paynted theyr faces with fundrye colours. Thus taking their bowes and arrowes, and
bringing with them other of theyr companie, of much greater flature and terrible afpect, then they were, they
(hewed them felues to oure men in araye, as thoughe they were ready to fight. But the Spanyardes, whiche
thoughte that the matter would haue comen to hand flrokes, commaunded a piece of ordinaunce to be fhotte of
The which although it dyd no hurte, yet thefe hardy giauntes, which a little before femed to be as bold
as though they durft haue made warre againft. lupiter, were by the noyfe thereof put in fuche feare, that
they foorthwith beganne to entreate for peace. Our men entended to haue brought fome of thefe Gyauntes
wyth them into Spayne for the flraungenes of the thinge : but they all efcaped oute of theyr handes.
Magellanus therfore vnderflandinge that it were vnprofy table to tarie there any longer, and that alfo the fea was
very rough, and the wether flormie and boyfte[r]ous, and that furthermore the firme lande extended further
toward the fouth, in fo muche, that the further they fayled that waye, they fhould fynde it fo much ye colder,
he deferred hys proceding vnto [in?] the moneth of may, at whiche tyme, ye fliarpenes of winter, exceadeth with
them, when as with vs, fommer is begon. He found there greate plentie of wood. The fea alfo miniflred
vnto them great abundaunce of fhelfifhe, befyde other fyfhes of fundrie kyndes. He found lykewyfe
many fpringes of frefhe and holefome waters: and vfed huntinge and taking of foules. Only bread and
wyne, was lackinge in the fliippe. The fouth pole was there eleuated fortie degrees.
C How Magellanus by a Jlrayght or narrow arme of the fea, fayled by the
weft into the Eafi to dy tiers Ilandes: where alfo he was flayne.
He wynter now being pafl, the. xxiiij. day of Augufle, Magellanus departed from the place
aforelayde, and flyll folowed the tracte of the firme land toward the fouth, vntyl at the length,
the. xxvi. day of Nouember, he found in that firme land, certayn open places lyke vnto
ftrayghtes or narrow feas. Into the which entring with his nauie, he commaunded that
certayn fliippes fliould fearche the goulfes on euerye fyde, yf anye way or paffage might be
found into the Eaft. At the length, they found a certayn depe flraight, by the which they
were perfwaded yat there was enteraunce into fome other mayne fea, infomuch that Magel-
lanus attempted to fearche ye fame. This flraight was found to be fomtime of ye bredth of thre Italian myles,
fometyme *" two, and fometime of tenne, and reached fomwhat toward the Weft. The altitude or eleuacion of
the fouth poiO in this place, was founde to be. lii. degrees. They coulde fee no people ftering in the coftes of
this entraunce Therfore Magellanus feing thys lande to be rough and faluage, and vnpleafaunt to abide in,
by reafon of extreme cold, he thought it not worthye the trauayle, to fpend any time in ferching the fame.
Therfore failing forward in his viage thus attempted by ye faid flrayghte, (which is now called the ftrayght of
Magellattus) he was therby brought into another mayn fea, verye greate and large. The length of this ftrayght
or narrow fea, is eftemed to be a hundreth fpaniflie miles. The land which he had on his right hande, he
doubted not to be mayne lande : and that on the left hand, he fuppofed to bee Ilandes. Magellanus lawe
lykewyfe the fyrme lande to be extended directly toward ye North : wherefore letting palTe that great lande, he
fayled by that greate and large fea betwene the Weft and the North : and that for this intente, that at the length
he might by the Weft come into the Eaft, and agayne vnder the burning lyne called Zona Torrida, beynge well
affured that the Ilandes of Molucca (which he foughte) were in the Eafte, and not farre from the EquinoHial lyne.
When they hadde thus fayled fortie dayes, and came now agayne vnder the line or circle called Tropicus Capri-
corni, they founde two lyttle Ilandes inhabyted, but very barren, and therfore called them infortunate Ilandes.
Departinge from thence they failed on for a great fpace, and found a certayne Ilande which ye inhabitantes called
Edsn. _ M
33
Cotages couered
with beastcs
skinnes.
Onager,
Abundaunce of
snowe and w>'nda
The Giauntes are
putte to flyght.
Extreme winter
in maye.
The south pole
eleuat&xl. degrees
The strayght of
Magellanus.
The altitude of _^ ■
the south pole. lii.
degrees.
The main sea
beyond the
strayghtes.
The fyrme land.
The burning lino
Torrida Zona.
The Ilandes of
Molucca
Tropicus
cajvicomi.
34
\0f the newe India, and Ilandes in the West Ocean Sea, S'c]
The IlanJ of
inuagana.
The Ilandes of
Codes called
Cales Males.
A rckipellagtu.
Acatan,
Sclani.
Massana.
Subuth.
Bread of the
trunke of trees.
Drinke of the
dropping of date
trees.
Golde and Ginger
Magellanus is
slayne.
The new
captaine Serrantts
is betraied of his
bondman.
The king of
Subuth conspyreth
agaynst the
Spanyardes.
The captayne
Serranus is taken
prisoner.
The Ilandes of
Gibetk and Ponu
Siloli.
Peace and Idlene;
Bread of Rice
Caniphire
Pearles as bigge
as turtle doues
egges.
A manielous big
shelfishe
Cilona,
Men with
banging earcs.
Jnuagana, where ye eleuacion of the Northe pole, (called pole Artike) was. xij. degrees : And the length from the
Ilandes called Gades, by the Wefle, was iudged to bee. c.lviii. [one hundred and fifty-eight] degrees. Thus preceding,
they faw dyuers other Ilandes, and that fo manye, that they fuppofed they had been brought into a great fea lyke vnto
that called Archipelagus, where with fygnes and poyntinges (as the dumme are wont to fpeake with the dumme)
they aflced of thefe Indians, the names of the Ilandes, whereby they learned that thei were in Acatan, and not
farre from the Ilande called Selani, wel inhabited and replenifhed with abundaunce of al thinges neceflarie for
the commodities of this life. Sayling therfore toward the Ilande of Selani, thei were with a contrary wind
drieuen on the Hand oi Maffaiia, from whenfe they came to the greate Hand of Subuth, where ye Spanyardes
were wel enterteyned of the Kinge of the Hand, who brought them into a certayn cotage, and fet before them
fuch delicates as he hadde. Theyr bread, was of the trunke of a certen tree, cut in pieces, and fried with oyle.
Theyr drinke was of the humoure or ioyfe which droppeth out of the braunches of the date trees, when they are
cutte. Theyr meate was fuche as they toke by fouUnge, with fuch fruites as the contrei brought forth. This
Ilande was very riche of gold and ginger. In thefe partes Magdlanus made warre agaynfte the inhabi-
tauntes of certayne other Ilandes : In whiche conflicte, the fpaniardes hauing the ouerthrow Magellanus was
flayne with feuen of hys men. When the Spaniardes hadde thus lod theyr captayne, they elected a new
gouemoure of theyr nauie, appointing one Johannes Serranus to that office. Magellanus had alfo a bondman
borne in the Ilandes of Molucca, whom he had bought in the citie of Malacclia. This bondman vnderftode the
Spanifhe tonge : and where as the captayn Serranus could do nothing without him, who now lay ficke by
reafon of the woundes which he had receaued in the faid conflicte, fo that he was fayne to fpeake fharpely to
him and threaten to beate him or he could geat him out of the fhyppe, he here vpon conceaued fo great hatered
and indignacion agaynfte the Spanyardes, that he wente immediately to the Kinge of Subuth, declaring the
couetoufnes of the Spaniardes to be vnfaciable, and yat thei wold fhortely vfe crueltie againft him alfo, and
bring him into fubiection and feruitude. The barbarous king beleued his wordes, and therwith pryuelye with
the ayde of the other Ilandes, confpired againft the Spanyardes, and toke or flew as many of them as came to
a banket whereunto they were bidden vnder pretence of frendfhip. Among the which alfo, Serranus the
Captaine was taken priefoner. But the refydue of the Spanyardes which remayned in the fhippes, beyng taught
and warned by the euyll chaunce which befell to theyr companions, and fearing greater deceytes and confpira-
cies, lyft vp their ankers and gaue wind to their fayles. In the meane tyme was Serranus brought bound to
the fea bankes, defiring his companions to delyuer or redeme him from that horrible captiuitie of hys enemies.
Eut the Spaniardes, albeit they toke it for a diflionour, to leaue or forfake theyr Captayne, yet fearing fraude or
funher diffimulacion, they fayled afyde from that Hand, and came to the Ilandes of Gibeth and Porne. In this
mayne fea, were two great Ilandes, wherof the one was called Siloli, and the other Porne the lefle, where our
men were wel entreated. The inhabitantes oi Porne honoure the funne and the mone: they keepe alfo a certayn
ciuile iuftice and frendly loue one to another. And aboue all thinges, defyre peace and ydlenes. Therfore
their chiefe imdie is, in no cafe to molefte their neyghboures or ftraungers, or to be iniurious to anye man.
They haue lyttle houfes, made of earth and wood, and couered partely with rubbiflie, and partly with ye bowes
of date trees. They take as manye wyues as they are able to kepe. Theyr comon meat, is fuch as they take
by foulinge or fifftiinge. They make bread of ryce : and drinke, of the liquor whiche droppeth from the
braunches of date trees, cutte. Some vfe marchaundyfe in the Ilandes nere about them : fome applie them-
felues to huntinge and fyffhing, and fome to hufbandry. Theyr apparell, is of Goflampine cotton. They haue
greate abundaunce of camphyre, ginger and cinomome.
C How the spaniardes came to the Ilandes of Molucca, and of the
people with great hanging eares.
He Spaniardes takinge theyr leaue of the king of Porne, departed : dyrecting theyr viage
towarde the Ilandes of Molucca, whiche were fhewed vnto them by the fame King. They
came fyrft to the coftes of the Ilande called Solo, where are found Pearles as bygge as
turtle doues egges : but they are gathered in the depth of the fea. The inhabitantes
of this Ilande, at fuche tyme as the Spanyardes came thether, toke a ftielfyflhe of fuche
houdge bignes yat the fleflie therof wayed. xlvij. pound weyght. WTierby it is apparaunt yat
great pearles fliould be found there forafmuch as pearles are the byrth of certayn flielfiflies.
From hence thei came to the Hand of Gilona, in which are certayn people hauing hanging eares of
fuch length, that they hang downe to theyr flioulders. Wherat as the Spaniardes marueyled, the men
\0f the newe India, and Ilandes in the West Ocean Sea, &c?[
of the Hand tolde them, that not farre from thence was another Hand in which were a kind of men, not onely
with hanging eares, but alfo with eares of fuche breadth and length, that with one of them they myghte couer
thejT hole head. But the Spanyardes, who foughte for gold and fpyces, and not for monflers, fayled dyrectly to
the Ilandes ot Molucca, where they arryued, the eyghte rroneth after the death of their gouernour MagcUama.
Thefe Ilandes are fyue in noumbre, the names wherof are thefe Tharant, Muthil, TJicdori, Mare, and Atathien.
Some of them are fytuate on thys fyde the EquinoBiall lyne, fome vnder it, and fome beyonde it. Some
beare clones, fome Nutmegges, and fome Cinomome. They are not farre didaunt the one from the other.
They are but little and narowe. The inhabitantes are very poore, becaufe ther is no encreafe of anye
other thinge fauing onely of fpyces. They lyue with bread and fyfhe, and fometime popingiayes. They
lurke in lowe cotages : And in fyne, all thinges with them are defpicable and vile, befide peace, idlenes,
and fpyces. In lliedori is great plentie of cloues, as alfo in Tarante and Mathiai. The trees which bringe
forth cloues, growe not, but on rockes and broken cliffes, which fometime they grow fo thicke, that they
appeare lyke a lyttle woode or groue. This tree, bothe in leaues, biggenes, and heyght, is much lyke vnto the
baye tree. It beareth the fruite in ye toppes of euery braunche. The budde fpringeth out fyrfl, and then in
it the floure, not much vnlike the floure of an orange tree. The clone is fyrfl. redde : but after beyng fcorched
by the heate of the fonne, it is made blacke. The inhabitauntes deuide the groues of thefe trees betwene them,
as we doe the vynes. The Hand of Muthil, bringeth forth cinomome. This tree, is ful of fmall braunches and
baren, befl lyking in a drye foyle, and is very like vnto the tree, that beareth the pomgranate. The barke of
this tree, by reafon of the great heate of the fonne, ryfing from the braunches, or bodie of the fame, is gathered
and dried at the fonne, and is fo made perfecte cinomome. Neare vnto this, is another Hand, called
Beda, greater and larger, then anye of the Ilandes of Molucca. In this Hand groweth the Nutmegge, whofe tree
is bigge and highe, and much lyke vnto the walnutte tree, for as is the walnutte, fo is this fruite defended with
a double couering, as fyrft.e with a grene hufke, vnder the whiche is a thinne (kinne or rimme like a
nette, encompaffmg the fhell of the nutte : which fkinne we call the flowTe of the nutmegge, but of the
Spanyardes, it is called mace, an excellent and holefome fpyce. The other couering, is the fhell of the nutte,
within the which is the fruite it felfe, which we call ye nutmegge. Ginger groweth here and there in all
the Ilandes of this Archipelagus, or mayne fea. Of the whiche, fome is fowen, and fome groweth of it
felfe. But that which is fowen, is the better. The herbe of this, is lyke vnto that which beareth faffrane
and hath hys roote, (which is Ginger,) much lyke vnto the fame. In this meane time came two other fhyppes
out of Spayne : whereof the one fayled directely to the poynte ol Aphrica, called Proniontorium bonce f pel: And
the other by the greate mayne South fea, to the coafles of that continent or fyrme land whereof we haue fpoken
here beefore. It fhall fuffyfe that we haue hetherto declared of the nauigacions whiche the Spanyardes attempted by
the Welle to fayle into the Eafle, by the llrayghte of Magellanus, where the paffage by Sea is open into the Eafl.e,
by the continente or fyrme lande of the newe worlde, called America. Nowe therefore lette vs retoume to the
other Nauigacions of Columbus, otherwyfe called the Admyrall, who longe beefore was the fyrfl. fynder of
the newe Ilandes, and of the fayde mayne or fyrme land, and yet founde not that fl.rayght or narow fea, by the
which Magellanus fayled from the Weft into the Eaft,
C The thyrde naiugacion ^Chriflophorus Columbus.
iJN the yeare of Chrift. 1498. Columbus the Admyral departed from Spayne with eyght foifles,
and arryued fyrft at the Ilandes of Medera, where he deuyded hys nauie into two partes.
For. V. of thefe fliippes he directed to the Hand of Hifpana : and with the refidue, he failed
towarde the fouth, entendinge to paffe ouer the ^quinoBial line, and from thenfe to turne
towarde the Wefte, to fearche fuche landes as were hetherto vnknowen to the Chriflian men.
Coming therfore to Caput ueride, he failed to the burning line, called Torrida zona where he
found fo great heate, that he was in daunger of death : but returninge his fliyppes towarde
the Weft, he found a more holefome ayre and (as God woulde) came at the length to a lande well inhabyted,
where there came agaynft him and his, a bote with, xxiiij. young men, armed with bowes, arrowes, and fhieldes,
couering only theyr priuie members with a clothe of Goffampine cotton, hauing alfo very longe heare. The
admirall, (as well as he could by fignes) allured them to communicacion. But they trufled not our men, fearing
fome deceate. The Admirall perceauing that he could nought preuayle, by fignes and tokens, he determined
with Mufical inftrumentes to appeafe their wildneffe. As the minflrelles therefore blewe theyr fliaulmes,
the barbarous people drew neare, fufpecting that noyfe to bee a token of warre, whereupon they made ready
theyr bowes and arrowes. But the Spaniardes drawinge nearer vnto them, cafte certayne .apparell into theyr
3S
35
The spanyardes
arriue at the
Ilandes of
Molucca^
The tree that
beareth cloues.
The cinomone
tree.
The nutmeg tree
Mace.
The nutinegg-i
Ginger
Prom on ioriutn
bonee spei
Columbus the
admyral, first
finder of the new
Ilandes
The Ilandes of
Medera
Hispana or
H ispanioux
Greate heate vndei
the burning lyne.
Sigjies and
punning
36
[0/ the newe India, and Ilmides in the West Ocean Sea, &c.]
The faire region
of P arias.
Gold and Pearles
Fearse beastes.
CanibaUs
The Spanyardes
refuse to obey the
admiraL
Patios
Curtana.
Pearles for belles
and nedles
Peacockes.
Phesants.
The Region of
CaruAietes
The region of
Ciruana
Pearles
Naked people.
Gold for belles.
A conflict betwene
the wild men and
the Spanyardes
The Region of
Payra,
Woodes of
Sanders.
The tree yat
bcareth Cassia
fistula.
A monsterous
beast.
bote, willing by this token of frendfhippe to concile them, although all were in vayne. For they fled all awaye.
Wherefore the Admyrall departing from thence, came to a region called Farias, wel inhabited and ful of ciuile
people, declaring muche humanitie toward flraungers. They (hewed our men Pearles and Gold, and fuch other
richeS; defyring them to come a land, where they gentelly entreated them. When our men afked them where
they had fuche plentie of golde : they (with home poynting was in the flede of (peech) declared by fignes and
tokens, that thei had it in certayne mountaines, and that thei could not without great daunger refort thether, by
reafon of certaine fearfe beafl.es in thofe partes, and alfo becaufe of the cruell people called Canibaks, whiche
inhabite thofe mountaynes. But the Admiral, becaufe his wheate fayled, was enforfed to departe thence.
Dyrectinge therfore his viage toward ye North eafl.e, he came to the Hand of Hifpana, where he found
all thinges confounded and out of ordre. For the Spanyardes which were lefte in the Ilandes, refufed to obeye
the Admirall and his brother, mopinge greuous complayntes agaynfle them before the King of Spaine, and at
the length fente them thether boftnd.
C Howe Petrus Alonfus foiighte newe Ilandes.
i Fter that the Admyrall hadde incurred the indignacion of the Kynge, manye of his companions,
fuche as hadde been broughte vppe with him, and were experte Sea menne, decreede to
fearche other partes of the worlde yet vnknowen. Among which number was Petrus Alonfus,
who with a (hippe wel fumifhed, fayled to Farias, and from thence to Curtana, where he
begon to exercyfe merchaundife with the inhabitantes, receauinge Pearles for belles and
nedles. Entring alfo into the land, he was honourably entertayned. In their woodes, he
faw innumerable Peacockes, nothinge vnlyke vnto oures, fauing that the males differ litle
from the females. In this region are great plentie of Phefantes. Alonfus departinge from henfe, failed to the
region of Canchietes, beynge fixe dayes fayling from Curtana, toward the Weft. In this region is great abun-
daunce of golde, Popingiayes, Goflampine cotton, and mofte temperate ayre. From hence he fayled into
another fruiteful region, but inhabited with wilde menne, which could by no gentilnes be allured to frendfhippe.
Departinge therefore from thence, he came to the region of Ciniafia, whereas pearles are found in great plentie:
but before he came there, he chaunced to come amonge the Canibaks: agajTift whom, difchargeing a piece of
ordinaunce, he droue them eafely to flight But Alonfus laden with pearles, returned home into Spayne.
C Howe Pinzonus, companion to the Admirall, fotight newe Ilandes.
Incentius, otherwife called Pinzonus in the yeare of Chrifte. 1499. prepared foure brigantines,
and failed fyrft to the Ilandes of Canaria, and from thence to Caput ueride. From whence
directinge his viage toward the fouth farre beyonde the Eguinoflial lyne, he found men in a
certayne Hand, but fuch as he could by no meanes concyle vnto him. Therefore leauinge
them, he came to another lande, in whiche were innumerable naked people, diffimuling that
thei defired to ioyne frendfliip with the Spaniardes. And whereas one of our men cafte a
bell amonge them oute of the fliippe, they againe caft to the Spanyardes a maffe or piece of
golde : which, one of oure companye fomewhat to bolde, attemptinge to take vp, they fodeynlye toke him and
caried him awaye with merueylous fwiftenes : but our men leauing their fliippes, made haft to help their fellowe,
in fo muche that the matter came to handftrokes. This conflict was fo fliarpe, that our men hadde much a doe
to efcape wyth theyr lyues, by reafon of the fearfenes of the barbarians. Departing therefore from thence, they
fayled toward the Northeafte, and came to the region of Payra, and to the Ilandes neare aboute the fame in
the whiche are woodes of fanders wherewith the marchauntes lade theyr fliippes, and carie it into other coun-
treys. In this Region alfo growe the trees, whiche beare Cafsia fiflula of the befl« kynd. There is alfo founde
a foure foted beaft of monftrous fhape, whofe former parte is lyke vnto a wolfe, fauing that the feete are lyke
vnto the fete of a man, with eares like an owle : Hauinge alfo beneath his comon belye, an other belye lyke
vnto a purfe or bagge, in which he kepeth his yonge whelpes fo longe, vntyll they be able fafely to wander
abrode alone, and to geat theyr meate withoute the helpe of theyr parents. The whelpes while they are very
yong, neuer come out of this bagge but when they fucke. This portentous beaft with her three whelpes, was
broughte to Ciuile in Spaine, and from thence to Granata.
\Pf the newe India, and Ilandes in the West Ocean Sea, &c.\
37
€1 Of the foure nauigacions r/Americus Vefputius to the newe Ilandes.
Mericus Vefputius, beyng fent with Chrijlophorus Columbus, in the yeare of Chrifl. M.cccc.xcij.
at the commaundement of Ferdinando King of Caflile, to feke vnknowen landes, and wel
inftructed in fayling on the fea, after a fewe yeares, fet forward foure viages of hys owne
proper charges. That is to witte, two vnder the fayd King Ferdinando, and two other vnder
Emanuel, king of Portugale, of the which he himfelfe wiyteth after this maner.
C Thefyrjle viage of Avatncxxs Vefputius.
N the yere of Chrifl, M.ccccxcvij. the. xx. daye of Maye, we came with foure (hippes, to
the fortunate Ilandes, called Infulce fortuiiatce, where the North pole hath his eleuacion.
xxvij. degrees, and. xL minutes. And from thence within the fpace of. xxvii. dayes,
we came to a land more Weilwarde then the fortunate Ilandes, where the North pole
was eleuate. xvL degrees : where alfo we founde a nacion of naked people, of innumerable
multitude, whiche as fone as they fawe vs, fled to the next mountayne. From hence
within two dayes fayling, we came to a fafe port wher we founde manye men, which
with much adoe, we could fcarcely allure to communicacion, although we profered them belles, lokinge
glaffes, criflallyne cuppes, and fuche other iewelles. But at the length perceauing our good wyll and
liberalitie towarde them, they came to vs by heapes, and ioyned frendlhyp with vs without all feare. They
goe all as naked as they came forth of their mothers wombe. They fuffre no heare on their bodie fauing
only on theyr head, in fo much that they pulo[f]ye heares of their browes. They are all fo perfectelye
exercyfed in fwimminge, that they can continue therein, for the fpace of two leages without any thinge to beare
them vp and efpeciallye the women. Theyr weapons are bowes and arrowes. They arme theyr arrowes with
ye teeth of beafles and fyflies, bycaufe they lacke Iron and other metals. They kepe warre againft. their
borderers whiche are of flraunge language. They fyght not for the enlargeing of theyr dominion, forafmuche
as they haue no Magiflrates : nor yet for th[e]increafe of riches, becaufe thei are contente with their owne com-
modities : but onely to reuenge the death of theyr prediceflburs. At theyr meate, they vfe rude and barberous
fafhions, lying on the ground without any table clothe, or couerlet They flepe in certayne greate nettes made
of Goflampine cotton and hanged a lofte in the ayre beetwene trees. Theyr bodies are verye fmothe and clene
by reafon of theyr often wafliinge. They are in other thinges fylthy and withoute fhame. Thei vfe no lawful
coniunction of mariage, but euery one hath as many women as him lifteth, and leaueth them agayn at his
pleafure The women are very fruiteful, and refufe no laboure al the whyle they are with childe. They
trauayle in maner withoute payne, fo that the nexte day they are cherefull and able to walke. Neyther
haue they theyr bellies wrimpeled, or loofe, and hanginge pappes, by reafon of bearinge manye children. ThejT
houfes and cabbens, are all in common. Theyr houfes are fafhyoned lyke vnto belles : are made of greate trees
faflened together, couered wyth the leaues of date trees, and made very flronge againft. wind and tempefles.
They are alfo in fome places fo great, that in one of them fixe hundreth perfons may lodge. Thei vfe euery
feuenth or eyght yeare, to remoue and chaunge theyr dwelling places, becaufe that by theyr longe continuaunce
in one place, the ayre (houlde bee infected. They vfe no kynd of marchaundife or bying and felling, beyng
content onely with that which nature hath lefte them. As for Golde, Pearles, precious (lones, iewelles,
and fuche other thinges, which we in Europa efleme as pleafures and delicates, they fette noughte by. They
haue no kynde of come. Theyr common fedinge, is a certayne roote whiche they drye and beate and make
floure or rrieale therof They eate no kynd of flefhe except mans flefhe : for they eate all fuche as they kyll in
theyr warres, or o[t]herwife take by chaunce When we had thus vewed the countreye, and confydered the
maners of the people, we determyned to fayle further, downe by the landes fyde, and came after a few daies, to
a certayn hauen, where we fawe about twentie greate houfes, rayfed vppe muche after the fafhion of belles.
There came vnto vs a great multitude of men vnder pretenfe of frendefhip. Some fwimminge, and forae in
botes. Who, as fone as thei drew neare vnto vs, fodeynly bent theyr bowes againft, vs, where we defended oure
felues manfully. In this bickeringe, we flewe of them about twentie, beefyde manye that were wounded : But
of our men, were onlye fyue hurte, whiche were all perfectelye healed. Thus departinge from this hauen, we
fayled on, and came to anotlier nacion, in conuerfacion and tongue vtterlye differing from the fyrfL For
Edhk. G 3 31
Ferdinando kinge
of castUe.
tnsuhg fortunatct.
Naked menne.
Wylde men
allured with
gentlenes
People expert in
swimminfie.
Cabcns hanging
betweene trees.
Women in
commen.
Women very
stronge and
fruitful.
Houses made of
trees.
Houses of
maruelous bignes.
Ryches and
superfluites
contemned
Bread of a certain
roote.
Mans flesh eaten
A conflict
38
\0f the newe India, and Ilandes in the West Ocean Sea, &c?\
A gentle nacion
Farias.
Fruites vnlikc
vnto ourcs.
Gold everywhere.
CanihaUt.
An expedicion
agaynst ye
Cnniiiaies
The Equinoctial
line.
Canibales
Fyue hundrcth
pearles for one belL
Wine of the iuyse
of frutes
An Hand wythout
fresh water.
firoad leaucs.
The land of
Giauntes.
Pearles
A hundreth and
XXX. pearles in one
shelftshe.
Anli^lia,
CaUcium
comming oute of our fliippe, we were very frendly entreated of them, where we continued for the fpace of nyne
dayes. This region is verye fayre, and fruitefull, hauinge manye pleafaunt woodes, which continue grene all the
yeare longe. They haue fruites innumerable, vtterlye vnlyke vnto oures. The Region is fituate dyrectelye vnder
the lyne, called Tropicus Calieri. The inhabitantes them felues, call it Farias. Saylinge farre beyond this
Region, and ouerpaffinge manye countreyes and nacions, fyndinge Gold euery where, (but in no great
quantitie) we came to another nacion full of gentleneflfe and humanitie, where we refled. xxxvij. dayes. Thefe
people made greuous complaynte vnto vs, that there was not farre from them, a certayne fearfe and cruell
nacion, whiche vexed them fore, and made incurfion into theyr countreye at a certayne tyme of the yeare,
kyllinge them and violentlye carying them awaye, to th[e]intent to eate them, in fo muche that they were not
able to defend them felues againfle theyr fearfenefle. Whiche thinge when they hadde fo lamentablye declared
vnto vs, and we hadde made them promyfe that we woulde reuenge theyr fo manye iniuries, they ioyned vnto
oure company feuen of theyr men. Thus we wente forward : and after feuen dayes, came to an Ilande, called
Ity: where thefe fearfe people dwelte. Who, as fone as they hadde efpyed vs, came armed agaynfte vs.
We ioyned with them in battaile, which contynued for the fpace of twoo houres. At the length we
droue them to flyghte, and flewe and wounded a greate numbre of them, and toke. xxv. captiues. But of our
men was onely one flayne, and. xxi. wounded, and fhortely after reflored to health. We gaue to thofe feuen
men which went with vs, thre menne of oure prifouners and foure women, whom with greate reioyfmge
they caried with them into theyr countreye : and we retuminge home toward Spaine, with many captiues came
fyrfle to a porte of Spayne called Calicium, where we folde oure priefoners, and were ioyefullye receaued : In
the yeare of Chrift. M.ccccxcix. the. xv. daye of Octobre.
C The feconde viage (?/"Vefputius.
N the moneth of May folowing Vefputius attempted another viage and came by Ilandes of
Canaria, euen vnto the burninge lyne, called Torrida zona, and founde a lande beeyonde the
EquinoHial ^ine, toward the South, where the South pole is eleuate fyue degrees. And wheras
he coulde fynde no apte enteraunce into the land, and fayled vp and down alonge by the
fame, he efpyed a bote in which was aboute twentie men : who, as fone as they faw the Span-
yardes, lepte into the Sea and efcaped all, excepte two, which they toke. In theyr bote which
they forfoke, were founde foure young men which they had by force taken oute of another
countrey, hauinge theyr priuie members newelye cutte of. Thefe, Vefputius toke into his fhippes and learned by
theyr fignes and tokens, that they hadde been taken of the Canibaks, and fhould fliortly haue been eatea But
departinge from thefe cofles, and faylinge on forward, they came to a commodious hauen, where they founde
muche people, with whom they ioyned frendfliyp, and fell to chaungeinge of ware, receauinge for one bell, fyue
hundreth Pearles. In this lande they drinke a certayne kynde of wyne, made of the iuyfe of fruites and fedes,
being lyke whyte and redde fydar. Departinge from hence, and faylinge yet further, they founde a certayne
Ilande in which was a beaflly kind of people, and fimple, yet very gentle. In this Ilande is no frefhe water :
but they gather the dew which in the night feafon falleth vpon certayne leaues muche lyke vnto the eare of an
Affe. They lyue for the mofle parte, by fea fifhe. They haue no cotages or houfes : but haue certayne broade
leaues, wherewith they defende them felues from the heate of the Sunne, but not from (howres : but it is verye
lykely, that it rayneth but lyttle in that Hand. Vefputius wyth his companye departinge from hence, fayled
vnto another Ilande : into the whiche when he hadde entered, he founde certayne cotages, and in them two old
women, and three young wenches, whiche were of fo greate flature, that they marueyled thereat And whereas
our menne (Iryued with them to bringe them to the fhyppe, to th[e]intente to haue caiyed them into Spayne,
they efpyed cominge toward them fyxe and thyrtie men, yet of muche greater flature then were the women,
bearing with them bowes, arrowes, and great flakes lyke vnto clubbes : at the fyghte of whome, oure menne
beinge afrayd, made hafte to theyr fhyppes. But thefe Gyauntes folowinge them euen to the Seafyde, bended
theyr arrowes towardes the Spanyardes, vntyll they difcharged two pieces of ordinaunces, wyth the horryble
founde whereof, they were immediatly drieuen to flight. Oure menne therefore departinge from thence, called
that Ilande, the Ilande of Giauntes. And came to another nacion, which frendlye entreated them, and offered
them many Pearles : in fo muche that they boughte. xix. markes weyghte of pearles, for a fmal price. They
gaue vs alfo certayne (helfyflies, of the whiche. fome conteyned in them a hundreth and thyrtie Pearles,
and fome fewer. Departinge from thence they came to the Ilande of Antiglia, which Columbus had difcouered
a few yeares before. I.eauinge this, they fayled directely to Calicium, a porte of Spayne, where they were
honourablye receaued.
%^P
Mm
Y^f the newe India ^ and llandes in the West Ocean Sea, &c^
39
C The thyrde viage of Vefputius.
Efpiitius beyng called from Caflile to feme Emanuel the King of Portugale, in the yeare
of Chrifle. M. ccccc. ij. the tenth daye of May, departed from the hauen of lifburne, and
fayled downe by the coaftes of the fea Atlantike, vntil he came vnder the Equitw^ial lyne.
And the. xvij. daye of Augufle, they arryued at a certayne lande where they found a kind of
beaflly people. This land is fituate toward the South, fyue degrees beyonde the EquinoHial
lyne. A gieate multitude of the inhabitantes wer gathered together, and as wel as they coulde
by fignes and poyntinges, defired oure men to come alande and to fee theyr countrey. There
were two in the fhippe, which toke vpon them to vewe the lande, and leame what fpyces and other commodities
might be had therein. They were appoynted to returne within the fpace of fiue daies at the vttermofl. But
when eyght dayes were now pafle, they whiche remayned in the fhippes, heard yet nothing of theyr returne :
wheras in the meane time great multitudes of other people of the fame lande reforted to the Sea fyde, but could
by no meanes be allured to communicacion. Yet at the length they broughte certayne women, which (hewed
them felues familier towarde the Spaniardes : Wherupon they fent forth a young man, beyng very (Irong and
quicke, at whom as the women wondered, and (lode gafinge on him and feling his apparell : there came fodeynly
a woman downe from a mountayne, bringing with her fecretely a great (lake, with which (he gaue him fuch a
(Iroke behynde, that he fell dead on the earth. The other womenne foorthwith toke him by the legges, and
drewe him to the mountayne, whyle in the mean tyme the men of the countreye came foorth with bowes and
arrowes, and (hot at oure men. But the Spaniardes difchargeing foure pieces of ordinaunce agaynd them,
droue them to flighte. The women alfo which had llayne the yong man, cut him in pieces euen in the fight of
the Spaniardes, fhewinge them the pieces, and rofling them at a greate fyre. The men alfo made certayn tokens,
wherby they declared that not pad. viii. daies be(ore, they had in lyke maner ferued other chriftian men.
Wherfore ye Spaniardes hauinge thus fudayned fo greuous iniuries vnreuenged, departed with euyl wil : fayling
therfore further toward ye fouth, they found a nacion of great multitude, and of much genteler condicions, with
whom thei remained, viij. dayes, bartering and changeing ware with them. Sayling on yet farther, they went
beyond ye line called Tropicus Capricorni, yiher^ the fouth pole is eleuate. 32. degrees: and wheras in thofe
parts thei found no great riches, they failed yet further fouthward vntill ye pole was eleuate. lij. degrees: where
thei came into fuch a tempede, that they were enforfed to gather vppe theyr fayles, and to rowe only with the
made, directinge theyr viage toward the codes of Ethiopia, from whence they returned againe to liifbume
in Portugale.
C The fottrth viage of Vefputius.
His nauigation was attempted in the yeare of Chrid. M. ccccc. iij. but was not brought to the
cnde hoped for, by reafon of a miffortune which chaunced in the goulfe of the fea Atlantike.
Vefputius entended in this viage to fayle to the Ilande of Melcha, beyng in the Ead, in
which is fayde to be great ryches, and the dacion of redinge place of all (hippes comming
from the goulfe Gangeticus, and from the Indian Sea. This Melcha, is fituate more toward
the Wed, and Calicut more enclininge towarde the fouth. Vefputius came fyrd to ye grene
llandes, called Infulce uerides: and fayled from them to Serraliona, beynge in the Southe
partes of Ethiopia : from whence faylinge on yet further, he fawe in the midded of the fea an Hand, high and
merueylous: where alfo the M[asder]. Pilate of this nauie, lod his (hippe by running vpon a rocke: but all the
mariners efcaped. This (hippe was of thre hundreth tunne, and had in it al the power of the nauie. When
Vefputius had entered into the Hand, he found it rude and vnhabited : yet was it full of byrdes : but had no
beades except Lifertes with forked tayles, and Serpentes. Thus makinge prouifion for neceflaries, he was
enforced to returne to portugale, failing of his purpofe.
The SM Atlantike.
Three of the
Spanyardes slayne
and e-iten.
Fearse and cniele
women.
A ciuile people.
The south pole
eleuate. lij*degrcejL
Lisbtirne.
The Hand of
melcha.
Ctilictit.
Insula net ides
A shi'ppe wrackfc
Lisertes and
Serpents
4a
[0/ the newe India^ and Ilandes in the West Ocean Sea^ &C\\
The Portugales
bild fortes in the
Kaste partes.
A ipJwttsits
A urea
chersonesus.
The great and
ryche cytie of
Malacka
Saracens.
Maiac/ia besieged
The king fighteth
on an elephant
Plenty of copper.
Marchatmts.
Spyces.
The cytie of Goa-
The Ambassadors
make a league
wyih Alphoftsus
The west Ilandes
Cvbeu
Iiicatatta.
Cozujfiel or
Sancta Crtix.
Hispaniu
Sugcr presses.
The wood called
Guaiacuitu
Medera or
Madera.
Sawe milles.
Fayre tree
C How the king of Portugale fubdued cert ay n places in India:
and of the ryche Cytie of Malacha.
Orafmuche as therefore in the yeares folowinge, there were more often nauigacions made from
the Wefl by the fouth into the Eafl, and the Portugales had now founde a fafe paffage by
ye fea, they thought it expedient for theyr better fafetie, to make certaine fortifications and
places of refuge in the Eafte. The which theyr intent the better to accomplilhe, King
Emanuel appoynted one Alphonfus an experte man on the fea, to be captayne of this viage.
Who, defyring to reuenge the loffes and iniuries which the Portugales had before fuflained,
fayled directly to Aurea Cherfonefus, now called Malacha, a merueylous great and riche
citie, wliofe king is an infydel of the fecte of the Moores : for euen thus farre was the fecte of Mahumet extended.
Alphonfus therfore at his coming thether, befieged the cytie, and made warre agaynfl the Saracens whiche helde
the fame. In this conflict a greate noumber of theyr enemies beynge flayne, the Portugales entred into the
citie by forfe and kept the fame, permitting free libertie to theyr fouldiers to fpoyle, kyll, and bume. The
king himfelfe, fyghting vpon an Elephante, and beyng fore wounded, fledde with the refydue of his companye.
A greate numbre of the Moores were flaine with the lofle of a fewe Portugales : manye were taken, and great
fpoyle called awaye, in the whiche were feuen Elephantes, and all kyndes of ordinaunces perteyning to the
warres, made of copper, to the noumbre of two thoufande pieces. The cytye beinge thus taken and facked,
and the enemyes drieuen to flyghte, Alphonfus the Capitayne the better to prouyde for the fauegarde of the
Chriflians, buylded a (Irong forte at the mouth or entraunce of the riuer which runneth through ye citie. At
this time, that ia to witte, in the yeare of Chrifl. M. ccccc. xij. there were in Malacha many flraungers and mar-
chauntes of dyuerfe nacions, whereby the cytie was repleniflied with great ryches and abundaunce of fpyces.
They of theyr owne mocion, defyred to make a leage with Alphonfus, and were of him gently receaued : So
that for theyr better fafetie, he permitted them to dwell in the houfes neare about the forte. And by this
meanes, this markette towne was reedified and broughte to muche better flate than euer it was before. Thefe
thinges thus happely atchiued, and al thinges in Malacha fet in good order, Alphonfus leaning in the forte a
garrifon of vi. hundreth valiante fouldiours, returned into India, where he befieged the chiefe caflell of the
cytie of Goa, which (he) a fewe yeares beefore, hadde with no fmal daunger of our men, and great flaughter of
their enemies, fubdued vnder the dominion of Emanuel kynge of Portugale, and was now poflefled of the mores,
he manfully recouered agayne, and enforfed them to render vp the fame. Alfo the ambaffadours of the Kinge
of Narfinga, the Kinge of Cambaia, and the King of Grofapha with the legates of dyuers other kinges and
Princes, offered them felues to be at a leage wyth Alphonfus, and thereupon broughte theyr prefentes vnto hym.
No leffe power and dominion obtayned the king of Spayne in the Ilandes of the Wefte partes : In fo muche
that at his commaundement, were buylded fixe townes in the Ilande of Cuba. Lykewyfe in the Ilande of
lucataiia, was buylded a greate cytie •n7th fayre houfes. The Ilande of Cozumella, the Spanyardes called
Sancta Crux, beecaufe they came fyrfle thether in Maye, on the daye of the Inuencion of the Croffe. In the
Ilande oi Hfpatta or Hfpaniola, were erected. 28. fuger preiTes, to preffe ye fugre whiche groweth plentifully
in certaine canes or redes of the lame countrey. From hence alfo is brought the wood of Guaiacum, other-
wyfe called, Lignum Sanctum, wherewith dyuerfe difeafes are healed by the order of the newe dyete.
C Of the Hand of Medera, and the forttmate Ilandes, otherwyfe
called the Ilandes of Canaria.
Etwene Spaine and the Ilandes of Canaria, is the Ilande of Medera, which the Spaniardes in
our time founde vnhabited and faluage. But perceauinge that the foyle thereof, was very
fruitefuU, they burnt the woodes, and made the ground apt to bringe foorth corne, and
buylded many houfes, and fo tilled the fame, that at this day is no where founde a more
fruiteful lande. It hath in it many fpringes of frefflie water and goodly ryuers, vpon the
which are bylded manye fawe mylles, wherewith manye fayre trees, lyke vnto Ceder and
Cypreffe trees, are fawed and cut in funder, whereof are made mod fayre tables, coberdes,
coferS; and chayres, and fuch other curious workes made of wood. Thefe trees are of redde colour, and fwete
[0/ the itewe India, and Ilandes in the IVest Ocean Sea, &c.]
41
feuour, the bodies and braunches whereof are broughte into Spayne in great plentie. The Kynge of Portugale
thought it goode to plante in this Hand, that kynde of redes in which fuger groweth : wherein he was not
deceaued in his opinion : For they growe there mofle fruitefully, and beare fuger which excelleth the fugre of
Candye or Sicilia. There were alfo vynes broughte out of Candye and planted in this Ilande, where they
profper fo wel, that for ye mofle parte they bring forth more grapes then leaues, and thofe very great. In this
Hand is alfo great plentie of Partriches, wyld doues, and Peacockes, wild bores, and diners kindes of other
beaftes, which onely poiTeffed the Hand before men dyd inhabite the fame. Alfo the Ilandes called Infulce
fortunatcB, (whiche are now called Canaria, for the multitude of dogges which are in them) are fayd to be no
leffe fruytefuU. Thefe Ilandes are tenne in noumbre, of the which feuen are inhabited, and thre remaine
defolate. They which are inhabited, are called by thefe names : Fra^a laucea. Magna fors, Grancanaria,
Teneriffiz, Ginera, Palma, and Ferrum. At Columbus firft comming thether, the inhabitantes went naked,
without fhame, religion, or knowledge of God. But in fuccefle of time, foure of the greatefl Ilandes embrafed
the Chriflian faith : They haue eche of them a priuate language. Tmeriffa and Grancanaria, are bigger then
the other. Teneriffa may be fene afarre of, to the diflaunce of fiftie leages, in a fayre and clere daye. The
reafon whereof is, that in the middefl of the Hand, ryfeth a marueylous great and flrong rock, which is thought
to be. XV. leages high, and cafleth foorth continuallye greate flames of fyre and pieces of brimftone, as doth the
mount Etna in the Hand of Sicilia. The people of thefe Ilandes, lyue with barlye bread, flefflie, and mylke.
They haue alfo greate plentie of Goates, wylde Afles, and Fygges. They lacke wyne and wheate.
C Whether vnder the yEquinodlial circle or burninge lyne
{called Torrida zona) be habitable Regions.
jj/w fecundus (otherwife called Eneas Siluius,) of this quedion, wryteth in this maner.
It hath been muche doubted whether habitable regions maye be founde vnder the Equi-
noHial lyne. Eratojlhmes is of th[e]oppinion, that the ayre is there verye temperate. So
thinketh Polybius alfo, affirming that the earth is there verye highe, and watered with
many fliowers. Fofsidonius fuppofed that there is no Mountaynes vnder the EguinoHial
Some thoughte that the Equinoflial lyne was extended beyond the earth ouer the mayne
Ocean fea : whiche thinge the Poete Homere femeth to infmuate, where he faineth
that the horfes which drawe the chariote of [the] funne, drinke of the Ocean fea, and the funne it felfe to take
his norifhement of the lame. Whiche fentence Macrobius alfo foloweth. Neither was Albertus Magnus farre
from this opinion, who fuppofeth yat the funne draweth vp fo much moyflure vnder the EquinoHial circle, as
engendreth the cloudes vnder the poles, where by reafon of th[e]excedinge coldnefTe, ayre is continualli turned
into water. But Ptolomeus thinketh the earth to bee extended beyonde the EquinoHial, whereas he placeth a
part of the Hand of Taprobana, vnder the EquinoHial, and alfo many nacions of the Ethiopians. Many
haue thought that th[e]earthly Paradyfe was fette vnder that lyne : which opinion is contrary to th[e]auctoritie of
the holy fcripture which witnefleth the two famous fluddes Tigris and Euphrates to fpringe oute of Paradife :
whiche neuertheleffe we know from the North partes to fal into the goulfe called Sinus Ferfims : but as
concerninge the heate vnder the EquinoBial lyne, the nearenefle of the funne, or the directe beames of the fame,
are no fufficiente caufes why vnder that line fliould be no habitable regions, if we confider how thofe places are
otherwyfe Ihadowed, and tempered \vith the moyflenes and dewes of the nightes, which are all the yeare
throughe of equal length with the dayes. Yet wyl no man denye, but that vnder the Equinofiial throughoute
all the burninge lyne there are manye wildemefles and defolate places, lacking water, and incommodious for the
lyfe of man : Albeit euen in Ethiopia, people dwell neare to the ryuers and woodes. Plinie alfo fayth that one
Dalion, and Arijlocleon, and Bion, and Baftlides, went Southward beyonde Meroa whiche is almofte vnder the
Equinofiial. And that Simonides who writte the defcripcion of Ethiopia, dwelte fyue yeres in Meroce : whiche
Ilande, (beeynge in the fymie lande and compaffed aboute wyth the Ryuer of Nilus) he affyrmed to bee fituate.
972. thoufande pafes beeyonde Syenes of Egypte, as the fearchers of Nero declared. But at Sienes the
ARronomers appoynte the fommer conuerfion of the funne : and that there the burninge lyne beginneth, being
diflaunte from the ^Equinofiial foure and twentie degrees, that is twelue thoufande furlonges. Wherby we maye
perceaue that Meroa is fituate fome what beeyonde the myddeft betwene the Equinodlial and Sienes.
Ptolomeus alfo defcrybeth the Region of Agifimba to bee inhabited beeyonde the Equinofiial. Lykewyfe the
Mountaynes of the Mone, called Montes Luna, out of the which, the fennes or marifes of the riuer Nilus haue
their fpring and originalL He addeth hereunto that there are certayne Ethiopians called Anthropophagi,
4«
Suger
Vyncs
ITie Ilandes of
Canaria.
Christians
A mount of
burninge
brimstone.
Fygges.
LUrr. i. Caftt. n
Erathosihenes.
PoUhivs.
Possidtmius.
The Equittocttai
line
The poet Homere
Macrobius.
Aibertus Magttus.
Ptolomeus.
Taprobana
Ethiopes
Tigris and
EuphraUs.
Sinus Persicus.
The nearenes of
the sunne.
Temperalenes
vnder the
EquinoctiaL
Torrida xona.
Ethiopa.
PBnie.
The Hand of
Meroa
Syenes in Egipte.
The conucrsion
of the sunne.
Of the furlonges
of Italie viiL doe
make one Italicn
myle, conteyning
a . m. [thousandj
pases.
Agisimba.
Montes Luna.
Patujtdes Nili.
Etkiopes
42
[0/ the newe India, and Ilandes in the West Ocean Sea, &c?^
AntkrcrpofhagL
Habitable regions
how farre
extended.
Ctimtu
that is, fuch as eate mans fleflie, which inhabite regions beyond the EquinoSlial about the fpace of. xvi
degrees. And thus the inhabitacion of men is found to be extended, x. hundreth thoufand pafes beyonde the
Equi7wllicU lyne. Whiche fpace conteyneth no lefle then two clymes of earth. And a clyme is a porcion
of the worlde betwene South and North, wherein is variacion in length of the daye, the fpace of halfe an
houre.
C Finis.
C Thus endeth the fyfth boke of Sebajiian Munjler,
of the landes of Afia the greater, and of the
newefounde landes, and Ilandes.
1553-
€ Imprinted at London, in Lom-
barde Strete, By Edward
Sutlon.
C To al adttenturers, andfiiche as take in hande greate enterpryfes.
Who hath not of fowrenes felte the bitter tad,
Is not worthy of fwetenes to take his repafl.
To cracke the nutte, he muft take the payne.
The which would eate the camell fayne.
Who that of bees feareth the flinge,
Shal ueucr by hony liaue great wonninge.
As the fwete Rofe bringeth forth the thome,
So is man truely to ioye and payne borne.
The byrde vpon hope byldeth her nefte,
Where oftentymes (he hath but euyll refle,
Yet is fhe not therby drieuen to fuche feare,
But yat fhe performeth the fame the nexte yeare.
Much cafling of periles doth noble corage fwage
Yet do not I commende rafhenes or outrage.
What foles do fable, take thou no hede at all.
For what they know not, they cal phantaRical.
Nought venter nought haue, is a faying of old.
Better it is to blow the cole, then to fyt a cold.
Fortes fortuna adiuuat, the Latin prouerbe faith.
But fayleth to fuch as faynt and lacke fayth.
God giueth al thinges, but not ye bul by ye home
The plowman by trauaile encreafeth his come.
As fortune fauereth thou mayft be riche or poore,
As Creftis or Irus that beggeth at the dore.
C Omnis iaHafit alca.
[The Third English book on America.]
t \L ^*^»>!
wmmM
THE DECADES i
tftU tithe isamltitap
£ottte^n$tts tlic naiusatiDns ant) conoineilcs
oft})C!g>panpiicl}e0,toUl) tlieptutidnlac Dci
fcciptiottof ti;e moae c;7cl)c anti lacge laitJics
auo llanDcs lacelp fotmtie m tljc h)ta)6r>ccatt
pectepn^ns to tijc inljcntntmcc of tl^s bm^cs
of )g>paFn(« 3in ti)e toijiclj tljeDiUgsttt ciafisc
raagnotottlpcottfptjcc VoOatcommotifticnin^
Ijcttb^ cijatince to ttje bole cijiiaian too^lb m
tj^mctocomc. but airotcacKcnianp recreates
toncbpnse tlje lant)e,t()e rMsand tljc Qarces,
i)ccp tuccITai'te to bt lusobe to nl fuel) as UM
attcmpte anpnattisattonSjO} otijcttoifc
tjauc Deltte to bcl)ol9e ttje Qun^t
ma loDonDccf isli booj&cs o£
jSoU fittD JtatHte*
Jb9}pttctt ttt tijcJIactttc touitge lip {d(tct;
^actp? oEattfilcciii, anb tcanfc
iatta into ^nsiinlijc ig
3!{pcijai-DeiSD£ti»
^LONDI Ml^
lilicdibus Guillieltm PoWelU
AH NO. 2 5^55,
wmm
C The table of the contentes of this booke.
45
C Of the landes and Ilandes lately founde. , . Folio. 149.
The popes bulla and donation . . . 167. and. 171.
The hyflorie of the Wefte Indies, wrytten by Gonzaliis
Ferdinandus.
The ordinarie nauigation from Spayne to the Wefte Indies.
Of two notable thynges as touchynge the Weft Indies:
and of the greate ryches brought from thenfe into Spaine.
Of the golde mines and maner of woorkynge in them. .
The maner of fyfdiynge for pearles
The familiaritie that the Indians haue with the deuyl. .
Of temperate and habitable regions vnder the Equinoc-
tiall line. &c. .
Of dyuers particular thynges, as woormes, ferpentes,
beaftes, foules. &c,
B
174. [/. 208.]
175. [/. 210.]
176. \j). 211.]
177. [/. 211.]
180. [/. 213.]
181. 0.215.]
184. [A 217]
Befyde the Decades {the table of whofe conientes yow may reade in the evde of the booke [see pp. 391-397.]) arc conteyned
furthermore in this boooke ihefe thynges foUowynge.
: 186.] The hyftorie of Paulus louius of the ambalTade of great
201.] Bafilius Prince of Mofcouia to pope Clement the feuenth. 278. [/. 308.]
Other notable thynges as concemynge Mofcouia, gathered
owt of the bookes of Sigifmundus Liberus. . . . 289, [/>. 318.]
The defcription of the regions and people lyinge North
and Eafte from Mofcouia to the ryuer Petzora and the pro-
uince of lugaria and the ryuer Obi. &c. . . . 294. [;». 322.]
Of the famous ryuer of Tanais 297. [/. 324.]
More directly from Mofcouia to Cathay. . . . 298. [/>. 325.]
Of the Tartars. 299 . [p. 327.] The nauigation by the frofen fea. 303. Ifi. 330.]
The letters mifiiue which kynge Edwarde the. vi. fent to the
kynges, princes, and other potentates inhabitynge the north
eaft partes of theworlde towardethe Empire of Cathay. 306. and. 308.O.333.]
The letters of the prince of Mofcouia fente to kynge
Edwarde. 319. [ TAese are not included in the wori.]
Other notable thynges as touchynge the Indies : and of
the foreknowles^e that the poet Seneca had of the fynd-
ynge of the newe worlde and other regions not then knowen. 31a [/. 337.]
Of the greate Ilande whiche Plato cauled Atlantica or Atlan-
tide. 310. 0.337.] Of the coloure of the Indians. 311. [>•
Why they were cauled Indians 3 1 1 . [/,
The fyrft difcouerynge of the Weft Indies. . . . 312. [/>•
What maner of man Chriftopher Colon was, and howe he
came fyrft to the knowleage of the Indies. . . . 313. O- 34°]
What laboure and trauaile he tooke in attemptynge his
firfte vyage to the Indies
Of newe Spaine cauled Nona Hifpania or Mexico.
OfPeru.316. 0.343.] Of the great ryuer cauled Riode!aPlataT3"i6."0.
Of the hygher or fuperior India cauled India Tercera
or Terciera. .
Ageyne of the landes of Laborador and Baccalaos.
The difcouerynge of the lande of Florida.
An opinion that Europe, Africa, and Afia, are Ilandes :
and of certeyne Nauigations abowt the fame. . . 320. [p. 346.]
That the Spanyardes haue fayled to the Antipodes whiche
inhabite the vndermoft halfe of the baule of the earth, con-
trary to th[e]opinions of the owlde wryters. . . . 321. O- 347-]
Who fyrft founde the nedle of the compaHe and the vfe there-
of. 322. O- 348] The fituation and byggenelTe of the earth. 323. [p.
What degrees are. 324. O-
A demonftration of the roundeneffe of the earth. . . 324. [/.
What credit owght to be gyuen to wryters as touchynge
the woorkes of nature. 325. O-
The preface to the booke of metals. .... 326. O-
Of the generation of metalles and theyr mines, with the
maner of fyndynge the fame. 327. [/.
Of the mine of golde and the qualitie therof. . . 334. [fi.
Of the myne of fyluer 340. [/.
The maner of woorkynge in the golde mines of Egypte
in oulde tyme 342. [p. 369.]
The difcription of the two vyages made owt of Englande
to Guinea in Afrike 343. O-
A briefe defcription of Afrike 344. [p.
The fyrfte vyage to Guinea. ...... 345. [p.
The feconde vyage to guynea 350. [/.
The maner of fyndynge the Longitude of regions by
dyuers wayes. . 360. [p.
A newe maner of fyndynge the Longitudes of regions. . 361. O
185. O- 218.1
Oftrees,fruites,andplantes,&c. 194.0-225.] [Of Reedes orCanes.196. /. 227.]
Of the venemous apples wherwith the Canibales inueneme
theyrarrowes.199.0.229.] Of fyflhes&theyrmanerof fyflhynge. 201. O.230.]
Of the ryfynge and faulynge of owre Ocean fea and the
fouth fea called the fea of Sur
Of the ftreight of lande beinge betwene the north and
fouth fea. .........
Howe thynges of one kynde, dyffer by the nature of the
place : and of the beaftes cauled Tygers.
Of the maners and cuftomes of the Indians of the firme
lande and of theyr women. ......
Of the Ilandes Hifpaniola and Cuba. ....
Of the Ilande of Cuba and other. .....
Of the lande of Baccallaos. ......
Other notable thynges gathered owt of dyuers autours :
and of the vniuerfall carde and newe worlde.
A difcourfe of the raaruelous vyage made by the Span-
yardes rounde about the worlde. .....
The order of the flarres abowt the pole Antartike.
The prices of precious ftones and fpices with their weightes
and meafures as they are foulde bothe of the Moores and
Gentyles
Of the weightes of Portugale and India, and howe they agree.
Of the dooues of the Ilande of Madera.
Of the Ilande of faynt Thomas vnder the Equinoctial line.
The debate and ftrife betwene the Spanyardes and Portu-
gales for the diuifion of the Indies and the trade of fpyces.
Of the pole Antartike and the ftarres about the 'ante:
and of the qualitie of the regions and difpofition of the
elementes abowt the Equinoctiall line : Alfo of certeyne
fecreates touchynge the arte of faylynge.
A difcourfe of dyuers vyages and wayes by the which
fpices, precious ftones, and golde were brought in owlde
tyme from India into Europe and other partes of the worlde.
Alfo of the vyage to Cathay and Eafte India by the northe
lea : And of the viages of Sebaftian Cabot. .
Of the vyages to Mofcouia and Cathay.
A breefe defcription of Mofcouia
The defcription of the north regions : and how they are
habitable, contrary to th[e]opinion of the owlde wryters.
Scondia. 267. [p. 298.] Gronlande. 268. [p. 299.] Iflande. 269. [p. 306.]
Laponia. 270. [A 30i-] Norway. 273. [p. 303.]
Suetia or Suethlande. 275. O- 30S-1 Gothia or Gothlande. 276. [p. 306.]
Finlande and Eningia. 276. [p. 306.] Bothnia. 275. [p. 305.]
The dyfference of regions and caufes of great cities. . 277.0.307.]
204. 0-233-]
205. 0-234]
206. 0-.23S-1
208. [p. 237.]
210. [p. 239.]
213. [A 241.]
213. Ip. 242.]
214. O- 245]
215. O- 246]
222. O- 2S3-]
233- O- 263-]
239. [A 269.]
239. O- 270]
240. 0-27O.]
240. [A 271.]
245. O- 277-]
249. [p. 283.]
249. O- 283.]
259- O- 291.]
264. 0-29S]
313- O-
315- O-
317. O-
318. [p.
319- o.
338-]
339]
339]
340.]
342]
343]
344-]
344-]
345]
349]
349]
350- ]
351]
355-]
356.]
362]
366.]
A briefe rehearfall of the contentes of the bookes of the Decades,&c. O-
373-]
374-]
375]
379-]
389-]
390]
391]
FINIS.
C The interpret acion of certeyne woordes.
C Contincnte (that is) the firme lande not inclofed
with water, or no Ilande.
A Carauel or Camel, a kynde of fhyppes.
Hemi/pherium, the halfe globe of the earth and
water.
Pejus, a ducate and a halfe.
Equinoctial, the line that diuideth the heauen and
the earthe in the myddeft betwene the two poles,
in the which when the fonne commeth, the days
and nyghtes are of equal length
Clime, is a portion of the worlde betwene north
and fouth.
The Indian language.
C Canoa, a boate or barke.
Ccuit/ui, kynges or gouernouis.
Zemes an Idole.
Tuyra, the deuyll.
Machana, a fworde.
Areitos, fonges or balades,
Tona, the moone.
Tonatico, the foonne.
Quines, preftes.
Chiuy, a man.
Ira, a woman.
Boa, a houfe.
Paralleles, are lines whereby the fonne paffynge
caufeth variation of tyme.
Gaili Mammoni, Monkeys.
Schoenus, is a fpace of. xl. furlongis.
Werjl, is an Italian [? Rujfian\ mile.
Colonie, an habitacion.
Cauni, golde.
Mayani, nothyrtge. &C.
C Note that the Ilande of Hifpaniola, is nowe cauled San Domingo by reafon of the chiefe city fo named.
cauled lancti lohannis, or Burichena, is otherwyfe cauled Boriquen.
Alfo faynte lohns Ilande
46
f POTENTISSIMO AC SERENISSIMO
PHILIPPO, AC SERENISSIMO POTENTISSIMOQVE MARIO,
Dei gratia Regi ac Reginae, Anglias, Franciae, Neapolis, lerufalem, et
Hiberniae : Fidei defenforibus, Principibus Hifpaniarum et Sicilias,
Archiducibus Auftriae, Ducibus Mediolani, Burgundiae, et
Brabantiae, comitibus Hafpurgi, Flandriae, et Tirolis,
Richardus Edenus perpetuam optat foelicitatem.
^VM IN PRIMO VESTRO Ingreffu in hanc cele-
berimam Londini vrbem (illuftrifsimi Principes)
cernerem quanto omnium applaufu, populi con-
curfu, ac ciuium frequentia, quanto infuper
fpectaculorum nitore, nobilium virorum fplendore,
equorum multitudine.tubarum clangore, caeterifque
magnificis pompis ac triumphis, pro dignitate
veftra accepti eflis dum omnes quod fui eft officij
facere fatagebant, vbi in tanta hominum turba vix
vnus reperiatur qui non aliquid agendo aduentum
veftrum gratulabatur, coepi et ego quoque aliorum
exemplo (propius prefertimad meaccedentibus Cel-
fitudinibus veftris) tanto animi ardore ad aliquid
agendum accendi ne folus in tanta hominum corona
otiofus viderer, quod vix me continebam quin in aliquam extemporariam orationem
temere erupuiffem, nifi et prsefentise veftrse maieftas, et mea me obfcuritas a tam audaci
facinore deterruiffent. Verum, cum poftea penitius de hac re mecum cogitaffem, con-
fyderaffemque quam haec omnia alioqui per fe laude digna, veftris tamen mentis ac
regise dignitatis eminentise comparata, plebeia ac ludicra videantur, coepi denuo cum
animo meo reputare qua in re ita cum immortali rerum memoria foelicifsimum veftrum
aduentum gratularer, vt inde nominis veftri fama et fplendor, non vllis fpe6laculorum
temporarijs oftentis, fed rerum geftarum gloria, ad pofteros perpetuo emanaret. Excutio
ftatim diuitias meas. Perfcrutor fi quid ex penu meo depromere poflum quod me ad
aliquid agendum veftris heroicis virtutibus dignum excitet. Sed cum penes me nihil tale
reperio, agnofco nuditatem meam, atque ad vos confugio. Patrum, auorum, proauorum,
atque atauorum vitas et fafta recolo. Syluam rerum geftarum video, totque precla-
rifsimorum principum propagines, vt merito ab ipfis heroibus, Saturno videlicet, loue, ac
Hercule, caeterifque theanthropis, originem duxiffe videantur. Quod cum ita fit, non
aliunde profe6lo quam ex hac i"ylua materies mihi petenda erit quo in ment'bus
hominum et aeterna rerum memoria, perpetua fpe6lacula rerum a vobis et progenitoribus
veftris praeclare geftarum, in mundi theatro ab omnibus cum fumma nominis veftri fama
ac veneratione cernantur. Cum itaque inter caetera a maioribus veftris praeclare gefta,
nihil fit admirabilius aut maiori laude dignum, quam quod incredibili fiducia et plus quam
Herculeis laboribus fuperato Ocean o, foelicifsimo tandem euentu, Indiae Occidental is
The Epijlle.
47
ditifsimas Insulas atque Contlnentis amplifsimas regiones, mortalium primi inuenerunt,
in quibus infinitas incolarum myriades ad fidem Chrifti conuerterunt (quo nihil auguflius
aut Chriftianis principibus magis dignum excogitari poteft) vifus fum mihi quod non alia
in re magis poffem foelicitati veftree merito gratulari, quam fi noftris quoque hominibus
quibus haec ha6lenus nihil aut parum cognita funt, innotefcere faciam, vt perfpe6lis
illorum fimul et veftrorum amplifsimis imperijs non fine diuina prouidentia (vt credere
par eft) ad ipfos vfque Antipodes et PLVS VLTRA terminatis, omnes boni, ipfa rerum
magnitudine in admirationem du6li, vos ament et venerentur : Malis vero et improbis,
OS obftruatur fi quam in maledicendo voluptatem capiunt. Haec dum cogito, venit mihi
in mentem quod olim adolefcens perlegi Decades de Nouo Orbe a Petro Martyre ab
Angleria, illuftrifsimi Ferdinandi regis Catholici, ac tui (Serenifsime rex) proaui oratore,
Latine confcriptas, atque facrae Ccefariae maieftati patri tuo dedicatas. Tanti itaque
autoris fide et eruditione motus, eum prae caeteris in noftram linguam traducendum fufcepi,
quod non folum vt hiftoricus res Indicas cum fumma fide fcriptis mandauit, fed etiam vt
philofophus (quod in caeteris fcriptoribus defyderatur) naturalium rerum occultas caufas
reddit, ac admirabilium naturae operum (quibus haec veftra India plena eft) rationes
inueftigat. Atque vt huius Indise pofterior ftatus cognofcatur, quantufque thefaurus auri,
gemmarum, aromatum, aliarumque ditifsimarum mercium ac annui cenfus inde quotannis
in Hifpaniam aduehitur, adiunxi dodlifsimi viri Gonzali Ferdinandi Ouiedi libellum
quem ille Indicae hiftoriae generalis Summarij titulo infcripfit, eiufdemque illuftrifsimi
Caroli Imperatoris patris tui nomini confecrauit : Caeteraque plurima ex recentioribus
fcriptoribus excerpfi, quae mihi in tam immenfa rerum memorabilium bibliotheca, praecipue
adnotanda videbantur. Quae, quanta et qualia funt, quantifque parafangis, omnium
heroum ac Argonautarum res geftas toto terrarum orbe tantopere celebratas fuperent,
haec mea fequens praefacio vulgari fermone ad huius hiftoriae lectores populumque
Anglicum confcripta, fatis prolixa oratione indicabit, adeo vt idem hie repetere fuperua-
caneum fit, minimeque neceffarium, quandoquidem Anglica lingua tibi Serenifsima
Regina vernacula eft, idemque illuftrifsimo Regi quod tibi fcriptum aut di6tum exiftimen,
non folum quod diuino vinculo vnum fitis in carne vna, fed etiam quod eadem animi
lenitate, humanitate, affabilitate, cseterifque virtutibus, non minus animi moribus quam
carnis vinculo vnum fitis. Sed neque hie opus eft vt ego Latino fermone veftras
virtutes, animi moderationem, clementiam, religionem, pietatem, educationem, caftitatem
fcelicitatem, fortunas, opes, munificentiam, victorias, imperia, ftemmata, caeteraque huiuf-
modi multa enumerem, cum praefertim vir nobilis et doctus Leonhardus Goretius Polonus
de his omnibus deque foelicifsimo veftro matrimonio, orationae fatis fufa tra6lauit, in qua
nihil pretermifit quod ad Celfitudinis veftrae et progenitorum veftrorum gloriam virtute
partam, pertineat. Caeterum cum regiae veftrae virtutes nominifque fplendor ac regnorum
amplitudo alias per vniuerfa Chriftiani orbis imperia fatis nota fint, nifi forte ibi minime
vbi maxime nota effe deberent, nempe in hoc Angliae regno, ideo opere praecium et rem
omnibus bonis gratam, quodque mei eft officij erga Celfitudines veftras me fafturum
exiftimaui, fi haec noftris (vt dixi) hominibus, noftraque lingua ob oculos contemplanda
propofuero. Quod quam foeliciter aut dextre a me factum fit, aliorum efto iudicium
Quam vero fidelitur, fyncere, ac animo in Maieftatis veftras propenfo hoc idem aggreffus
fum, teftis eft mihi confcientia mea in confpectu illius qui hominum corda et renes
fcrutatur. Macte igitur virtutis iftius animi veftri eftote Serenifsimi Principes, atque Diuino
auxilio freti, pergite ea qua coepiftis fiducia, huius deploratae ac collapfae reipublicae noftrae
ftatum, priftino decori reftituere, id quod omnes a vobis expedlant atque efflagitant,
♦7
48
The Epijlle,
pollicentes infuper vobis in eo negotio fuam operam in nullo defuturam. Ne terreat vos
quorundam canum latratus qui bonis omnibus oblatrant, et . tunc defment latrare cum
definent viuere. Vulgatifsimum femper fuit improbos homines viris probis vel propter
inuidiam vel propter difsimilitudinem, folere latrare. Et tamen ille probus femper habitus
eft, quem peruerfi maxime improbauerint. Non eft igitur curandum quid de nobis
homunculi, fed quid viri boni loquantur. Cogitate (Serenifsimi Principes) quod mag-
nanimitate ac maiorum infignijs, aquilis et leonibus fimiles eftis. Aquilse natura
eft, alta petere, et aduerfus folis radios in altum volare. Leonis proprium eft parcere
fubieflis et debellare fuperbos. Generofus equus per plateas incedens, canes vt
animalcula imbella praeterit non perturbatus. Virtus non exercita (inquit Seneca ad
Neronem) paruam laudem meretur. Non admodum magnificum fuerit mediocrem
fortunam probe adminiftrare : Sed tanta rerum omnium licentia non abuti, hoc vero
admirabile eft : Multo autem admirabilius in iuuenili ac lubrica setate cui accedat aetas
magiftra : hijs praefertim qui contumelia lacefcuntur, quae alioqui homines vel placidifsi-
mos folet de gradu dejicere. Sed (vt fupra dixi) non eft hie mei propofiti (Serenifsimi
Principes) veftras laudes pro meritis decantare, aut exprimere quo modo in fummo rerum
faftigio vos humiles praebuiftis, de quare fufius in praefacione ad lectores tra6laui. lam
itaque vt huic epiftolae dedicatoriae finem imponam, rogo Serenifsimas Maieftates veftras
vt has meas lucubrationes in hijs autoribus vertendis, (quas veftro nomini confecraui) ea
humanitate ac fauore fufcipiatis, quibus omnes beneuolo animo ad vos accedentes, facile
admittitis ac neminem rejicitis. Quem admodum enim qui pomarium aut vineam
plantauit ac maturos inde fructus collegit, illi merito primitias foluit a quo prima femina
primafque arborum infitiones habuit, ita et ego qui a maiorum veftrorum rebus geftis
primis fumptis feminibus, hos qualefcumque fru6lus aedidi, videor profe6lo mihi, debito
veftro honore vos defraudaffe, nifi eofdem veftro nomini ac numini obtuliffem.
Deus. Opt Max. Celfitudines veftras perpetuo feruat incolumes,
faxitque vt foecunda fobolis propagine, fummaque pace
?c tranquillitate, huius regni habenas ad Diuini
nominis gloriam, diu gubernetis.
FINIS.
49
Rycharde Eden to the reader.
He mofte famous oratoure and learned Phylofopher Marcus TulHus
Cicero, wryteth, that in all confultations as touchynge owre
behauoure and order of lyuynge amonge men, it behoueth
vs euer to beare in mynde howe farre the dignitie of mans
nature, excelleth the condition of brute beafles. For they,
beinge ruled altogether by fence, delyte in nothynge but beaflely
appetites, whereunto they runne headlonge as to theyr onely
felicitie. But the mynde of man, beinge of more noble nature,
is nuryffhed with knowleage, and taketh pleafure in diuifynge
or excogitatynge fume honed thynge, whereby it not onely
leaueth amonge men a memorie of his immortall nature, but alfo
engendereth the lyke affection in other that delyte to fee and
heare fuch thinges as are commendable in theyr prediceflburs.
And this furely thynke I to bee the caufe that eyther the famous
factes of woorthy men, or ingenious inuentions of experte arti-
ficers, haue not onely nobilitate the autours and diuifers of the
fame, or fuch to whom they haue byn dedicate, but alfo that parte
of theyr commendations haue redounded to all fuche as haue fpcnte theyr tyrae and taken peynes in
illuflratynge and fettynge furthe theyr doynges. For who fhulde at this daye haue knowen Maufolus
the kynge of Caria, with his wyfe Artemifia, or thefe famous artificers, Scopa, Bryaces, Timotheus,
Leochares, or Pythis, if the wonderfull and fumptuous woorke of the fepulcher whiche Artemifia made for kynge
Maufolus her hufband (beinge of fuch woorkemanfhyppe that it was accompted for one of the marueyls of the
worlde) had not geuen vnto all thefe immortall fame, whereas neuertheleffe it coulde not defende it felfe ageynfl
th[e]iniurie of tyme confumynge all thynges. There remayneth at this daye no token of the laborious Tabernacle
whiche Moifes buylded, or of the renoumed and marueilous Temple that was buylded in Hierufalem by Salomon
and renewed by Efdras. Yet fhall the name of the excellente artificers Ooliab and Befelchel, and Hyram the
kynge of Tyrus, lyue for euer in the memory of men. Furthermore alfo, Salomon hym felfe, although he were
many other wayes famous, yet gaue he a greate parte of his glory to that princely buyldynge. But certeynely
the mod trewe and permanent glory, procedeth of fuch monumentes as brynge fume great and notable commoditie
and profite to the lyfe of men, rather then of the hugious heapes of dones of the Pyramides of Egypt, wherin is
nought els to fee but the fonde and barbarous odentation of fuperfluous riches : Or of the Mazes cauled Labyrinthi,
or of horryble great Images cauled ColofTi, of knottes inexplicable, of brafen caudrons of mondrous byggeneffe,
of hauens with echo feuen tymes reboundynge, and dyuers fuche other portentous inuentions, the which as they
do delite vs in confiderynge the maruelous arte and witte of fuche artificers as diuifed and made the fame, fo
are they otherwyfe vnprofitable : And brynge rather a fame to theyr inuentoures, then trewe glorye. Perillus was
famous by diuifynge his brafen bulle : yet fo, that it had byn better for hym to haue byn obfcure and vnknowen.
They haue therefore deferued more trewe commendation whiche in buyldynge of cities, townes, fortrefTes, bridges,
cundites, hauens, fliyppes, and fuche other, haue fo ioyned magnificence with profecte, that bothe may remaine
for an eternal tedimonie of abfolute glory, whofe perfection extendeth to the gratifyinge of vniuerfal mankind as
farre as mans mortalitie wyll pennit. The whiche thinge whyle I confider, and caule to memorie howe Cicero
defineth trewe glory to bee a fame of many and greate defertes eyther towarde owre citizens, owtc countrey, or
towarde all man kynde, and the fame to bee of fuch excellencie that the owlde poetes for fume effecte fayned it
to bee the fweete Ambrofia and Nectar whenvith the goddes are fedde, and that of fuch force that who fo may
drynke therof, (hal alfo become a god, (that is to fay immortall and happy) mee thynke verely that (yf man maye
be a god to men as holy fcripture fpeaketh of Moifes and other) the kynges of Spayne of late dayes (if I may
fpeake it without offence of other) may fo much the more for theyr iud defertes and good fortune be compared
to thofe goddes made of men (whom the antiquitie cauled Heroes and for theyr manyfolde benefites to man
kynde honoured theym with diuine honoure) as theyr famous factes fo farre excell al other, as I dare not fpeake
to fuch as haue not yet harde or redde of the fame, lead the greatneffe therof fhulde at the fird brunte fo muche
adonyflie the reader that he myght geue the lefl'e credite to the autoure of this booke, who neuertheleffe hath
mode faythfuUy wrytten this hydorye of fuche thynges wherof he hath feene a greate parte him felfe (as being by
,H 49
Commendation
of noble factes.
Mausolus.
Cunnyngc
artificers.
The Tabernacle
of Moises.
The Temple of
Salomon.
Hyrara.
Trewe glory.
Great and
sumptuotis works
Fame diflereth
from true glory.
At)SoIute glory.
What is true
glory.
The kynges of
Spayne.
Heroes.
The certentic of
this hystory
50
The Preface to the Reader.
The house of the
contractes of
India.
The counsayl for
the Indies
The heroicall
factes of the
Spanyardes.
Great Alexander.
The Spanyardes
warrcs in the
ladies.
The henefites thai
the Indians haue
receaued by the
Spanyardes.
Lybertie.
The Canibales,
Feareful idlenessc
Isai. 65.
The warrcs of
Moises.
The Indians
subdued to the
fayth.
Isai- 43.
The contemplation
of gods workes.
The Christian
Empire enlarged
The conuersion of
the gentyles.
Leuiathan.
the mode catholyke and puifTaunt kynge Ferdinando appoynted a commiffionarie in th[e]affayres of India) and
gathered the refidewe partly by information and partly out of the WTytinges of fuch as haue byn (as Vyrgyll
wryteth of Eneas, Et quorum pars magjia fui) that is, doers and parte of fuch thynges as are conteyned in the
hyftorie: as Gouemours, Lieuetenauntes, Capitaynes, Admirals, and Pylottes, who by theyr paineful trauayles
and prowes, haue not onely fubdued thefe landes and feas, but haue alfo with lyke diliger ce commytted th[e]order
therof to wrytinge : And not this onely, but for the better tryall of the trewth herein, haue and yet doo in maner
dayly fende from thenfe into Spayne fuch monumentes as are mofl certeyne teflimonies of theyr doynge, as yow
may reade in dyuers places in this boke. This newe worlde is nowe fo much frequented, the Ocean nowe fo
well knowen, and the commodities fo greate, that the kynge erected a houfe in the citie of Siuile (cauled the
houfe of the contractes of India) perteynynge onely to th[e]affayres of the Ocean, to the which al fuch reforte for
neceflaries as attempte anye vyage to this newe worlde, and lykewyfe at theyr returne make thejT accompte to
the counfayle for the Indies for the golde and fuche other thynges as they brynge from thenfe. It is therefore
apparent that the heroical factes of the Spaniardes of thefe days, deferue fo greate prayfe that th[e]autour of this
booke (beinge no Spanyarde) doth woorthely extolle theyr doynge aboue the famous actes of Hercules and
Satumus and fuch other which for theyr glorious and vertuous enterpryfes were accoumpted as goddes amonge
men. And furely if great Alexander and the Romans which haue rather obteyned then deferued immortall fame
amonge men for theyr bluddye victories onely for theyr owne glory and amplifyinge theyr empire obteyned by
flawghter of innocentes and kepte by violence, haue byn magnified for theyr doinges, howe much more then flial
we thynke thefe men woorthy iufl commendations which in theyr mercyfull warres ageynfl thefe naked people
haue fo vfed them felues towarde them in exchaungynge of benefites for victorie, that greater commoditie hath
therof enfewed to the vanquiffhed then the victourers. They haue taken nothynge from them but fuch as they
them felues were wel wyllynge to departe with, and accoumpted as fuperfluities, as golde, perles, precious (lones
and fuch other: for the which they recompenfed theym with fuche thynges as they muche more eflemed. But
fum wyll fay, they poffeffe and inhabyte theyr regions and vfe theym as bondemen and tributaries, where before
they were free. They inhabite theyr regions indeede : Yet fo, that by theyr diligence and better manurynge the
fame, they maye nowe better fuReyne both, then one before. Theyr bondage is fuche as is much rather to be
defired then theyr former libertie which was to the cruell Canibales rather a horrible licencioufneffe then a
libertie, and to the innocent fo terrible a bondage, that in the myddefl of theyr ferefuU idlenefle, they were euer
in daunger to be a pray to thofe manhuntynge woolues. But nowe thanked be God, by the manhodde and
poUicie of the Spanyardes, this deuelyffhe generation is fo confumed, partely by the flaughter of fuche as coulde
by no meanes be brought to ciuilitie, and partly by referuynge fuch as were ouercome in the warres, and con-
uertynge them to a better mynde, that the prophecie may herein bee fulfylled that the woolfe and the lanibe
(hall feede together, and the wylde fieldes with the vale of Achor, (halbe the folde of the heard of gods peojjle.
Moifes as the minifler of the lavve of ^vrath and bondage geuen in fyer and tempefles, was commaunded in his warres
to faue neyther man, woman, nor chylde, and yet brought no commoditie to the nations whom he ouercame and
poffeffed theyr landes. But the Spaniardes as the myniflers of grace and libertie, browght vnto thefe newe gentyles
the victorie of Chryftes death wherby they beinge fubdued with the worldely fworde, are nowe made free from the
bondage of Sathans tyrannie, by the myghty poure of this triumphante victourer, whom (as fayth the prophet) god
hath ordeyned to be a lyght to the gentyles, to open the eyes of the blynde, and to delyuer the bounde owt of
pryfon and captiuitie. What other men do phantafie herein, I can not tell : but fuer I am, that lyke as the flowe
and brutyffhe wyttes, for the felenderneffe of theyr capacitie and eifeminate hartes, do neuer or feldome lyfte vp
theyr myndes to the contemplation of goddes workes and maieflie of nature, but lyke brute beafles lookynge
euer downewarde, thynke the worlde to be in maner no bygger then theyr owne dungehylles or cagies,
lyttle pafTynge whether the Chryflian fayth do fpreade through the worlde, or bee dryuen to one comer :
Euen fo al good wyttes and honefl natures (I double not) wyl not onely reioyce to fee the kyngedome
of God to bee fo farre enlarged vppon the face of the earthe, to the confufion of the deuyll and the
Turkyffhe Antichryfle, but alfo do the - vttermofl of theyr poure to further the fame. For furely, as
Gonfalus Ouiedus wryteth to the Emperours maieflie in his hyflorie of the Wefle Indies, that he thynketh
hym no trewe Spanyarde whiche reioyceth not in the good fortune of theyr kynges by whofe ayde and
godly zeale this myghtie portion of the worlde hath byn added to the flocke of Chryfles congregation,
Euen fo do I thinke them no trewe Chryflian men that do not reioyce with the Angels of heauen for the
deliuerie of thefe owre brootherne, owre fleffhe, and owre bones, from the handes of owre commune enemie the
oulde ferpente who hath fo longe had them in hys poflefTion, vntyll the fulnefle of the gentyles be accomplyfllied
accordynge to the time prefinite by hym, who vnto the yeare after his incarnation. M. CCCC. l.xxxxii. hath
fuffered the greate ferpente of the fea Leuiathan, to haue fuche dominion in the Ocean and to cafte fuch
my Res in the eyes of men, that fence the creation of the worlde vntyll the yeare before named, there
hath byn no paflage from owr knowen partes of the world to thefe newe landes, whereas nowe the fame
The Preface to the Reader.
51
are niofle certeynely knowen to be not pad. xxx dayes faylynge from Spayne. Neyther yet had the
church of Europe any knowleage of the myghtie Chryflian Empire of Preciofus Johannes, otherwyfe cauled
Prefbyter Johannes, Emperour of many Chryflian nations in Ethiope, vntyll the yeare of Chryfte.
M. CCCC. xxxiii. as largely appeareth in the nauigations of the Portugales, and efpecially in the booke of
Damianus a Goes, wrytten to the byffhop of Rome, Paule the thyrde of that name, of the fayth and
religion of the Ethiopians which they haue hadde fence the tyme of the Apoftles. A thynge certes mofl.
woonderfull, and fuche, that yf the fame were not hydde hetherto by gods vnfercheable prouidence, I can
not but thynke much negligence or ignorance in owr forefathers and predicefTours vntyll the dayes of the
ryght noble, prudent, and Catholike kynge of Aragon Don Ferdinando grandfather to Th[e]emperours
maieftie by his eldell dowghter, and to the queenes hyghneffe by his feconde dowghter the mod veftuous
lady queene Catherine her graces moother : A prince doubtelefle of fuche nobilitie, prowes, magnificence,
and all other vertues commendable in a prince, that who fo fhall indifferentely way all his doinges and
good fucceffe in all his affayres, comparinge the fame to th[e]enterpryfes and doinges atchyued by fuche
famous princes in whome the Greekes and Romans haue fo greately gloryed, maye with one eye perceaue
not onely howe farre his noble factes do furmount theyrs, but alfo wel confyder what noble braunches
of iflhewe were lyke to fprynge owt of fo woorthy a flocke. And fuerly if fence the begynning of the
worlde, the fauour of god toward men hath byn knowen by fuch benefites and bleflynges as he hath
geuen to men, it feemeth to me that in maner (onely Chryfle excepted) there neuer lyued man to whom
god hath geuen greater benefites and fliewed more fauoure. Great doubtlefle was the fauour and mercie
that god fhewed vnto Noe, by whom he faued the remanent of mankynde beinge but fewe in number.
But much greater was the grace which he fhewed to kynge Ferdinando vnder whom and by whofe meanes
he faued not onely the bodies but alfo the foules of innumerable millions of men inhabytynge a great
part of the worlde heretofore vnknowen and drowned in the deluge of erroure. What fhulde I here
fpeake of Abraham the father of fayth whofe promyfes were great, and he cauled the frende of god : Dyd
he or his polleritie fee Ifraell increafe to fuch multitudes and nations as kyng Ferdinandos pofleritie may
fee th[e]increafe of this fpirituall Ifraell vnto whome as a feconde Abraham he was the father of fayth?
Moifes was fo great in the fyght of god that he difclofed vnto hym his fecreate name, and miraculoufly
caufed a comer of the fea to open at his prayer. But howe greater a myracle was it that he opened
vnto the nauie of Don Ferdinando the greate Ocean thowght before that tyme to bee without ende,
where neuerthelefle he and his pofleritie the kynges of Spayne haue nowe planted a newe Ifraell muche
greater then that whiche Moifes ledde throughe the red fea. It were here fuperfluous to fpeake of Dauid
whom Godde founde a man accordynge to his hartes defyre : and yet maye it be doubted whether his
plages and fcourges were greater then his benefites? His fonne Salomon for al his inconflant and
wauerynge wyfedome and his great ryches obteyned by his nauigations to Ophir, yet was there at this
tyme no knowleage of Antipodes, neyther dydde any of his fliyppes fayle abowt the hole worlde, perce
the Ocean, and trauerfe the Equinoctial line to th[e]inferiour hemifpherie or halfe globe of the earthe and fea
as dyd the famous fhyppe Victoria fent furth by Th[e]emperours maieftie. A thyng doubtlefle fo (Irange
and marueylous that as the lyke was neuer done before, fo is it perhaps neuer lyke to be done ageyne :
fo farre haue the nauigations of the Spanyardes excelled the vyage of lafon and the Argonautm to the
region of Colchos, or all that euer were before. And although in the booke of kynges and Paralipomenon it
bee hyperborically wrytten that in the dayes of Salomon golde and fyluer were in Hierufalem in maner
as plentiful as (lones, and that his feruantes brought from Ophir foure hundreth and fiftie talentes of gold, yet
do we not reade that any of his fliyppes were fo laden with golde that they foonke, as dyd a fhyppe of
kynge Ferdinandos as yow maye reade in the lafl booke of the fyrfte Decade. Neyther was the dominion of
Salomon extended from the ryuer of Euphrates to the lande of the Philiftians and th[e]extreme confines
of Egypte to be compared with the large Empire whiche the kynges of Spayne haue in the wefl Indies :
Nor his rjxhes of golde to be thought much in refpect of that which hath byn browght from thenfe into
Spayne as fliall playnely appere to al fuche as wyll feeke to knowe the truth hereof But to let pafle to
fpeake any further of the myracles which god hath wrought by the handes of this noble prince in this
newe world among thefe newe gentyles. Is it not well knowen to all the world what a defence and
brafen wall he hath byn to all Chryflendome in that he hath quite dryuen out of Spayne the Moores
or Sarafens and lewes which fo many hundreth yeares poflefled a greate parte of Spayne to no fmaule
daungioure of the hole Chriflian Empire, and yet coulde neuer before bee cleane vanquyfllied vntyll
the dayes of this noble and Catholyke prince fo named for his warres ageynfle the infidelles, whom God
rayfed for a Capitayne of his people as an other Gedion vnder whofe banner they myght ouercome theyr
enemies and pourge his vineyarde from fuche wycked weedes. The which thynge doubtelefle may feeme
fo much the greater and more difficulte, forafmuch as in the myddell of the chiefe heate of his chargeable
Prcster lohn
the Christian
Emperour of
Kthiope.
Don Ferdinando
kynge uf Aragon.
The fauonr ftf god
knowen by hi:>
benefites.
Noe.
What god hath
wrought by kynge
Abraham.
Spirituall Israeli
Moifes.
Dauid.
Salomon.
Ophir.
Antipodes.
The nauigation
rounde a&)Ut the
worlde.
The dominion
of Salomon.
Paral, 9.
The Indies.
The warres of
kynge Ferdinando
ageynst the
Sarasens.
52
The Preface to the Reader.
The conqueste of
the Indies
The conqueste
of Naples.
warres ageynfte the Moores of Granada, he euen then and at the fame tyme fente furth fhyppes for the
conqueflynge of the Indies, as thowgh he and the nation of the Spanyardes had byn appoynted by god
eyther to fubdue the enemies of the fayth or to bringe theym to Chrifles religion. The felfe fame kynge
Ferdinando alfo abowte the yeare of Chryfl. 1503. fente a nauie of (hyppes into Italy, where they vanquyffhed,
chafed, and flewe the Frenchemen, and recouered the kyngedome of Naples with all the dominions belongynge
thereunto. By which noble victory, his fucceffion and pofleritie as the[e]mperours maiellie and nowe his fonne
the kynge owre maRer and foueraigne lorde haue euer fence enioyed th[e]inheritaunce of the fame as of
antiquitie by iuft and ryght tytle dewe to them and theyr prediceflburs. And as it is the nature of god
not only to fhewe his loue and fauour to fuch as haue pleafed hym, but alfo to poure furth the plentie
of his grace vppon theyr fucceflion from generation to generation, fo hath he with lyke felicitie profpered
the reigne of Th[e]emperours maieftie who by his wifdome and prowes hath not onely pollitikly gouemed,
but alfo augmented and inlarged fuch dominions as fel to hym by difcente of inheritaunce. What fliuld I
fpeake of his warres and conquefles in India, in Aphrike, in Italia, in Fraunce, in Germanic, and in Flaunders :
all the which to be declared accordyngely wolde rather require hole volumes then fewe (heetes of paper. Yet
hath one in fewe woordes effectually expreffed his dominions and conquefles in thefe verfes folowynge,
The Empcrours
muieslie.
Gen. 17.
The kinges
maiesue
Apostrophe to
Englantle.
Isai. X.
Impiger expauit rapidas tranfire per vndas
Oceani Alcides : continuiique graduni.
Maximus at Cafar, PL VS VL TRA icndere curfum
Aiifus, et ignoiis eft dare iura locis.
Et domita aurifera nutic viHor gente reuerfus,
Catcra fub fceptro ponat vt ipfefuo.
Nam pater omnipotens vt famam terminct ajlrii
lufsit, et imperium fineat Oceano.
f[ An other alfo breefely hath declared the fame in thefe verfes.
Confortem Imperij voluit quia luppiter orbis,
AJlra Deo ccduiit, Carole terra tibi.
And certes who fo well confidereth the progenie of kynges that in fo fhorte a time haue linially defcended from
Don Ferdinando, and howe many kyngedomes they poffefle, may fee that God hath fulfylled in hym alfo the
promifes and bleflynges of Abraham, as to make hym the father of many nations, and his feede to growe great
vpon the earth : Alfo that many kynges (hulde come fuyth of his loynes, and to make a perpetuall league and
conuenaunt with hym and his pofleritie to bee theyr god for euer. And here to omytte to fpeake of other : Was
there euer better hope or more likenes then now, that thefe bleffynges and promyfes of god fhulde continewe in
this princely progenie, fyth the vertues and felicitie of them al doo fo fhyne and floriffhe in owt noble and gratious
prince kynge Phylyppe, to whom euen in his youth his father (occupied in the warres of Italye and Aphrike)
commytted the hole gouemaunce of the kyngedomes of Spayne and the Indies. Of his behauour in Englande,
his enemies (which canker, vertue neuer lacked) They I fay (if any fuch yet remaine) haue greatefl. caufe to
reporte well : ye fo well, that yf his naturall clemencie were not greater then was theyr vnnaturall indignation
they knowe them felues what myght haue folowed. The properties of fooles and wyfe men are declared in
thefe owld verfes.
Quid Jlulti proprium f Non poffe et velle nocere.
Quid fapientis opus : Non velle et poffe nocere.
That is to fay : \Vhat is the propertie of a foole ? To wyl to doo hurte and can not. AVhat is the woorke of a
wyfe man ? Not to wyll to hurte though he may. But whether he hath lacked poure or wyll, it is knowen to
barbers and blere eyde men. Who lamented theyr folly more then he ? Who more humbly admytted theyr
fates and fupplications ? Ye who obteyned theyr pardon but he ? Beynge a Lion he behaued hym felfe as a
lambe, and flrooke not his enemie hauynge the fwoorde in his hande. Stoope Englande floope, and leame to
knowe thy lorde and mafler, as horfes and other brute beafles are taught to doo. Be not indocible lyke Tygers
and dragons, and fuch other monflers noyous to man kynde. God by the mouth of Ifaias the prophet reproueth
the Ifraelites that they knewe not fo well theyr dewtie towarde hym as dyd the brute beafles the mangiers of
theyr maflers. The oxe and the aife (fayth he) knoweth the mangier of theyr maRer, but Ifraell knoweth not
me. For fhame let vs not be woorfe then oxen and affes, and lyke vnto horfes and mules in whom is no vnder-
flandynge. But O vnthankefuU Englande and voyde of honefl fhame ? Who hath geuen the the face of a hoore
and toonge of a ferpent withowt fhame to fpeake venemous woordes in fecreates ageynfl the annoynted of god.
O paynted hoore that hafl Chryfle in thy mouth and the deuyl in thy harte. Hathe not the pocke of thy
licentioufneffe brufle furth in maner to thyne owne deflruction. Howe longe wylt thou nuryflhe in thy boofome
The Preface to the Reader.
53
that ferpente whofe nature is to deuoure her moother? Take a vomyte in tyme lead thy difeafe become
vncurable. What neede I rthearfe vnto the thy manyfolde infirmities and deformities whiche thou arte faulen
into by thyne owne ovvtragiouiheiTe? If the greefes of them bee to thee vnfenfible by reafon of thy feeblenefle
and longe fickenes, take vnto the that glaffe wherin thou gloryefl with the lewe and thynkefl that thou feed al
thynges and canll iudge all myfleries : Looke I fay in that pure glaffe and beholde thy owne deformities, which
thou canfle not or wylte not feele. I feare greatly that if thou looke therein diligently and looke euen throughe
thy felfe, thou wylte abhorre thy felfe to fee howe many monflers lye hid in the vnder the fhape of man. There
is euen no we great talke of the in the mouth as of all men that thou had, of late yeares brought furthe many
monders and draunge byrthes, wherof dyuers men make dyuers interpretacions more mondrous then the
monders theim felues. But fliall I breefely and fimply declare vnto thee the fignification of thy monders ? Fyrd
then confyder that they are monders of mankynde and not of other beades. Secundarily marke well that in
them al, the headde is perfect, fo that the mondrofitie groweth owt of the body, although not owt of the hole
body but certeyne partes therof. But not to go to farre. Confyder ageyne that diforder of the partes is a
deformitie to the hole. One hath well interpreted that fuch mondrous byrthes fignifie the mondrous and
deformed myndes of the people myffhapened with phantadical opinions, diffolute lyuynge, licentious talke, and
fuch other vicious behauoures which mondroufly deforme the myndes of men in the fyght of god who by fuche
fignes dooth certifie vs in what fimilitude we appere before hym, and thereby gyueth vs admonition to amende
before the day of his wrath and vengeance. What deformed beades are more mondrous then lyinge, rebellion,
drife, contention, priuie malice, flaunderynge, mutterynge, confpiraces, and fuch other deuilyfflie imaginations.
But O Englande whyle tyme is gyuen thee, circumcife thy harte. Put to onely thy good wyll, and thou mayde
fynde grace and fauoure to recouer thyne aunciente bewtie whiche hath fo longe been defaced. Thou hade
nowe a kynge and queene that defyre thee to remember thy dewtie, and holde theyr armes abrode to embrafe
thee yf thou wylt drawe nere vnto them. They are fory to occupie the whyppe yf thou mighted otherwyfe bee
brought to obedience. But yf thou take pleafure to perfid in frowarde doobbemeffe, knowe thou that they are
Lions whelpes and conquerours of monders whereof thou had had fuche experience, that proudely trudynge in
thyne owne drengthe, and attemptynge lyke an other Nemroth to buylde a newe towre of confufion, the
woorkes of thy giantes were miraculoufly ouerthrowne by a woman who dehuered thee from that captiuitie,
whereby thou oughtede to knowe the daungiour thou wad in, and bee thankefuU to thy deliuerer. Beware
therefore leade whyle thou contemne the peaceable princes that god hath fent the, thou bee lyke vnto Ifopes
frogges to whom for theyr vnquietnefTe, lupiter fent a hearon to picke them in the hedes. Confider what bene-
fites thou mayd receaue at theyr handes if thou doo thy dewtie towarde them. Confyder ageyne that as they
are able, fo may thy gentelnefle make them wyllynge to recompenfe the fame. Stoppe thyne eares from vayne
fables as from the inchauntynge Mermaydes. For as manye fpeake of Robbyn Hoode and of his bowe that
neuer fhot therin, fo doo fooles prate of fuch thynges as they knowe not. But O god ? what phantafies are
nowe in the heades of men ? Howe redy they are to inuent lyes and tales ? and of howe fmaul fparkes they
kyndle great flames ? Summe are fo curious to fynde faute in other, that for lacke of iud matter woorthy reproche
in them whom they defyre to depraue, they fpeake euyll of theyr parentes and kynred of whom they knowe as lyttle.
And not fo fatiffyed they difpife and with lyinge difprayfe thejT hole nation and countrey. Ye fum take fuch
pleafure herein, that if they can fynde noughte els to difprayfe, they wyll fynde faute in fuche as they fauour
not, bycaufe they weare not theyr apparell as they doo, or perhappes are not fo effeminate as they, or eate not
as they eate, or fight not as they fyght, fo parciall is the iudgement of fooles in theyr owne rudeneffe, thynkyng
them felues the better for difprayfynge of other. Spayne is a beggerly countrey fayth one : Th[e]emperour is
but poore fayth an other : He is deade fayth an other : The Indies haue rebelled fayth an other, and eyther
there commeth no more golde from thenfe, or there is no more founde nowe : with fuche other falfe and licentious
talke diuifed by vnquiet braines in whofe heades the hammers of fedition feafe not to forge ingens of iniquitie.
If I fhulde here anfwere to all thefe querels particularly and as the woorthyneffe of the thynge requireth, I
myght fynde matter fufficient to make a volume of iude quantitie and perhappes be tedious to fumme. Yet not
to pafle ouer fo great a matter vntouched, and partely to doppe the mouthes of fuche impudente lyers, I haue
thought good to fpeake fumwhat hereof. Fyrd therfore to fpeake of Spayne, and by the tedimonie of oulde
autours to declare the commodities therof: Plinie a graue and faythful autour, in the lad boke and lad chapiture of
his natural hidory greatly commendynge Italy aboue al other contreys, giueth the fecond prayfe vnto Spaine,
afwel for al fuch thynges as in maner the heuen can geue and the earth brynge furth for the commoditie of this
lyfe as alfo for the excellente wittes of men and Ciuile gouemaunce. AKb Diodorus Siculus in the fixt booke of
his Bibliotheca fpeakynge of Spayne (cauled of the Greekes Iberia) writeth that when in the mountaines named
Pyrinei th[e]inhabitantes bumte vp the wooddes, there ranne owt of the mountaynes as it were dyuers dreames of
pure fyluer molten by the heate of the fyre. But the edimation and price of fyluer beinge at thofe dayes to
them vnknowen, the Phenician marchauntes bought the fame of them for thynges of fmaule value : And caryinge
Eont. H 3 53
Monstrous
byrthes.
The significations
of monstnis
byrthes.
The deformity
of monstrous
myndes.
The Icyng and
Queene.
How curious
summe are to
fynde faute in
other.
Lyes Imagined.
Commendations
of Spain
Ryche syluer
myncs in Spayno.
54
The Preface to the Reader.
The Romans
inriched by the
syluer of Spayne.
The
Carthaginensis
inriched by the
hyluer of bpain.
The commodities
of Spain
The sygne of
the steeple.
it into Grecia, Afia, and other countreys, got great rycheffe therby. For the defyre of gaynes (fayth he) fo greatly
moued the marchauntes, that when more fyluer remayned then myght lade theyr fhyppes, they tooke the leade
frome theyr ankers, and put fyluer in the place therof The Phenices by thefe ga)aies beinge made very rychc,
dyd afligne many colonies both in Sicilie and the Ilandes there abowt, and alfo in Libya, Sardinia, and Iberia.
But after many yeares when the Iberians (that is the Spaniardes) knewe the price of fyluer, and applyed them
felues to the feekynge of metals and founde great plentie of fyluer, they obteyned greate ryches therby forafmuch
as in maner al that earth of the mountaynes is fo replenyflhed with fyluer that it is a marueylous thynge to con-
fyder the nature of the region and the continual laboure of the woorkemen in thofe mynes. Lykewyfe when
afterwarde the Romans fubdued the Iberians, the Italians which for the defyre of gaynes fearched thofe metals,
gotte great rycheffe by the fame. For they deputed to that laboure a multitude of bowghte feruauntes, whiche
fearchynge the vaynes of metals in dyuers places, and percyng the earth dyuers wayes for the fpace of many
farlonges, browght furthe great plentie of golde and fyluer. But the rycheffe of thefe mynes was fyrft founde at
fuch tyme as the Carthaginenfes (the enemies of the Romane Empire) had the Iberians in fubiection : which
was the caufe that theyr poure afterwarde increafed. For, with monye hyringe the befl and mode experte
fouldiers, they kepte greuous warres ageynfl. theyr enemies. And not vfynge the ayde eyther of theyr owne
fouldiers or theyr affociates, they were a terrour to the Romanes, Sicilians, and Libyans, whom they browght
into great daungiour by reafon they paffed them al in abundaunce of golde and fyluer. With better fortune
therefore, and greater hope of gayne are ryche metals fought in Spayne, the goodneffe of whofe foyle yeldeth
cloddes of earth conteynynge much golde and fyluer. And thefe be the very wordes of Diodorus Siculus, which
the later wryters doo alfo confirme. For lulius Solinus in his PolyhiRor, compareth Spayne to the bed contreys
in plentie of grayne, vyttayles, oyle, fyluer, golde, and Iron. Likewyfe Strabo, Statins, and Claudius, do no leffe
commende it It were to longe here to fpeake of the greate plentie of fine wooUes lyttle inferiour vnto owrs :
alfo abundaunce of fugar, vines, pomegranates, Hmondes, and orangies in fuch plentie that they fufRce not only
Spayne, but alfo in maner all Europe : whereas the apples and crabbes of Englande are fcarfely able to feme it felfe.
And althowghe here fumme wyll obiecte, that they lacke corne, woodde, and certeyne other thynges, yet are theyr
commodities fo greate otherwyfe, that al fuch thynges are browght them owt of other countreys for theyr wares :
and that in fuch plentie, that they are there better chepe then euer they were in Englande fence the figne of the
(leeple the poore mans Inne was pulled downe in all places. Summe for lacke of other matter, fynde greate
faute that in trauaylynge in Spayne, men (halbe ferued with halfe a henne, and go to the cookes for theyr meate
and to the taueme for theyr drynke. And what then I praye yow? What inconuenience enfeweth hereof? Is it
not better fo to doo then to pay thryfe for one thinge as is the maner to doo in fumme of owre Innes and in
tauernes where all that eate roRe meate are beaten with the fpitte, as where they that of late in Barthelmewe
fayre payde fortie penfe for a pygge, where the good man of the houfe was not a fhamed to make his vaunte that
he had made foure Ihyllynges of a pygge, and had in one day taken foure pounde for pygges. But if I fhuld
here particularly and at large declare howe Englande is in fewe yeares decayed and impoueryfflied, and howe
on the contrary parte Spayne is inryched, I fliulde perhappes difpleafe more in defcrybyng the myferie of the
one, then pleafe other in expreffynge the floryffhynge flate of the other, which by all reafon is lyke dayly to
increafe, afwell for the great rycheffe that are yearely browght thyther from the Indies, as alfo for the ryche fyluer
mynes that are founde of late in Spayne in the countrey of Afturia as I was credably informed by the woorthy
and lerned gentelman Auguftinus de Ceratta, Contador (that is) the auditour of the kynges myntes who had
longe before byn furueyoure of the golde mynes of Peru, and browght from thenfe and from Rio de Plata, xiii.
thoufand pounde weyght of fyluer which was coyned to the kinges vfe in the towre of London where neuer fo
much hath byn feene at once as fuche as haue byn owlde officers in the mynte doo afiirme. What fhulde I
heare fpeake of the golde which th[e]emperours maieffie receaueth frome all the Indies, whereas onely in the two
meltynge fhoppes of the gold mines of the Ilande of Hifpaniola, is molten yearely three hundreth thoufande
pounde weyght of. viii. vnces to the pound, wherof the fyfte parte is dewe vnto hym, whiche amounteth to three
fcore thoufande weyght yearely. Yet doo I not here fpeake of the golde mines of the other Ilandes and the
finne lande reachynge. viii. thoufande myles from the north to the fouth: Neyther of the ryche Ilandes of the
fouth fea cauled Mare del Sur, where the kynge of one lyttle Ilande named Tacarequi, Margaritea, or de las
Perlas, lying in the goulfe of Saynt Michael, payeth yearely for his tribute a hundreth pounde weight of perles:
Neyther yet of the fyfte parte of other thynges, as precious (lones, brafile, goffampine cotton, fpices, and dyuers
other thynges, wheras alfo the ryche Ilandes cauled the Maluchas perteyne to the inheritaunce of Caftile,
althowgh the kynge of Portugale enioy them for certeyne yeares by compofition. But the Indies haue rebelled
(iay they) and there commeth no more golde from thenfe. But what if fumme of them haue rebelled ? dooth it
therby folowe that there commeth no more gold from the other that lyue vnder obedience ? But if thou wylte fay
that they haue al rebelled at once, thou muff proue that thou layeff eyther by hyfforie or wytneffe of fuch as
know the truth herof, as I (hauing made diligent fearche for the fame) am able to proue the contrarie, and that
Englande
impouerisshed,
Spayne inriched.
Siluer mines
founde of late
in Spayne.
Syluer brought
frome Peru into
Englande.
Thtelemperours
reiienues from
the Indies.
The Ilandes of
the Southe sea.
The Tlandes of
Maluca.
The Preface to the Reader.
55
fuche talke is onely imagined by bufie headdes. Ageyne : what if they haue rebelled in fumme prouinces ?
dooth it folowe that they maye not ageyne be browght vnder fubiection as were oftentymes the prouinces of the
Romanes and as were in owre dayes dyuers countreys of Englande whiche haue byn fore afflicted with that
plage. But whether the fandes of the ryuers and the mountaynes of the Indies bee fo emptied with golde that
no more can be founde there, I thinke it here fuperfluous to anfwere to this obiection, forafmuch as it is here-
after confuted in the booke of metals where yow (hall fynde by experience that metals growe and increafe, and
that after certeyne yeares. fuche owlde caues of the mynes as haue byn dygged, are ageyne replenyffhed with vre :
Alfo that the fprynges of fuche mountaynes tumynge theyr courfe and breakynge furth in other places, brynge
with them greate plentie of fuch golden- fande as is founde in the ryuers into the which they faule. What
impudencie is it therfore with woordes of reproche to caule hym poore whofe poure is fo greate, his treafure fo
infinite, and his doinges fo chargeable, that I beleeue that when fo euer it pleafe almyghtie God to caule hym
frome this lyfe to the greate domage of all Chryflendome, it flialbe harde to fynde an other that (hall in all poyntes
bee fo well able to fupplye that roome and maynteyne th[e]imperiall dignitie. Let al honefl. natures therfore leame
to fpeake well of princes accordynge to the fentence De Principibus nil nifi bonum, forafmuch as they are the
minifters of god who hath theyr hartes in his hande and ruleth the fame as feemeth befle vnto hym. For there
is no poure neyther good nor badde, but of god : and he that refyfteth or fpeaketh euyll of the poure, refifleth
and fpeaketh euyll of god. Thou flialt not fpeake euyll of the prince or ruler of thy people faith faint Paule.
But wheras nowe by the poure of Neptunus (I wot nere with what wynde) I haue byn dryuen thus farre
from my nauigations, I haue thought good to tume my fayles and to folowe the ordinarie courfe which I beganne,
and by th[e]exemple of this woorthy capitayne kynge Ferdinando, encourage al other to theyr poure to attempte
the lyke vyages : As touchynge the which in fewe woordes to declare my opynyon, if any man fhulde afke me
what I thynke thefe thinges wyll growe to in tyme, I wyll anfwere as dooth the autoure of this booke,
that when I confyder howe farre o>vre pofleritie fhall fee the ChriRian religion enlarged, I am not able
with tounge or penne to expreffe what I conceaue hereof in my mynd. Yet one thyng I fee which enforceth
me to fpeake and lament, that the haruefl is fo great and the workemen fo few. The Spanyardes haue (hewed a
good exemple to all Chryflian nations to folowe. But as god is great and woonderfull in all his woorkes,
fo befyde the portion of lande perteynyng to the Spanyardes (beinge eyght tymes bygger then Italye as
yowe maye reade in the lafle booke of the feconde Decade) and befide that which perteineth to the Portugales,
there yet remayneth an other portion of that mayne lande reachynge towarde the northeafl, thought to be
as large as the other, and not yet knowen but only by the fea coaftes, neyther inhabyted by any ChriRian men :
whereas neuertheleffe (as wryteth Gemma Phrifius) in this lande there are many fayre and frutefull regions,
hygh mountaynes, and fayre ryuers, with abundaunce of golde and dyuers kyndes of beaRes. Alfo cities
and towres fo wel buylded and people of fuch ciuilitie, that this parte of the worlde feemeth lyttle inferiour
to owre Europe, if th[ejinhabitauntes had receaued owre religion. They are wyttie people and refufe not
barterynge with Rraungers. Thefe regions are cauled Terra Florida and Regio Baccalearum or Bacchallaos
of the which yow may reade fumwhat in this booke in the vj'age of the woorthy owlde man yet lyuing
SebaRiane Cabote, in the. vi. booke of the thyrde Decade. But Cabote touched only in the north comer
and moR barbarous parte hereof, from whenfe he was repulfed with Ife in the moneth of luly. Neuertheleffe,
the weR and fouth partes of thefe regions haue fence byn better fearched by other, and founde to bee
as we haue fayde before. The chiefs citie in the fouthweR partes of thefe regions, is cauled Temixtetan,
or Mexico in maner vnder the circle cauled Tropicus Cancri, and Rrongely defended by the nature of
the place. For it Randeth in a very great lake hauynge abowt it innumerable bridges, and buyldynges
to be compared to the woorkes of Dedalus. Th[e]inhabitauntes alfo can wryte and reade. Summe wryters
connecte this lande to the firme lande of Afia : But the truth hereof is not yet knowen. And althoughe
the Spanyaides haue certeyne colonies in that part of this lande that is nowe cauled Noua Hifpania, yet are
the people for the moRe parte Idolatours. Howe much therfore is it to be lamented, and howe greatly
dooth it founde to the reproche of all ChriRendome, and efpecially to fuch as dwell nereR to thefe landes
(as we doo) beinge muche nearer vnto the fame then are the Spanyardes (as within, xxv. dayes faylinge
and lefle) howe muche I faye (hall this founde vnto owre reproche and inexcufable flothfulneffe and
negligence bothe before god and the worlde, that fo large dominions of fuch tractable people and pure
gentiles, not beinge hytherto corrupted with any other falfe religion (and therefore the eafyer to bee allured
to embrafe owres) are nowe knowen vnto vs, and that we haue no refpecte neyther for goddes caufe nor
for owTe owne commoditie to attempte fumme vyages into thefe coaRes, to doo for owr partes as the
Spaniardes haue doone for theyrs, and not euer lyke (heepe to haunte one trade, and to doo nothynge
woorthy memorie amonge men or thankes before god, who maye herein woorthely accufe vs for the
flackenelTe of owre dewtie towarde hym. Saynt Paule the doctoure of the gentiles (to whofe ApoRclfliippe
alfo thefe newe gentiles doo pcrteinc) was of fuch zeale toward the lewes whom god had reiected, that
The nauigations
of the Spanyardes
Itali is. 1020 myles
in lengthe and.
126. in breadthe.
The lande cauled
Terra finrida, and
regio baccalearum.
Looke the last -
booke, thirde
decade.
This region is
now cauled Noua
Hispania. Sum
thinke that this
citie is Quinsai of
Marcus Pau!us.
Looke the last
booke of the 3.
decade, and tne
beginning of the
booke of the
landes lately
found.
The godlye zeale
of S. Paule.
56
The Preface to the Reader.
IsoL 66.
Gregorie the First
ThWoffice of
by&hoppes.
England
converted to the
faith of chrisu
This vnifride was
afterwarde
named Boncface.
Whether any may
bee compelled to
the faythe.
The tyme of
miracles.
Miracles of late
dayes.
Howe Israeli
possessed the
lande of
promesse.
Ksdra. 7.
he wyflhed hym felfe to bee accurfed of god for theyr fakes. He went from Damafcus to Arabic, preached
the gofpell in Grecia, came prifoner to Rome, was fcourged and (loned, and fuffered thryfe ihypwracke,
what then thinke yow he wold do if he were now aliue ? Is it to be thought that he wolde not aduenture.
XXV. dayes faylynge to come to fuch a marte of foules in fuch redineffe to bee eafely obteyned ? I beleue
verely that neyther death, nor the deuyll, nor Leuiathan, nor the worlde, (hulde let hym but that he wolde geue
th[e]onfet ageynfl them all in hope of victorie by hym by whom he fayth he can doc all thynges. He was not
negligent in his office nor ignorant of his rewarde, but trufled to the promefle of him that fayde by the
mouth of the prophet Ifai : Of them that fhalbe faued, I wyl fende fum to the gentyles in the fea, into
Aphrike and Libia, Italic, and Grecia, and into the Ilandes a farre of, to them that haue not harde of me,
and haue not feene my glorie. The like zeale that Paule had, and proceadynge of the fame fpirite, hath
eucr fence Chryfles tyme, moucd not only the Apoftles, but alfo many other famous and godly men (as
fuperuifours of his teflamente) to fendc owte preachers into dyuers partes of the worlde to ftiewe furth the
gladdc tydynge of the gofpell. By this zeale dyd Gregoryc byfflioppe of Rome and fyrfte of that name,
when he fawe Englyflhc mens chyldrcn in Rome and afked what nation they were, when anfwere was
made hym in the laten tounge that they were Angli, (that is, Englyffhe men) he fayd (alludyng to the
fimilitude of the worde) that they myght wel be cauled Angeli, that is. Angels : Meanyng therby that
lyke as god had done his part in geuyng them bodies of natural bewtie and comelyneffe, fo it apperteyned
to his office bcinge the cheefe pafloure of goddcs flocke, to prouyde that theyr foules might be made
woorthy to inhabite fuch bodies and the hole nation confecrated vnto god by baptifme. For he fayde
furthermore : It is meete that vnto thefe alfo, the gofpell of life bee preached : And hereuppon immediatly
fent preachers into Englande whereby the hole nation was in (horte tyme conuerted to ChriRes faith,
although fum had receaued the gofpell long before euen from Chryfles tyme by the preachyng of lofeph
of Arimathia who aflced the body of Chryfte of Pilote, and buryed it rcucrently. I wolde to god that
there were now many mo fuch Gregorics in the worlde : And that there might lyke zeale and gentclncflTc
bee founde in vs Englyflhc men towarde other nations, as wc haue founde in other towarde vs. Owre
prediceflbures were not vtterlye vnmyndefull of thefe benefites, but applyed them felues lykewife to fpreade
the gofpell in other nations. For Vadianus in his booke De tribus terra partibus, wryteth, that more then
feuen hundrethe yeares after the death of Chryfte, one Vnefride an Englyflhc man and byffhoppe of Mogunce,
(nowe cauled Menfe) was the fyrfte that tawght the fayth of Chryfte amonge the Germaynes, at fuch tyme
as the Frankes and Almaynes had paffed ouer the ryuers of Rhcnc and Danubius, and by puttynge the
garryfons of the Romans to flight, had pofleffed a great parte of theyr nioft notable prouinces. For albeit
that thefe rude and barbarous nations then accuftomed onely to warre and robberic did hardly admittc
that holfome doctrine at the beginning. Yet by the pollicic and wifedome of the Frankes, it came fo to
paffe that in maner through owt all Germanic, greatc increafe of the Chriftian religion folowed there moftc
ample victories, as the lyke fuccefle is alfo feene in thefe barbarous nations fubdued by the Spanyardes.
Whereby it is apparent, that although fum holde opinion that none owght to bee compelled to the faythe,
yet we fee by experience that withowt difputynge of opinions (Icfte the pacientes fhulde dye before the
phifitians agree of the remedie) thefe entreprifes haue taken good effect to the great glory of god who cauleth
men vnto hym by dyuers meanes and at dyuers ages of the declinynge worlde, other\vyfe nowc then in
the tyme of Chryfte and his Apo'lles when the pourc of miracles was giuen vnto men to confirme the
newe fayth which had yet preuaiicd i.o where in the worlde. Albeit, I beleue verely, that if we wolde take
the matter in hande accordyngly, god wolde not forget to ayde vs with miracles if it fhuld fo be requifite,
as yowe may reade in this booke ho^vc he wTOUght miracles by the fayth of a Ample mariner euen in
th[e]infancie of faythe. And fucrlye, lyke as there is no caufe why wc fhulde anye thynge double of goddcs
goodnefle in this behalfe if the faut be not in owre felues. Euen fo, if we wolde fyrfte fette owre handes
to the plowe, we ought to hope that he wolde giue encreafe and woorke with vs as he hath doone with
other, by whofe profpcrous fucceffe we may plainely fee that it was his wyll that fuche thynges fhulde
go forwarde. For euen Ifraell to whom promefle was made by flgnes and miracles that they fhulde poffefle the
lande to th[e]inheritaunce whcrof, the fea opened it felfe to giue them free paffagc, yet were they commaunded by
the pourc of the fwoorde to make way, with greatc loffe and flaughter of men and by force of armes to obteyne
the lande promyfed to theyr fathers, whiche neucrtheleffe fewc of them pofleffed that firft fought for the fame,
but lefte theyr carkefes in the wilderneffc. Is it not alfo written of the luwcs which repayred the walles
of the citie of Hierufalem after theyr captiuitic in Babilon, that Nehemias theyr capitaine fet the people in
order with fwoordes, fpeares, and bowes to defende the woorkemen ? And that alfo euen the Princes of luda
wrought vppon the walles and caried burdens ? lykewyfe that they wrought with one hande and held theyr
fwoordes in the other ? And if it were lawful for Ifraell accordynge to the fleffhe, to vfe all meanes and
pollicies to buylde vp the walles of earthly Hierufalem, howe muche more then ought the fpirituall Ifraelites to
J6
The Preface to the Reader.
57
vfe all pofTible ineanes to buylde vp the walks and temples of fpirituall Hierufalem, whofe fundation is Chrifle,
wyllynge all thtr nations of the worlde to be buylded vppon the fame. It is the propertie of a wyfe buylder to
vfe fuch tooles as the woorke requireth. And not at all tymes or in all woorkes to vfe one toole. For that
that ferueth in fofte tymber, wyll not feme in knottie pieces, nor yet for (lones. Th[e]expert phifitian vfeth
vehement remedies for defperate difeafes : And cunninge furgians vfe bumynge and cuttynge if the cafe fo
require, as in cuttynge of the fynger to faue the hande, or in cuttyng of the hand to faue the hole body. Ye it
hath fumtymes fo chaunfed that wheras men haue entended hurt, there hath good proceaded therof in fine : As
he that wolde haue flaine Prometheus, wounded his wenne with his fwoorde, whereby he was healed of that
difeafe. So is god able to tume euyll into good, and to make thynges that are not, as thynges that are. Euen
fo although fumme wyll obiecte that the defyre of golde was the chiefe caufe that moued the Spanyardes and
Portugales to fearche the newe founde landes, trewly albeit we fhulde admitte it to bee the chiefe caufe, yet dooth
it not folowe that it was the only caufe, forafmuch as nothyng letteth but that a man may bee a warrier or a
marchaunte, and alfo a Chriflian. Therefore what fo euer owre chiefe intente bee, eyther to obteyne worldely
fame or rycheffe, (althoughe the zeale to encreafe Chriflian religion ought chiefly to moue vs) I wolde to god we
wolde fyrfl attempte the matter: And then I doubte not but that it wolde fo comme to pafle with vs as it dyd
with them who of longe time after the beginning of the worlde before menne were accuflomed to eate fleffhe,
thought it firfl fufficient fo to vfe them felues amonge beafles that they were not hurte of them : but fhortly after,
vfed them for theyr commoditie : Then begunne to weare theyr fkinnes : And in fine, fell to eatynge of theyr
fleffhe, and to vfe certeine partes of them for remedies ageinfl difeafes. Euen fo may thefe barbarians by the
only conuerfation with the Chriflians, (although they were enforced therto) be brought to fuch familiaritie with
ciuilitie and vertue, that not onely we maye take greate commoditie thereby, but they may alfo herewith imbibe
trewe religion as a thing accidental although neyther they nor we fhulde feeke the fame. For lyke as they that
goo much in the foonne, are coloured therewith although they go not for that purpofe. So may the conuerfation
of the Chriflians with the gentyles induce theym to owre religion, where there is no greater caufe of contrarye
to refyfle as is in the luwes and Turkes who are alredy drowned in theyr confirmed erroure. But thefe fimple
gentiles l)-uinge only after the lawe of nature, may well bee lykened to a fmoothe and bare table vnpainted, or
a white paper vnwritten, vpon the which yow may at the fyrfl. paynte or wryte what yow lyfte, as yow can not
vppon tables alredy paynted, vnleffe yow rafe or blot owt the fyrfte formes. They may alfo th[e]enyer bee allured to
the Chriflian fayth, for that it is more agreable to the lawe of nature then eyther the cerimonious lawe of Moifes,
or portentous fables of Mahometes Alcharon. If we were therfore as defyrous to enlarge the fayth of Chryfle
as to feeke worldly gooddes, why do we deferre to aduenture that wherin we may doo bothe. We mufle not
nowe looke for a newe Paule or doctoure of the gentiles to bee conuerted by heauenly reuelations : Or for a
newe Moifes to leade men through the fea : Or for an Angel to cary men in the ayer from one place to an other
as Habacucke the prophete was caryed by the heare of his heade from ludea to Babilon ; Or as Phylippe
th[e]appotlle was caryed by the fpirite from Gaza to Azotus : but mufle (as fayth the prophete Ifaias) euery man
exhorte his neyghboure, and bid his broother be of good chere : That the mafon and carpenter may buylde
togyther, and fay to the glewe or cemente, it is good and fafle byndynge. What negligence and flackeneffe hath
hytherto byn in Chriflian men in this kynde of buyldynge of goddes lyuely temple, the greate clerke Erafmus
hath declared in his booke intiteled EcclefTiafles, whofe woordes for the woorthynefTe of the autoure, I haue here
thowght good to rehearfe as they are wrytten by hym in the laten tounge in the fyrfte booke of the fayde woorke.
He wryteth therfore as foloweth.
Audimus quotidianas queremonias deplorantiuin coUapfam Chrijlianam religionem, eamque dit'wnem qum quondam
complexa ejl vniuerfum terrarum orbem, in has angujlias effe contraBam. Hoc igitur quibus ex animodolct, eos decet
ardentibus afsiduifque votis flagitare a Chrijlo vt operartos digndur mittere in meffem fuam, aut (vt melius dicam)
feminatores mittere in fcgctem fuam. Deum immortalem, quantum in orbe patet agrorum in quibus aut non dum
iaflum ejl femen Euangeliaim, aut ita iaHum ejl, vt plus fit zizaniarum quam iriiici. Orbis minima pars ejl
Europa: Omnium florentifsima pars ejl Gracia et Afia minor in quam magna fucceffu primum a ludcea demigrauit
Euangelium. At hcec fere tota, nonne tenetur a Mahumetanis et ijs qui Chrifli nomen habmt imcifum 1 lam in
Afia maiore qua latifsime patet, quid obfecro nofirum efll quum ipfa Paleflina vnde primo effluxit lux Euangelica,
feruiat Allophylisi In Aphrica vera quid nofirum eflt Nee dubitandum efl quin in tanta vaflitate regionum fint
populi rudes et fimplices qui facile poffent ad Chriflum alici,fi mitterentur qui facer ent bonam fementem. Quid quod
quotidie regiones haHenus incognitce reperiuntur, ferunturque fupereffe quo nullus adh uc noflratium peruenit. Omitto
nunc infinitam ludcBorum vim nobis admixtam : omitto plurimos qui titulo Chrifli tegunt Ethnicos: omitto tantas
fchifmaticorum et hcsreticorum phalanges. Quantus in his effet prouentus Chriflo, ft gnaui ac fideles mitterentur
operarij qui iaciant femen bonum, qui reuellant zizaniam, qui planteiit plantulas bonas, malas extcrpcnt, qui extruant
domum Dei, demoliaiitur flruHuras non innitmtes petrx Chriflo, denique qui metant maturam fcgetem, fed Chri/lo
The buylding
of spirituall
Hienisalem.
The conuersion of
the gentiles.
The christian
faythc.
IsaL 4S.
August ia
Chrisiiaiue
ditionis.
58
The Preface to the Reader.
Presteian
Aetliiopia rex.
Filafii.
Franciscani
SeraplUci.
Dotninicani
CherubicL
Lingua
impericia,
Miracula.
Bamianus a Goes
To the christian
princes.
The sheepe of
Europe.
The doctourc
of diuinitie
An admonition
to riche men.
Tile marchant
me tant nonfibi, et animas Domino colligant, non opes fibi. Niiper Aethiopia: rex quem vulgtis appellat Prejleian,
per oratoran fuum fubmifit fe fedi Romance, non nihil expojlulans cum pontifice quod ea gais quum a fide C/irt/lt
non fit aliena, tam diu fuerit a tocius orbis pafiore ncg/cda. Quidam viri botti, et propagatidce religionis fiudiofi,
queruntur Pilapios ScythicE feptentrionalis populum mirefunpliccm acrudem, a nefcio quibits principibus Chri/lianis
teneri ditione, fed ita duro premi iugo hufiiano, vt eis non imponatur fuaue iuguin Chrifii, atque i/a fpoliari bonis
externis, vt non ditentur opibus euangelicis. Pnlcherrimum, Deoque gratijsimum erat dare potius quatn accipere ijs
quos findemus Chriflo lucrifaccre, ac fie cos in ditionem noflram recipere vt gaudeant fe fubicflos effe principibus fub
quorum imperio commodius degant quam ante degebant. Nouimus cicurare bcfiias feras et horribi/es, vel ad volup-
talem, vel ad vfum vulgarem: et non nouimus manfuefacere homines vt feruiant Chriflo 1 Afonarchce alunt qui
doceant elephantos ad faltandum, qui doment leones ad lufum, qui doment lynces et leopardos ad venatum : et
monarcha ecclefice non inuenit quo homines alliciat ad amabile Chrifli feruicium J Scio vix vllam reperiri beluam
domitu difficiliorem quam eft ludcEus obftinatus, et obduratus hareticus : quanqiiam nullum eft animal tam immite
quod non cicureiur beneficeutia et fuauitate. E repertis regionibus aiehitur aurum et gemmce : Sed triumpho dignius
erat illuc inuehere Chriftianam fapientiam auro preciofiorcm, ac margaritum aiangciiaim quod omnibus diuenditis
hence comparatur. Dominus iubetfuis rogare dominum mefsis vt extrudat operarios quod mefsis effet ampla, operarij
pauci. Noti minus opus eft nunc rogare dcum vt in tam late patentes agros ejiciat operarios, Scd excufant omnes,
alius aliud. Atqui Christiana ditio tot habet myriadas Francifcanorum in quibus probabile eft quamplurimos
effe qui vere fiagrant igni feraphico : nee pauciores funt myriades Dominicanorum, et in his confeutanaim eft
permultos effe Cherubici fpiritus. Ex his cohort ibus cligantur virt, mtindo vere mortui, Chrifto viui, qui fyncere
apud barbaras gentes doceant verbtim Dei. Excufatur lingua imperitia. Atqui principcs ob humanas legationes
inucniunt qui varias linguas perdifcant : Et Themiftocles Athaiicnfes vno anno fie didicit fcrmonem Afiatiaim
vt abfque interprete aim rege loqui poffet : An idem non ftudebimus in tam fublimi negocio ? Inter barbaras
et ignotas nationes Apostoli inuenerunt vifliim et amiHum : et Dais polHcitus eft nihil defuturum qucerenti-
bus regnum Dei. Nee miracula quidem dcfiitura funt ft res poftulct, modo ad fit fyncera fides cum feraphica
charitate, dt^c.
Furthermore Damianus a Goes, wryteth in his booke De dcploratione LappiancB gaitis, that he was the
fyrft that moued Erafmus to fpeake fumwhat hereof: And that he (Erafmus I meane) was determined to
write a iufl volume of this matter yf he had not byn preuented by death. Albeit (fayth Damianus) in
his booke entiteled EcclefiaRes, he dyd not keepe filence of fo wicked an vngodlynefle, whiche furely is
fuche, that it may in maner make all Chriflian men (and efpeciallye fuch vnto whom god hath gyuen
poure and knowleage) giltie of fo heyghnous a crime, that he may take vengeance of them in the day of
iudgement before the iufle iudge Chryft. Nowe therfore (fayth he) let the Chriflian Monarches take heede
what accoumpte they fhall make before the tribunal of Chryfle at the laRe daye, when neyther fauoure,
nor pardon, or flatterie can take place to bee any excufe for the loffe of fo manye foules. And thefe be
the very woordes of the woorfliipful and lemed man Damianus a Goes, wiytten to the byfifhoppe of Rome
Paule the thyrde of that name, whom he further chargeth to looke diligently hereunto, as a thynge mofle
chiefely perteynynge to the office of Chriflian prelates. Mee thynke verely that the fheepe of Europe
(hulde by this tyme be fo well fedde, that they fhulde by good reafon be fo flronge and mightie in Chriftes
religion (excepte they be infected with the dyfeafe which the phificians caule Cachexia, beinge an euyl
difpofition of the body whereby the more they are fed the worfe they lyke) that many fheppardes myght
well bee fpared to bee fent to other fheepe which ought to be of the fame foulde. For this purpofe the
doctoure of diuinitie when he commenfeth, hath his fcapular cafl ouer his headde in token that he hathe
forfaken the worlde for Chrifles fake : And his bootes on his legges in token that he fhall euer bee in a
redineffe to go forwarde in preachynge the gofpell, as I doubte not there bee many in Englande wolde
gladly doo euen amonge thefe newe gentyles if they were therto mainteyned by the ayde of the fecular
poure as in this cafe it fhalbe requifite for the furniture of neceffaries hereunto apperteynynge, I mufl
nowe therfore appele vnto yow, yow riche men and rulers of the worlde, to whom god hath giuen gooddes
as thynges neyther good nor badde of them felues, but onely as they are vfed wel or euil. If yowe vfe
them well, they are the gyftes of god wherwith yow may doo many thynges acceptable both to god and men.
And if yow vfe them otherwyfe, yowe poffefTe not them, but they poffeffe yow, and theyr canker and rufle
(as faythe the Apoflle) fhalbe a teflimonie ageinfl. yow in the day of the great audit. Thinke not therfore
that this thynge perteyneth not vnto yowe, if yowe perteyne vnto Chrifle and looke to haue any parte
with hym. Confyder with yowre felues if it were onely to get worldely ryches, howe redye and greedy
yowe wolde bee to venture a greate deale to get a thyrde part, withowt caflynge of any perell by lande or
by fea, as the wyttie poet Horafe hath in fewe wordcs defcrybed the marchauntes defyre and aduenture'
to obteyne rycheife.
s8
The Preface to the Reader.
59
Impiger extreyiios currit mercatcr ad Indos,
ter ftiare pauper iem fugiens, per faxa, per igrits.
The which yerfes are tlius much to fay in effecte.
The marchaunt in hope greate rychefle to fynde,
By fyer and by water pafleth to Inde,
By the bumte Hne or Equinoctiall,
To flye from pouertie and hafarde all.
As the poet hath in thefe verfes, by the marchaunt declared the defyre Aat couetous men haue to
obteyne flippery riches, the lyke affection to obteyne worldly fame and honour, maye we fee in valiant
and noble capitaynes in the warres where they contende to put them felues forwarde to the mofle daungerous
aduenture as to haue the forewarde of the battayle : a token furely of much nobilitie and manly corage.
But oh immortall god ? Is it not to bee lamented that men can be fo valient, (lowte, and in maner defperate in
theyr owne priuate matters, perteynyng onely to theyr bodies, and yet fo coulde, negligent, and fearefull
in goddes raufe and thynges touchynge the health of theyr foules ? If there were neyther deuyll nor lawe
to accufe men before god in this cafe, (hall not theyr owne confciences bee a lawe of condemnation ageynfte
theym in that they haue not fliewed that loue to mankynde, which the very lawe of nature moueth brute
beafles to fhewe one to an other in theyr generations ? But what hope is there (excepte god wolde in
maner by myracle conuerte the hartes of fuch men) what hope is there I fay, that they wyll depart with
any of theyr gooddes, muche lelTe aduenture theyr bodies, to the furtheraunce of Chrifles religion in thefe
regions beinge fo farre from them, wheras many (hewe lyttle loue, charitie, or liberalrtie (if not rather crueltie,
tyrannic, and oppreffion) to theyr poore neighbours and brootheme dwelling euen at home at theyr owne
elbowes. But as this couetoufneffe is to bee reproued, fo is the liberalitie of fuch to be commended as haue
byn at greate coafle and charges in fettynge Ibrwarde fuche viages : wherein not onely the marchauntes
of London, but alfo diuers noble men and gentelmen afwell of the counfayle as other, which bothe with
theyr money and furtheraunce otherwyfe haue fumyffhed and fent furth certeyne fhyppes for the difcouerynge
of fuche landes and regions as were heretofore vnknowen, haue herein deferued immortall fame, for as
much as in fuch attemptes and daungerous vyages, they haue fhewed no fmaule liberalitie vppon vncerteyne
hope of gayne : wherein they haue deferued fo much the greater prayfe as theyr intent feemed to bee rather
to further honefl enterprifes then for refpecte of vantage. And here certeynely in the mention of thefe
viages I myght feeme vngratefull if I fhulde omitte to giue dewe commendations to the two chiefe capitaynes
of the fame as the woorthy knyght fyr Hugh Wylloby and the excellent pilotte Rycharde Chaunceler who
haue therein aduentured theyr lyues for the commoditie of theyr countrey : Men doubtleffe woorthye for theyr
noble attemptes to bee made knightes of the Ocean or otherwyfe preferred if euer god fende them home
ageyne although they fayle of theyr purpofe. For as fuche haue obteyned abfolute glory that haue browght
great thynges to paffe, fo haue they deferued immortall fame which haue only attempted the fame : forafmuch
as fortune (who fumtymes fauoureth the vnworthyefl) is not in the poure of man. Xerfes obteyned glorie
in makynge a bridge ouer the fea Hellefpontus ioynynge Europe to Afia, and Darius ouer Bofphorus when
he paffed with his armye towarde the Scythians. No leffe fame and commendation (although not lyke
glory) deferued Demetrius, Cefar, Calligula, and Seleucus Nicanor, whiche attempted to cutte in fundre
certeyne places cauled Iflhmi, (beinge narrowe portions of lande fo diuidynge twoo feas, that there is no
paflage from the one to the other) and yet neuer finiffhed that they tooke in hande, beinge hyndered
eyther by deathe, warres, or other chaunces. The auncient Romans and Greekes gaue fuch glorye vnto
them that had eyther well deferued of the common welthe, or otherwyfe attempted fuch great enterprifes
as might bee profitable for mankynde, that after theyr death they caufed Images of golde, fyluer, braffe,
luery, and marble to bee made to theyr lykeneffe, and the fame to be placed in theyr folemne hauies,
palaices, or temples, with certeyne verfes made to the commendation of them whom the Images reprefented.
And this no leife to prouoke and encorage other forwarde natures to th[e]emulation of their vertues, then
alfo to geue them the due honoure of theyr iufl defertes. And furely if euer fence the begynnynge of the
worlde any enterpryfe haue deferued greate prayfe as a thynge atchyued by men of heroicall vertue,
doubtleffe there was neuer any more woorthy commendation and admiration then is that whiche owre
nation haue attempted by the north feas to difcouer the mightie and riche empire of Cathay, by which
vyage not only golde, fyluer, precious (lones, and fpices, may be browght hether by a fafer and fhorter
way, but alfo much greater matters may hereof enfewe in tyme if it fhall pleafe God to gyue vnto Chriftian
men fuch paffage into thofe regions, whereby fuch familiaritie may further growe betwene the Chriftian princes
The defiyre of
wordely fame.
Men are sloth(\iU
ia g*4des cauM:.
Vyages from
Engiande.
Syr Hugh
Wylloby and
Rycharde
Chaunceler.
Glory and fame.
The rewarde of
noble enterprisci^
The vyage to
Cathay by the
north seas.
6o
The Preface to the Reader.
Societie betwene
the Tartars and
the Christians
The Turke.
The Sophie.
Tambulanes.
Baiasetes.
of Europe and the greate emperoure of Cathay, that (as wryteth Haytho De focietaie Chrijiiatwrum et
Tartaroruni) there can nothynge be imagined more effectuall for the confufion of the Turke if the great
Cham of Cathay and the Sophie of Perfia on the one fyde, and the Chriflian Princes on the other fyde,
fliulde with one confent inuade his dominions, as dyd Tamburlanes Th[e]emperoure of the Tartars who abowte
the yeare of Chrifle. M. CCC. Ixxxxviii. toke prifoner Baiafetes Ottomanus Th[e]emperoure of the Turkes and
flewe. XX. thoufande of his men in one battayle befyde many other great victories, as yowe may further
reade in this booke in the hyftorie of Paulus louius. And to haue fayde thus muche in maner of a preface it
may fuffice.
6i
[The Third English book on America,
Which is also
The First English Collection of Voyages, Traffics, & Discoveries.
Cfte ©ecalres of the netoe tooiilrt or iue^t Kntrta, etc
SECTION I.
Pietro Martire.
The First Decade, . Of the Ocean.
First printed in 1511
The Second Decade, . Of the supposed Continent.
The Third Decade,
\T^he discovery of the Pacific by
Vasco 'Nunez de Balboa ^on the
i^th September 15 13. The
voyages of Pedro Arias ^ and
Sebastian Cabot ^
The Second and Third Decades were first printed in 1516.
Of the new found islands (i.e. Yucatan and Mexico.)
First printed in 1521.]
The epistle of Peter Martyr.
63
[This eloquent Dedication first appeared in the Second and enlarjjed Edition of the Decades, the printing of which was finished at
Alcala on 9th November 1516. Nearly the whole of the following First Dccas (//. 65-105) had, however, been previously
printed in 1511, and was for the most part luritten even earlier than that year.]
fl[ To THE MOSTE NOBLE PrINCE AND CaTHOLIKE KYNGE, ChARLES,
Peter Martyr of Angleria wysheth
perpetuall felicitie.
He diuine prouidence, frome the tyme that he fyrfte
created the worlde, hathe referued vnto this day the
knowleage of the great and large Ocean fea : In the
which tyme he hath opened the fame, chiefely vnto
yowe (mofle mightie Prince) by the good fortune
and happie fucceffe of yowr grandfather by yowr
mothers fyde. The fame prouidence (I knowe not
by what deftenie) hath brought me owt of my natiue
countrey of Milane, and owt of the citie of Rome
(where I continued almoft. x. yeares) into Spaine,
that I myght particularlye collecte, thefe marueylous
and newe thynges, which fhoulde otherwyfe per-
happes haue hne drowned in the whirlepoole of
obHuion : forasmuch as the Spanyardes (men
woorthy [of] greate commendation) had onely care to the generall inuentions of thefe
thynges. Notwithftandinge, I doo not chalenge vnto me only, the thankes of the trauaile
beflowed herein, wheras the chiefe rewarde therof is due to Afcanius vicounte Cardinal,
who perceauynge that I was wyllyng to departe owt of the citie to be prefent at the warres
of Granatum, diffuaded me from my purpofe. But feing that I was fully refolued to
departe, exhorted and required me to wryte vnto hym fuch newes as were famous in Spayne
and woorthy to be noted. I tooke therfore my iorney into Spaine chiefely for the defyre I
had to fee th[e]expedition whiche was prepared ageynft the enemies of the fayth :
forafmuche as in Italye, by reafon of the diffention among the Princes, I coulde fynde
nothynge wherewith I myght feede my wytte, beinge a younge man defyrous of knowleage
and experience of thynges. I was therefore prefente at the warres : from whenfe I writte
to Cardinal Afcanius, and by fundry epiftels certifyed hym of fuch thynges as I thought
mofle woorthye to be put in memorie. But when I perceaued that his fortune was turned
from a natural moother to a fteppedame, I ceafed from wrytynge. Yet after I fawe, that
by th[e]ouerthrowe of the enemies of owre faythe, Spayne was pourged of the Moores as
of an euyll weede plucked vp by the rootes, Leafle I fhulde beflowe my flippery yeares
in vnprofitable Idleneffe I was mynded to returne to Italie. But the fmguler benignitie
of bothe the Catholyke Kynge and queene nowe departed, and theyr large promifes
towarde me vppon my returne from my legacie of Babilon, deteyned me frome my
purpofe. Yet dooth it not repent me that I drewe backe my foote : Afwel for that I
fee in no other place of the worlde at this time the lyke woorthy thinges to bee done :
As alfo that in maner throwgh owt all Italy, by reafon of the difcorde of the Chriflian
The largenes of
the Ocean
vnknowen to this
day.
Cardinal Ascaniub.
The warres of
Granatum ageyns^
the Moores.
The autour was
sent ambassidour
to the Soltane of
Alcayr in Egypte.
Italy disquieted
with warres.
64
The epistle of Peter Martyr.
The sequeles of
warre.
Kyn;;e Frederike.
Leo the tenth,
byshoppe of Rome.
Spayne subdued
from the Moores.
The kyn[g]dome of
Naples.
Note, frome the
begynnyng of the
worlde.
TTie temperatness
of the Equinoctial
vnknowen to the
owlde wryters.
Continente or firme
iande as bygge as
thre Europes
Ryches are the
instnimentcs of
conquestes.
Princes, I perceaued all thynges to runne headelonge into ruine, the countreys to be
deftroyed and made fatte with human bliidde : The cities facked, virgines and matrones
with theyr gooddes and poffeffions caned away as captiues and miferable innocentes
without offence to be flayne vnarmed within theyr owne houfes. Of the which
calamities, I dyd not onely heare the lamentable owtcryes, but dyd alfo feele the fame.
For euen the bludde of mine owne kinffolkes and frendes, was not free from that crueltie.
As I was therfore mufynge with my felfe of thefe thynges, the Cardinal of Arragonie,
after that he had feene the two fyrfle bookes of my Decades wrytten to Afcanius,
required me in the name of kynge Frederike his vncle, to put foorth the other eyght
epiftell bookes. In the meane tyme alfo, while I was voyde of all care as touchy nge the
matters of the Ocean, the Apoftolicall meffengers of the byffhoppe of Rome Leo the
tenth, (by whofe holfome counfayle and autoritie we trufte the calamities of Italy fhalbe
fynyffhed) rayfed me as it were frome fleape, and encoraged me to proceade as I had
begunne. To his holyneffe I writte two Decades compryfed in fhort bokes after the
maner of epiftels, and added them to the fyrfl, which was printed withowt myne aduife,
as fhall further appeare by the preface folowynge.
But nowe I returne to yow (mofl noble Prince) from whom I haue fumwhat
digreffed. Therfore wheras yowr graundefathers by your moothers fyde, haue fubdued
all Spayne vnder yowr dominion except onely one corner of the fame, and haue alfo lefte
yowe the kyngedome of Naples with the frutefull Ilandes of owr feas, it is fuerly a greate
thynge and woorthy to be noted in owre cronacles. But not offendynge the reuerence due
to owre prediceffors, what fo euer frome the begynnynge of the worlde hath byn doone
or wrytten to this day, to my iudgement feemeth but little, if wee confyder what newe
landes and countreys, what newe feas, what fundry nations and tounges, what golde
mynes, what treafuries of perles they haue lefte vnto yowre hyghneffe, befyde other
reuenues. The whiche, what they are and howe greate, thefe three Decades fhall declare.
Come therfore mofle noble Prince elected of God, and enioy that hyghe eftate of
thynges not yet vnderftode to men. We offer vnto yowe the Equinoctiall line hetherto
vnknowen and burnte by the furious heate of the foonne and vnhabitable after the opinion
of the owlde wryters a fewe excepted : But nowe founde to bee moft repleniffhed with
people, faire, frutefull, and mofte fortunate, with athowfande Ilandes crowned with golde
and bewtifull perles, befyde that greate portion of earth fuppofed to bee parte of the firme
Iande, excedynge in quantitie three Europes. Come therfore and embrafe this newe worlde,
and fuffer vs no longer to confume in defyre of yowr prefence. From henfe,
from henfe I faye (moft noble younge Prince) fhall inftrumentes
be prepared for yow, whereby al the worlde fhalbe
vnder yowr obeyfaunce.
And thus I byd yowr maieftie farewell : To whofe tafte if I fhal
perceaue the fruites of this my tyllage to be delectable, I wyll
hereafter doo my endeuoure that yowe maye receaue the
fame more abundauntly. From Madrid. The
day before the Calendes of October,
In the yeare of Chryfte.
M. D. X V I.
dTfiNlJ^.
65
C THE FIRSTE BOOKE OF THE DECADES
OF THE OCEAN, WRITTEN BY PETER MARTYR OF
Angleria, Milenoes, counfiler to the kyng of Spayne and
Protonotarie Apoftolicall, To Afcanius
Sphorcia, vicount Cardinall. etc.
HE REVERENDE AND thanckefull antiquite was accuftomed
to efleme thofe men as goddes, by whofe induRrie and mag-
nanimitie fuche Landes and Regions were difcouered, as were
vnknowen to theyr prediceffoures. But vnto vs hauynge onely
one god whom we honour in triplicitie of perfon, this refleth,
that albeit we do not woorihip that kind of men with diuine
honoure, yet do we reuerence them, and woorthely maniell
at theyr noble actes and enterprifes. Vnto kynges and princes
we gyue due obeyfaunce, by whofe gouernaunce and further-
aunce they haue bin ayded, to perfurme theyr attemptes. We
commende bothe, and for theyr iufl defertes worthely extoll
them. Wherfore, as concernyng the Ilandes of the weft. Ocean,
lately difcouered, and of the auctours of the fame, (whiche
thynge you defyre by your letters to knowe) I wyll begynne at
the fyrfl. auctoure therof, left.e I be iniurious to any man. Take
it therfore as foloweth.
^ Chrijlophorus Colonus (other wife called Columbus) A gen-
tilman of Italy, borne in the citie of Genua, perfwaded Fernando and Elyzabeth, catholike prynces, that he
doubted not to fynde certayne Ilandes of India, nere vnto owre Occean fea, if they wolde furnyffhe hym with
fhyppes and other thynges apperteynynge. Affyrminge that therby not onely the Chriftian rehgion myght be
enlarged, but Spayne alfo enryched by the great plentie of golde, pearles, precious flones, and fpices, whiche
might be founde there. At the lengthe three fhyppes were appoynted hym at the kinges charges : of the which
one was a great caracte with deckes : and the other twoo were light marchaunte fhyppes without deckes, v/hiche
the Spaniardes call Carauelas. Thus he departed from the coftes of Spaine about the calendes of September,
in the yere of Chrift 1492. and fet forward on his viage, being accompanied with. CC. xx. [two hundred and twenty]
Spanyardes. The fortunate Ilandes (as manye thinke them to be, whiche the Spaniardes call Canarim, found but
of late dayes) are diflaunte from the Ilandes of Gades, a thoufande and twoo hundreth myles, accordyng to theyr
accompte : for they fay they are diftant three hundreth leaques : wh'eras fuch as are expert fea men, affyrme that
euery leaque conteyneth foure myles, after theyr fupputations. Thefe Ilandes were called fortunate, for the tem-
perate ayre whiche is in them. For neyther the coldeneffe of wynter is fharpe vnto them, nor the heate of fommer
intollerable. Yet fome men are of opinion, that thofe were in olde tyme called the fortunate Ilandes, whiche
the Portugales call Capo Verde. Colonus therfore fayledi fyrfle to the Ilandes of Canaria, to the intente there
to refrefhe his fhyppes with frefhe water and fuell, before he committed him felfe to thys fo laborious a vyage.
And bycaufe I haue here made mention of the Ilandes of Canaria: It (hall not be muche from my purpofe to
declare howe of vnknowen they became knowen, and of faluage and wilde, better manured. For by the longe
courfe of manye yeres, they were forgotten, and remayned as vnknowen.
Thefe feuen Ilandes (therfore) called the Canaries, were founde by chaunce by a frenche man, called
Betanchor, by the permiffion of queene Katharine, protectrixe of kyng lohn her fon, while he was yet in his
nonage, about the yere of Chrifte. M. CCCC. V. This Betanchor inuaded twoo of thefe Ilandes called Lance-
lotus and Fortifuentiira, whiche he inhabited and brought to better culture. He beinge deade, his fon and
heire folde bothe the fayde Ilandes to certayne Spaniardes.
After this, Fernandus Peraria and his wyfe, inuaded Ferrea and Gomera. The other three were fubdued
in our tyme. Grancanaria, by Petrus de Vera, citezen of the noble citie of Xakium, and Michaell of Moxica.
Eden. I Ss .
The reward of
vertue
The Ilandes of
the weste Ocean.
Christophoxus
Colonus.
India.
The fyrst viage
of Colonus.
The Ilandes of
Canarie.
Gades or
Cals mals.
A leaque, wh.-it it
conteyneth by sei.
The fortunate
Ilandes.
Cabouerde.
The seuen Ilandes
of Canarie.
Betanchor A
frenche man
subdued the
ilandes of Canarie
Lancelotus.
Fortisuentura.
Ferrex
Gomera.
Grancanaria-
66
The fyrjl Decade.
Palma.
Tenerifcn.
Alphonsus Lugo.
Colonus men rebel
against hym.
Faire wordes and
promises.
Hispaniola.
lohanna.
Nightingales
^yrge in
Nouember.
The Ilande of
Ophir.
The ilandes of
Antilia.
A shypwrack
The people of
the ilande.
Naked people.
Expert swimmers.
Gold for erth and
glasse.
Many kinges
Rclygious and
humaine people.
Canoas.
Monoryla.
They haue no
Iren.
Canibalcs or
Caribcs
Anthropophagi.
The crue!tie of
the Canibales.
Palma and Tenerifen, by Alphonfus Lugo, at the kynges charges. Gomera and Ferrea were eafely fubdued : But the
matter wente harde with Alphonfus Lugo. For that naked and \vylde nation, fyghtinge onely with flones and clubbes,
droue his armie to flighte at the fyrfle affaulte, and flewe about foure hundreth of his men. But at the length he
ouercame them. And thus all the Ilandes of Canarice were added to the dominion of Spayne. From thefe
Ilandes Colonus directynge his viage towarde the wefle, folowinge the fallinge of the fonne, but declining fomirhat
towarde the left hande, fayled on forwarde. xxxiii. dayes continually, hauynge onely the fruition of the heauen
and the water. Then the Spanyardes whiche were accompanied with hym, beganne fyrfle to murmure fecretely
among them felues : and fhortly after \vith wordes of reproche fpake euyll of Colonus theyr gouemoure, and con-
fulted with them felues, eyther to rydde hym out of the waye, orelles to cad hym into the fea : Ragyng that they
were deceyued of a flraunger, an outlandifhe man, a Ligurian, a Genues, and brought into fuche daungerous places,
that they myght neuer returne ageyne. And after, xxx. days were pafte, they furioufely cryed out againfle him, and
threatned him that he fhulde paffe no further. But he euer with ientyll wordes and large promyfes, appeafed
theyr furie, and prolonged day after day, fome tyme defyring them to beare with hym yet a whyle, and forae
time putting them in remembrance that if they fhulde attempte any thinge agaynfl him, or other wife difobey
hym, it wolde be reputed for treafon. Thus after a fewe dayes, with cherefuU hartes they efpied the lande longe
looked for. In this fyrft. nauigation, he difcouered. vi. Ilandes, wherof twoo were exceding great : Of whiche,
the one he called Hifpaniola, and the other Lohanna. But at that tyme he knewe not perfectely that Lohanna
(other wyfe called Cuba,) was an Ilande. As they coafled alonge by the fliore of certayne of thefe Ilandes, they
harde nyghtingales fynge in the thycke woodes in the month of Nouember. They found alfo great riuers
of freflie water, and naturall hauens, of capacitie to harborowe greate nauies of fhippes. Saylinge by the coaftes
of Lohanna, from the northe poynte to the wefl, he rode lyttell leife then eyght hundreth miles (for they call it a
hundreth and foure fcore leaques) fuppofyng that it had byn the continent or fyrme land, bicaufe he coulde
nother fynd the landes ende, nor any token of the ende, as farre as he coulde iudge with his eye : wherfore
he determined to returne backe agayne, beyng therto partly enforced by the roughneffe of the fea. For the fea
banckes of the Ilande of Lohanna, by fondrye wyndinges and turnynges, bende them felues fo muche towarde
the Northe, that the northnortheafle wynde roughely toffed the (hyppes by reafon of the wynter. Tumynge
therfore the ftemmes of his (hyppes towarde the Eafle, he affyrmed that he had founde the Ilande of Ophir,
whyther Salomons fhyppes fayled for golde. But the defcription of the Cofmographers well confidered, it
feemeth that bothe thefe, and the other Ilandes adioynyng, are the Ilandes of Antilia. This Ilande he called
LLifpaniola : on whofe northe fyde as he approched nere to the lande, the keele or bottome of the biggefte
veffell ranne vpon a blynde rocke couered with water, and cloue in funder. But the playneneffe of the
rocke was a helpe to them that they were not drowned. Makynge halle therfore with the other two fhips
to helpe them, they brought awaye al the men without hurte. Here comming fyrfl. a land, they fawe certayne
men of the Ilande : who perceauynge an vnknowen nation comminge towarde them, flocked together and ranne
al into the thycke wooddes, as it hadde byn hares courced with grehoundes. Owre men purfuing them, tooke
onely one woman, whom they brought to the fhyppes : where fyllinge her with meate and wyne, and
apparelinge her, they let her departe to her company. Shortly after a greate multitude of them came runnynge
to the (hore to beholde this newe nation, whom they thought to haue difcended from heauen. They cad them
felues by heapes into the fea, and came fwimminge to the fhyppes, bryngyng golde with them, which they
chaunged with owre men for erthen pottes, drinking glaffes, poyntes, pynnes, hawkes belles, lokinge glafles,
and fuche other trifles. Thus growing to further familiaritie, owre men were honorably enterteyned of the
kynge of that parte of the Ilande, whofe name was Guatcanarillus : for it hath many kynges, as when
Eneas arriued in Italy, he founde Latium diuided into many kyngedomes and prouinces, as Latium, Mezeutium,
Turnum, and Tarchoniem, which were feperated with narow boundes, as fhall more largely appere hereafter.
At the euen tyde about the faulyng of the fonne, when owre men went to praier, and kneled on their
knees after the maner of the Chriflians, they dyd the lyke alfo. And after what maner fo euer they fawe them
praye to the croife, they folowed them in all poyntes as well as they coulde. They fhewed much humanitie
towardes owre men : and helped them with theyr lighters or fmall boates (whiche they call Canoas) to vnlade
theyr broken fhyppe : And that with fuche celeritie and cherefulneffe, that no frende for frende, or kynfeman for
kynfeman, in fuche cafe moued with pitie, coulde do more. Theyr boates are made only of one tree,
made holow with a certain fharpe flone (for they haue no yron.) And are very longe and narowe. Many affirme
that they haue fene fome of them with fortie ores. The wylde and myfcheuous people called Canibales or
Caribcs, whiche were accuftomed to eate mannes fleflhe (and called of the olde writers, Anthropophagi) moled them
excedyngly, inuadynge theyr countrey, takynge them captiue, kyllyng and eatyng them. As owre men fayled
to the Ilandes of thefe meke and humayne people, they lefte the Ilandes of the Canibales, in maner in
the midded of theyr viage towarde the fouth. They complayned that theyr Ilandes were no leffe vexed with
the incurfions of thefe manhuntyng Canibales when they go forth a rouynge to feeke theyr praye : then are
The fyrjl Decade.
67
other tame beaftes, of Lyons and Tigers. Such chyldren as they take, they geld to make them fat as we
doo cocke chikyns and younge hogges, and eate them when they are wel fedde : of fuche as they eate, they fyrfl
eate the intralles and extreme partes, as handes, feete, armes, necke, and heade. The other mode fleffhy partes,
they pouder for ftore, as we do peflelles of porke and gammondes of bakon. Yet do -they abfleyne from
eatynge of women and counte it vyle. Therfore fuche younge women as they take, they keepe for increace, as
we doo hennes to leye egges. The olde women, they make thejT drudges. They of the Ilandes (which
we may nowe caul owres) bothe the men and the women when they perceaue the Canibales coming, haue none
other fliyfte but onely to flie : for althoughe they vfe very fharpe arrowes made of reedes, yet are they of fmall
force to repreffe the furie of the Canibales: for euen they them felues confeffe, that tenne of the Canibals
are able to ouercome a hundreth of them if they encountre with them. Theyr meate is a certeyne roote which
they cal Ages: muche lyke a nauew roote in fourme and greatneffe: but of fweete tafle, muche lyke a
greene cheflnutte. They haue alfo an other kynde of rootes, whiche they call lucca, wherof they make
breade in lyke maner. They vfe Ages more often rolled or fodden, then to make breade therof. But
they neuer eate lucca, excepte it be firfle fliced and preffed, (for it is ful of lycoure) and then baked or
fodden. But this is to be marueled at, that the iuyce of this roote is a poyfon as (Irong as Aconitum, fo
that if it be dronke it caufeth prefent death, and yet the breade made of the maffe therof, is of good tafle
and holfome, as all they haue proued. They make alfo an other kynde of breade of a certayne pulfe, called
Panicum, muche lyke vnto wheate, wherof is great plentie in the dukedome of Mylane, Spayne, and Granatum.
But that of this countrey is longer by a fpanne, fomewhat fharpe towarde the ende, and as bygge as a mannes
arme in the brawne: The graynes wherof are fette in a maruelous order, and are in fourme fomwhat
lyke a peafe. While they be foure and vnripe, they are white : but when they are ripe they be very blacke.
When they are broken, they be whyter then fnowe. This kynde of grayne, they call Maiziiini. Golde is
of fome eflimation among them: for fome of them hange certain fmall pieces therof at theyr eares and
nofethrilles. A lyttell beyonde this place, our men wente a lande for frefflie water, where they chaunced vpon
a Ryuer whofe fande was myxed with muche golde. They founde there no kindes of foure foted beafles excepte
three kyndes of lyttell conyes. Thefe Ilandes alfo nourifhe ferpentes : but fuch as are without hurt. Lykewife
wylde geefe, turtle doues, and duckes, much greater then ours, and as whyte as fwannes, with heades of purple
coloure. Alfo Popiniaies, of the whiche fome are greene, fome yelowe, and fome lyke them of India,
with yelowe rynges about theyT neckes, as Plinie defcribeth them. Of thefe they broughte fortie with
them, of mode liuely and delectable coloures, hauyng theyr fethers entermengled with greene, yelowe,
and purple, whiche varietie, deliteth the fenfe not a litle. Thus muche thought I good to fpeake of Popingiaies,
(ryghte noble Prynce) fpecially to this intente, that albeit the opinion of Chriflophorus Colonus (who affirmeth
thefe Ilandes to be parte of Jndid) dothe not in all poyntes agree with the iudgement of auncient wryters
as touchynge the bigneffe of the Sphere and compaffe of the Globe as concemynge the nauigable portion
of the fame beynge vnder vs, yet the Popingiaies and many other thynges brought from thence, doo
declare that thefe Ilandes fauoure fomwhat of India, eyther beynge nere vnto it, or elles of the fame nature :
forafmuche as Ariflotle alfo, about the ende of his booke De Ccelo d Mundo, and likewife Seneca, with diuerfe
other authours not ignorant in Cofmography, do affirme that India is no longe tracte by fea, diflante
from Spayne by the wefle Ocean, for the foyle of thefe Ilandes, bryngeth forthe Maflix, Aloes, and fundrye
other fweete gummes and fpyces as doth India. Cotton alfo of the goffampine tree, as in India in the
countrey of the people called Seres.
C The languages of all the nations of thefe Ilandes, maye well be written with our Latine letters. For
they cal heauen Turei. A houfe. Boa. Golde, Cauni. A good man, Taino. Nothing, Mayani. All other
wordes of theyr language, they pronounce as playnely as we doo the Latine tongue. In thefe Ilandes they
founde no trees knowen vnto them, but pyne app[l]e trees, and date trees : And thofe of maruelous heyght and
exceding harde, by reafon of the greate moyflneffe and fatnefle of the grounde, with continuall and temperate
heate of the fonne, whiche endureth fo all the hole yere. They playnely affyrme the Ilande of Hifpaniola to
be the mofl fruiteful lande that the heauen compaffeth aboute, as (hall more largely appere hereafter in the
particular defcription of the fame, whiche we intende to fette foorthe when we fhall be better inflructed.
Thus makynge a leage of frendfhyppe with the kynge, and leauynge with hym. xxxviii. men to fearche the
Ilande, he departed to Spayne takynge with hym. x. of the inhabitauntes to lerne the Spanifhe tongue, to the
intent to vfe them afterwarde for interpretours. Colonus therfore at his retume, was honorably receaued of the
kyng and queene : who caufed him to fytte in theyr prefence, whiche is a token of great loue and honoure
amonge the Spaniardes. He was alfo made Admirall of the Ocean : and his brother goue[r]noure of the Hand.
Towarde the fecond viage, he was furnifhed with. x[v]ii. ftiippes: wherof three were great caractes of a
thoufand tunne : xii. were of that forte, whiche the Spaniardes call Carauelas : without deckes : and twoo other
of the lame forte fomewhat bygger, and more apte to beare deckes, by reafon of the gretneffe of theyr mafles.
Ages.
Rootes in the
steede of meate.
lucca.
Breade of rootes.
An herbe of a
straunge nature.
Maizium.
Golde in
estimation.
Golde in the
sandcs of ryuei^
Serpentes without
venime.
Turtle doues
Duckes.
Popingiayes.
Plinl
These Ilandes are
parte of India.
The Indians are
Antipodes to the
spaniardes.
Aristotle.
Seneca.
India not far
from Spaine
4
Mastix.
Aloe.
Gossainpync
cotton or bombasc.
Seres.
The language of
these Indians-
Trees and frutes
vnknowen to vs.
Fat and moyste
grounde.
Heate continuall
and temperate.
The fruitfulnes of
hispaniola
The seconde viaj^r
of Colonus.
68
The fyrjl Decade.
He had alfo a thoufand and two hundreth armed footemen well appoynted: Amonge whiche were many
artificers, as fmythes, carpenters, myners, and fuche other: Certayne horfemen alfo, wel armed: Likewife
mares, ihiepe, heyghfers, and fuch other of bothe kindes for incrafe. Lykewife all kynde of pulfe or grayne
and come, as wheate, barlye, rye, beanes and peafe, and fuche other, as well for food as to fowe: Befyde
vynes, plantes and feedes, of fuche trees, fruites, and herbes, as thofe countreyes lacke. And (not to be for-
gotten) fundry kindes of artillery and iron tooles, as bowes, arrowes, croffebowes, bylles, hargabufes, brode
fwoordes, large targettes, pikes, mattockes, fhoouelles, hammers, nayles, fawes, axes, and fuche other. Thus
beynge fumifhed accordyngely, they fet forwarde from the Ilandes of Gades, (nowe called Cals,) the. vii. day
before the calendes of October, in the yere of Chrille. 1493. and arriued at the Ilandes of Canarie, at the
calendes of October. Of thefe Ilandes, the lafle is called Ferrea, in whiche there is no other water that maye
be drunke, but onely that is gathered of the dewe whiche continually diftilleth from one onely tree growynge
on the highefl backe of the Ilande, and falleth into a rounde trenche made with mannes hande. We were
infourmed of thefe thynges within fewe dayes after his departure. What flial fuccede, we wyl certifie yowe
hereafter. Thus fare ye well, from the courte, at the Ides of Nouember. 1493.
Come and sedes
to sowe.
Tooles and
artillery.
Water droppyng
from a tree
continually.
C The seconde booke of the fyrste Decade
to Afcanius Phorcia, vicotmte Cardinally etc.
Mcthymna Campi.
Castella Vetus.
Gades
The Hand of
Feirea.
Hands of the
Canibales.
The Hand of
Dominica.
viii. hundreth and
XX. leaques in. xxi.
dayes.
Lysertes,
The Ilande of
Galanta.
The Hand of
Guadalupea.
Vilages of xx or.
XXX. houses
The building of
theyr houses.
Owe repete (ryghte honorable Prynce) that yowe are defirous to knowe what newes we haue in
Spayne from the newe worlde : and that thofe thynges haue greatly delyted you which I wrote
vnto yowre highneife of the fyrfle nauigation. Yowe (hal now therefore receaue what hath fuc-
ceded. Meihyvina Campi, is a famous towne in high Spayne in the refpecte frome yowe, and is
in that parte of Spayne whiche is called Cajlella Vetus: beynge dillante from Gades about. xL
myles. Here the courte remayned, when aboute the. ix. of the kalendes of Aprell in this yere
of nynetie and foure, there were pofles fente to the kynge and queene, certifyinge them that
there were. xii. fhippes come from the newe Ilandes and arryued at Gades. But the gouernoure of the fhyppes
fente worde to the kynge and quene that he had none other matter to certifie them of by the pofl.es, but onely
that the Admiral with fiue (hippes and. iiii. fcore and tenne men remayned flyll in Hifpaniola, to fearche the fecretes
of the Ilande. And that as touching other matters, he hym felfe wolde fliortly make relation in theyr prefence, by
worde of mouthe. Therfore the daye before the nones of Aprel, he came to the courte him felfe. What I learned
of him and other faythefull and credible men whiche came with hym from the Admirall, I wyl reherfe vnto yowe
in fuch order as they declared the fame to me when I demaunded them. Take it therfore as foloweth. The
thyrde daye of the Ides of October, departynge from Ferrea, the lafl.e of the Ilandes of Canaria, and from the
cofles of Spayne with a nauie of xviL Ihippes, they fayled. xxi. dayes before they came to any Ilande: inclyning
of purpofe more towarde the lefte hand then at the fyrfl viage, folowyng the northnortheaft wynde : and arriued
fyril at the Ilandes of the Canibales, or Caribes of which, onely the fame was knowen to our men. Amonge
thefe, they chaunfed fyrfl,e vpon one, fo befet with trees, that they coulde not fe fo muche as an elle fpace
of bare earthe or flony grounde. This they called Dominica, bicaufe they found it on the funday. They taried
here no tyme, bycaufe they fawe it to be deferte. In the fpace of thefe. xxi. dayes, they thynke that they fayled
viii. hundreth and. xx. leaques, the Northenortheaft wynde was fo full with them, and fo freffhely folowed the
fl,eme of theyr fhyppes. After they hadde fayled a lyttell further, they efpied dyuerfe Ilandes replenyflhed
with fundrye kyndes of trees, from the whiche came fragrant fauours of fpyces and fweete gummes. Here they
fawe neyther man nor beafle, except certayne lifartes of huge bigneffe, as they reported whiche went alande to
viewe the countrey. This Hand they cauled Galana, or Galanta. From the cape or poynt of this Hand,
efpying a mountayne a farre of, they fayled thyther. Aboute. xxx. myles from this mountayne, they fawe a
ryuer difcending whiche feemed to be a token of fome great and large fludde. This is the fyrlle lande whiche
they founde inhabited from the Ilandes of Canaria, and is an Ilande of the Canibales, as they lemed by the
interpretours whiche they tooke with them from Hifpaniola into Spayne at theyr fyrft,e viage. Serchynge the
Ilande, they founde innumerable villages of xx. houfes or. xxx. at the moofl.e, fette rounde abowte in order,
makynge the flreete in coompafle lyke a markette place. And forafmuch as I haue made mention of theyr
houfes, it fhal not be greately from my purpofe to defcribe in what maner they are buylded. They are made
rounde lyke belles or rounde pauylions. Theyr frame is rayfed of excedynge hyghe trees, fette clofe together
and fall rampaired in the grounde, fo ftandyng a flope and bending inward that the toppes of the trees ioyne
68
The fyrjl Decade.
69
together and beare one agaynRe an other, hauynge alfo within the houfe, certayne (Ironge and fliorte props or
pofles whiche fufleyne the trees from fallynge. They coiier them with the leaues of date trees and other trees
(Irongly compact and hardened, wherewith they make them clofe from wynde and wether. At the fliort pofles
or proppes within the houfe, they tie ropes of the cotton of goffampine trees, or other ropes made of certayne
long and toughe rotes much lyke vnto the (hrubbe called Spartum, wherof in olde tyme they vfed to make
bondes for vynes and cabuls and ropes for (hyppes. Thefe they tye ouerthwarte the houfe from pofte to polle.
On thefe they ley as it were certa3me mattreffes made of the cotton of the goffampine trees, whiche growe
plentifully in thefe Ilandes. This cotton the Spaniardes call Algodon, and the Italians Boinbafine. And thus
they fleepe in hangynge beddes. At the enteraunce of one of theyr houfes, they fawe two Images of woodde
lyke vnto ferpentes, whiche they thoughte had b)Ti fuch idoles as they honour. But they lemed afterwarde that
they were fette there onely for coomlyneffe. For they knowe none other god then the Sunne and Moone,
althoughe they make certaine Images of goffampine cotton to the fimilitude of fuch phantafies as they fay
appere to them in the nyghte. Our men found in theyr houfes, all kyndes of erthen veffels, not muche vnlyke
vnto oures. They founde alfo in theyr kichens, mannes fleflhe, duckes fleffhe, and goofe fleffhe, al in one pot :
and other on the fpittes redye to be layde to the fire. Entrynge into theyr inner lodgynges, they founde
faggottes of the bones of mennes armes and legges, which they referae to make heades for theyr arrowes,
bycaufe they lacke iron. The other bones they cade awaye when they haue eaten the fleffhe. They founde
Ukewife the heade of a yonge man faflened to a pofle and yet bledinge. They haue in fome villages, one great
haule or pallaice, aboute the whiche theyr common houfes are placed. To this they refort, as often as they
come together to playe. When they perceaued the commynge of our men, they fledde, in theyr houfes they
founde alfo about, xxx. chyldren and women captiues which were referued to be eaten, but our men tooke them
awaye to vfe them for interpretoures. Searchyng more diligently th[e]ynner partes of the Ilande, they founde.
vii. other ryuers, bygger then this whiche we fpake of before, runnyng throughe the Ilande, with fruitefull and
pleafante banckes, delectable to beholde. This Ilande, they called Guadalupea, for the fimilitude that it hath
to the mounte Guadalupus in Spayne, where the Image of the virgin MARIE is religioufly honored. But the
inhabitauntes caul it Carucueria, or Queraquiera. It is the chiefe habitation of the Canibales. They brought
from this Hand. vii. Popingayes, bygger then phefantes, muche differynge from other in coloure : hauynge theyr
backes, brefle.s, and bealies of purple coloure, and theyr wynges of other variable coloures. In al thefe Ilandes
is no leffe plentie of popingiayes then with vs of fparrowes or flarlinges. As we brynge vp capons and hennes
to francke or make them fatte, fo do they thefe bigger kyndes of popyngaies for the fame purpofe. After that
they hadde thus fearched the Ilande and dryuen thefe Canibales to flyghte, (whiche ranne awaye at theyr fyrfl
approche as fone as they had efpied them) they cauled theyr company together. And as foone as they had
broken the Canibah boates or lyghters (whiche they call Canoas) they lowfed theyr ankers the daye before the
Ides of Nouember, and departed from Guadalupea. Colonus the admirall, for the defyre he hadde to fe his
companions, whiche at his fyrfl vyage he lefte the yere before in Hifpaniola to fearche the countrey, lette paffe
many Ilandes bothe on his righte hande and lefte hande, and fayled directly thyther. By the waye, there
appeared from the Northe. A great Ilande which the captiues that were taken in Hifpaniola^ cauled Madanino,
or Matinino : Affirmynge it to be inhabited only with women : To whom the Canibales haue acceffe at certen
tymes of the yeare, as in owlde tyme the Thracians had to the Amazones in the Ilande of Lefbos. The men
children, they fende to theyr fathers. But the women theye kepe with them felues. They haue greate and
flronge caues or dennes in the ground, to the which they flye for fafegarde if any men reforte vnto them at any
other tyme then is appoynted. And there defende them felues with bowes and arrowes, agenfl the violence of
fuche as attempte to enuade them. They coulde not at this tyme approche to this Ilande, by reafon of the
Northenortheafl wynde which blewe foo vehemently from the fame, wheras they nowe folowed the Eaflefouth-
eafle. After they departed frome Madanino, and fayled by the fpace of xl. myles, they pafled not farre frome
an other Ilande which the captyues fayde to bee verye peopulous, and replenyfhed with all thynges neceffarie
for the life of man. This they cauled Mons Serratus, bycaufe it was ful of mountaynes. The captyues
further declared that the Canibales, are wonte at fome tyme to goo frome theyr owne coafles aboue a
thoufande myle to hunte for men. The daye folowynge, they fawe an other Ilande the whiche, bycaufe it was
rownde, they cauled Sancla Maria Rotunda. The nexte daye, theye founde an other, which they cauled S.
Martini. Which they lette paffe alfo bycaufe they had no leafure to tarye. Lykewyfe the thirde daye they
efpyed an other, whofe Diametral fyde extendynge frome the Eafle to the wefle, they iudged to bee a hundreth
and fyftie myle. Theye affirme all thefe Ilandes to be maruelous fayre and frutefull. This lafle, they cauled
Sanda Maria Antigua. Saylyng yet forwarde, and leauynge many other Ilandes, after they had fayled aboute fortie
myle, they chaunced vpon an other muche bygger then any of the refle, which th[e]inhabitan[t]s caule Ay Ay, but
they named it Infula crucis. Heare they call anker to fetche freffhe water. The Admiral alfo commaunded.
XXX. men to go a lande out of his owne fhyp, and to fearch the Ilande Here they founde fowre dogges on the
12 69
Gossanipine
cotton.
Bombase.
Hanginge beddes.
Images.
Fyne cookery
Arrowe beds of
bones.
The mount
Guadalupus.
Carucueria.
Popyngayes
bygger then
pnesAuntes
l*he Canibales
dryuen to flyght
Matinino an
Ilande of women.
The Ilandes of
Mons Serratus.
Himtinge for men
Sancta Maria
Rotunda.
Sanctus Martinus.
Sancta Maria
Antiqua.
Insula crucis
An Ilande of the
Canibals.
70
Thefyrjl Decade.
The Canibales are
expert archere-
Arrowes infected
with veneme.
A conflict with the
Canibales.
The fiercenes
and terrible
countenaunce of
the Canibales.
Methymna Campi.
Innumerable
ilandes.
rhe mynes of
>letales and
precious stones.
The sea cauled
Archipelagus.
Insula. S.
lohannes or
Buchcna.
Death for deathe
The mountaynes
are couider then
the playncs.
From Dominica
to HLspaniola fyue
hundreth leaques
The Spanyardes
lefte in the Hand
are slayne.
Kynge
Guaccanarillus
rebelleth.
Two images of
gouldc.
Libertie and
idlencs.
A happy kind of
lyfe.
fliore. The Inhabitants are Canibales, and mamelous experte in fliutinge, as well women as men : And vfe to
infecte theyr arrowes with poyfon : when they had taryed there two dayes, they fawe a farre of, a Canoa, in the
whiche were eight men and as manye women hauynge with them bowes and arrowes. They fearfly aflayled
owre men withoute all feare, and hurte fum of them with theyr venemous arrowes. Amonge thefe there was a
certen woman to whome the other gaue reuerence and obeyde as though fhe were theyr queene. Her fonne
wayted vppon her, beinge a younge man, (Irongly made, of terrible and frownynge countenaunce and a lyons
face. Owre men leafle they (holde Uke the more hurte by beinge wounded a farre of, thowght it befle to ioyne
with them. Therfore with all fpede fettinge forewarde with their ores the brigantine in whiche they were fette
alande, they ouertumed their Canoa with a great violence, which beinge ouer^vhelmed, tliey notwithftondinge,
as well the women as the men fwymminge, cade theyr dartes at owre men, thicke and threefowlde. At the
lengthe, gatherynge them felues together vpon a rocke couered with the water, they fowght manfully vntyll they
were ouercome and taken, one being flayne, and the queenes fonne fore wounded. When they were browght
into the Admirals fhippe, they dyd no more put of their fiemes and cruell countenances, then do the Lyons of
Libia when theye perceaue them felues to be bownde in chaynes. There is no man able to behowlde them,
but he fhall feele his bowelles grate with a certen horroure, nature hath endewed them with foo terrible
menacynge, and cruell afpecte. This coniecture I make of my felfe and other which often tymes wente with me
to fee them at Methymna Campi. But nowe to retume to the viage. Proceadinge thus further and further,
more then fine hundrethe myles, firfte towardes the Weflefouthewefle, then towarde the Southwell, and at the
lengthe towarde the Wefle northe wefte, they entered into a mayne large fea hauinge in it innumerable
Ilandes, maruelouflye differinge one frome an other, for fum of them were verye frutefull and full of herbes and
trees. Other fum, very drye, barren, and rowgh with high rockye mountaynes of flone, wherof fum were
of bright blewe or afurine coloure, and other glylleringe white : wherfore they fuppofed them by good reafon to
bee the mynes of metalles and precious Hones. But the rowghnes of the fea, and multitude of Ilandes
ftandinge fo thicke togyther, hindered them foo, that they cowlde calle no anker leafte the bigger veffelles
Ihulde runne vppon the rockes. Therefore they deferred the fearchinge of thefe Ilandes vntyl an other tyme
They were fo manye and (loode fo thicke, that they coulde not number them. Yet the fmauler veffelles which
drewe no greate depthe, entered emonge them and numbered fortie and fyxe Ilandes. But the bigger veffelles,
kepte aloofe in the mayne fea for feare of the rockes. They caule the fea where this multitude of Ilandes are
fituate, Archipelagus. Frome this tracte proceadinge forrewarde, in the mydde waye there lyeth an Hand which
th[e]inhabitantes caule Burichena, or Buchma. But they named it Infula S. lohannis. Dyuers of theym
whome we had delyuered frome the Canibales, fayde that they were borne in this Ilande : affirminge it to be
very peopulous and frutefull, hauinge alfo manye fayre wooddes and hauens. There is deadly hatred and
continual battayle betwene them and the Canibales. They haue no boates to paffe from their owne coafles to
the Canibales. But if it bee their chaunce to ouercome them, when they make incurfion into theyr countreye
to feke their praye (as it fumtyme happeneth, the fortune of warre beinge vncerteyne) they feme them
with like faufe, requitinge deathe for deathe. For one of theym mangeleth an other in pieces, and rofle them
and eate them euen before their eyes. They taryed not in this Ilande. Yet in the wefle angle therof, a fewe
of them went a lande for freffhe water, and fownd a greate and high howfe after the maner of their buylding,
hauinge. xii. other of their vulgare cotages placed abowte the fame : but were all lefte defolate, whether it were
that they reforted to the mountaynes by refon of the heate which was that tyme of the yeare, and to retume to
the playne when the ayre waxeth cowlder, or els for feare of the Canibales which make incurfion into the Ilande
at certen feafons. In all this Ilande is only one kinge. The fouth fyde hereof extendeth abowte two hundrethe
myles. Shortlye after, they came to the Ilande oiHifpaniola, beinge diffante frome the firffe Ilande of the
Canibales, fyue hundrethe leaques. Here they fownde all thynges out of order, and theyr felowes flayne which
they lefte here at their fyrfle vyage. In the beginninge of Hifpaniola, (hauinge in it many regions and
kyngedomes as we haue fayde) is the region of Xamana whofe kinge is named Guaccanarillus. This
Guaccanarillus ioyned frendefhippe with owre men at the fyrfle viage, and made a league with them: But
in the abfence of the Admirall, he rebelled, and was the caufe of owre mens deftruction, althowgh he diffmiuled
the fame, and pretended frendfhip at the Admirales retume. As owre men fayled on yet a litle further, they
efpied a longe Canoa with many ores, in which was the brother of Guaccanarillus with only one man waytinge on
hym. He browght with hym two Images of goulde, which he gaue the Admirall in the name of his brother.
And towlde a tale in his language as conceminge the deathe of owre men, as they proued afterwarde, but at
this tyme had no regarde to his communication for lacke of interpretours, which were eyther all deade, or
efcaped or (loulne awaye when they drewe nere the Ilandes. But of the. x. [ten.] vii. [seuen] dyed by change of
ayre and dyet The inhabitantes of thefe Ilandes haue byn euer foo vfed to Hue at libertie, in playe and paftyme,
that they can hardely away with the yoke of feruitude which they attempte to fhake of by all meanes they maye.
And furely if they had receaued owre religion, I wolde thinke their life moile happye of all men, if they might
The fyrjt Decade.
71
therwith enioye their aunciente libertie. A fewe thinges contente them, hauinge no dehte in fuche fuperfluites,
for the which in other places men take infinite paynes and commit manie vnlawfull actes, and yet are neuer
fatiffied, wheras many haue to muche, and none inowgh. But emonge thefe fimple fowles, a fewe clothes feme
the naked : weightes and meafures are not needefuU to fuch as can not flcyll of crafte and deceyte and haue not
the vfe of pefliferous monye, the feede of innumerable myfcheues. So that if we fhall not be afliamed to
confeffe the truthe, they feeme to lyue in that goulden worlde of the whiche owlde wryters fpeake fo much :
wherin men lyued fimplye and innocentlye without inforcement of lawes, without quarrellinge ludges and
libelles, contente onely to fatiffie nature, without further vexation for knowelege of thinges to come. Yet thefe
naked people alfo are tormented with ambition for the defyre they haue to enlarge their dominions: by reafon
wherof they kepe warre and dellroy one an other: from the which plage I fuppofe the golden world was not
free. For euen then alfo. Cede, non cedam, that is, gyue place, and I wyll not giue place, had entred emonge
men. But nowe to returne to the matter from which we haue digreffed. The admiral defyrous to knowe
further of the death of his men, fent for Guaccanarillus to come to him to his fhip, diffimulinge that he knew
any thinge of the matter. After that he came aboord Ihyp, faluting the Admiral and his company gyuing alfo
certen golde to the Capetaynes and offycers, turned him to the women captiues which not longe before our
men had deliuered from the Canibaks. And emeflly beholding one of them whome owre men cauled Catharyne, he
fpake gentelly vnto her. And thus when he had feene and marueyled at the horfes and fuche other thinges as
were in the fhyppe, vnknowen to them, and had with a good grace and merelye afked leaue of the Admirall, he
departed. Yet fum there were which counfeyled the Admirall to kepe hym (lyll : that if they might by any
meanes proue that he was confentinge to the deathe of owre men, he might bee punifhed accordinglie. But
the Admirall confidering that it was yet no tyme to incenfe th[e]inhabitantes myndes to wrathe, dyfmyfled
hym. The next daye folowing, the kinges brother refortyng to the (hyppes, eyther in his owne name or in his
brothers, feduced the women. For on the next nyght about mydnight, this Katherine afwell to recouer her
owne libertie as alfo her felowes, being fubomed therto eyther by the kinge or his brothers promifes attempted
a much more difhculte and daungerous aduenture then dyd Cloelia of Rome, which beinge in hoflage with other
maydes to the kynge Porcena, deceaued her kepers, and rode ouer the r)aier Tiber, with the other virgins
which were pledges with her. For wheras they fwamme ouer the ryuer on horfebacke. This Katharyne with
feuen other women, truflynge onlye to the (Irengthe of theyr owne armes, fwamme aboue three longe myles :
and that alfo, at fuche tyme as the fea was fumwhat rowghe. For euen foo farre of frome the fhore, lay the
fhippes at rode, as nigh as they could coniecture But owre men folowinge them with the fliippeboates, by the fame
light feene on the (hore wherby the women were ledde, tooke three of them : fuppofinge that Katharyne with
the other foure, went to Guaccanarillus. For in the fpringe of the mominge, certen meffengers beinge fente to
hym by the Admirall, had intelligence that he was fledde with all his familie and lluife, and the women alfo.
which thinge miniflred further fufpection that he was confentinge to the death of owre men. Wherfore the
Admirall fente forthe an armye of three hundrethe men, ouer the which he appoynted one Melchior to be
capitayne, wylling him to make diligent fearche to fynde owte Guaccanarillus. Melchior therfore with the
fmaulefle veffels enteringe into the countreye by the ryuers and fcouringe the (hores, chaunced into certen
croked goulfes defended with, v lyttle and fliepe hilles, fuppofinge that it had byn the mouth of fum greate
ryuer. He founde here alfo a verye commodious and fafe hauen, and therefore named it Partus Pegalis.
They faye that the enteraunce of this is fo crooked and bendinge, that after the fhippes are once within the
lame, whether they tume them to the lefte hand, or to the ryght, they can not perceaue where they came in
vntyll they returne to the mouth of the ryuer : Although it be there fo brode that three of the byggelle veffels
may fayle together on a firoont. The fharpe and high hilles on the one fyde and on the other, fo brake the
wynde, that they were vncerten howe to rule theyr fayles. In the myddle gulfe of the ryuer, there is a
promontorie or point of the lande with a pleafaunte groue full of Popingayes and other byrdes which breede
therein and finge verye fweetlye. They perceaued alfo that two ryuers of no fmaule largenes fell into the hauen.
Whyle they thus fearched the lande betwene bothe, Melchior efpied a high houfe a farre of, where fuppofinge
that Guaccanarillus had lyne hyd, he made towarde it. And as he was goynge, there mette hym a man with a
frownynge countenaunce and a grymme looke, with a hundreth men folowynge hym, armed with bowes and
arrowes, and long and fharpe flaues like iauelynnes, made harde at the endes with fyre. Who approchyng
towardes owre men, fpake owte alowde with a terryble voyce, fayenge that they were Taini, (that is) noble men,
and not Canibaks. But when owre men had gyuen them fignes of peace, they lefte bothe theyr weapons and
fiercenes. Thus geuynge eche of them certen haukes belles, they tooke it for fo greate a rewarde, that they
defyred to enter bondes of nere frendelhyppe with vs, and feared not immediatly to fubmitte them felues vnder
owre power, and reforted to our fhyps with theyr prefentes. They that meafured the houfe (beinge made in
rounde forme) fownde it to be from fyde to fyde. xxxii. greate paces, compafed abowte with. xxx. other vulgare
houfes, hauinge in them many beames croffe ouer, and couered with reedes of fundry colours, ^vrethed and as it
Superfluity
Many haue to
much and none
inough.
The goulden
worlde
Naked men
troubled with
ambicion.
Gyue place.
The Admiral
sendeth for the
kynge.
No horses in
the llandes
A tyme for all
thynges.
A desperate
aduenture of a
woman.
Cloelia of Rome.
Guaccanarillus
is sought.
Melchior.
Popingiiycs and
byrdes.
Taini.
Haukes belles.
-\ large hous
72
The fyrji Decade.
Reedes of
sundry colours.
Cacci[c]us.
Hoiedus and
Gorualanus.
Golde in ryuers
faulinge from
mountaynes.
The maner of
gathering golde.
Graynes of golde.
A masse of rude
golde weighinge.
IX ounces.
Caunaboa, kynge
of the house of
gold
Holsome water
and plentie of
fysshe.
The day and nyght
of equal length
in December.
Byrdes breed in
December
The eleuation
of the pole
The starres are
cauled gardens
of the pole. \Q
The Equinoctial
lyne.
A chapel and
prcestcs.
Marchaunts
Sirophenicians.
The Cynamome
tree.
Xiloaloes or
lignum Aloes.
were weaued with maruelous art When owre men a(ked fum of them where they myght fynde Guaccanarillus.
They aunfwered that that Region was none of his. But theyr kynges beynge there prefente. Yet they fayde
they fuppofed that Guaccanarillus was gone from the playne to the mountaynes. Makynge therfore a brotherly
league with this Caccicus, (that is to faye a kynge) they retourned to the Admyrall to make relation what they
hadde feene and harde : whervppon he fent forth dyuers other Centurians with their hundrethes to fearche the
countrey yet further. Emonge the which were Hoiedus and Gorualanus, noble younge gentlemen and of great
courage. And as they went towarde the mountaines to feeke Guaccanarillus, dyuidinge the mountaynes betwene
them, one of them fownde on the one fyde therof foure ryuers faulynge frome the fame mountaynes : and the
other founde. iii. on the other fyde. In the fandes of all thefe ryuers is fownd great plentye of goulde, which
th[e]inhabitantes of the fame Ilande which were with vs, gathered in this maner. Making holes in the fande
with theyr handes, a Cubette deape, and takynge vp fande with their lefte handes from the botome of the fame,
they picked out graynes of goulde with their ryght handes withowte any more arte or cunnynge. And fo
deliuered it to owre men : who affirme that many of them thus gathered, were as bygge as tares or fytchis.
And I my felfe lawe a maffe of rude goulde, (that is to fay, fuch as was neuer molten) lyke vnto fuche flones as
are founde in the bottomes of ryuers, weighinge n)me ownces, which Hoieda him felfe fownde. Beinge contented
with thefe fignes, they returned to the Admirall to certifie him hereof For the Admirall had commaunded
vnder payne of punyfhement that they fliuld meddle no further then their commifTion : which was only to
fearche the places with their fignes. For the fame went that there was a certa3Tie kynge of the mountaynes
from whenfe thofe ryuers had their faule, whom they caule Cacicus Caunaboa that is, the lord of the houfe of
golde. For they caule a houfe Boa, goulde, Cauni : and a kynge or Lorde, Caciats, as we haue fayde before.
They affirme that there can noo where be found better fyffhe, nor of more pleafant tafl, or more holfome then in
thefe ryuers : alfo the waters of the fame to be moft. holfom to drynke. Melchior hym felfe towld me, that in the
moneth of December, the days and nyghtes bee of equal length among the Canibales. But the fphere or circles
of the heauen, agreeth not thervnto. Albeit that in the fame moneth, fume byrdes make their nefles, and fume
haue alredy hatched their egges by reafon of the heate beinge rather continuall then extreme. He towlde me
alfo when I queliioned with hym as concemynge the eleuation of the pole from the horizontal lyne, that
al the flerres cauled Plajlrum or charles wayne, are hydde vnder the Northe pole to the Canibales. And
furely there returned none from thenfe at this viage, to whome there is more credit to be gyuen, then
to this man. But if he had byn (kilfull in Aftronomye, he Ihulde haue fayde that the day was almolle
equall with the night. For in no place towarde the flay of the fonne (cauled Soljliciuni) can the night
be equall with the day. And as for them, they neuer came vnder the Equinoctiall, for afmuch as they
had euer the northe pole theyr guyde, and euer eleuate in fight aboue the Horizontal. Thus haue I
briefely written vnto yowre honoure, as muche as I thought fufficiente at this tyme. And fhall fhortly hereafter
(by Gods fauoure) wryte vnto you more largely of fuche matters as fhalbe dayly better knowen. For the
admirall hym felfe (whome I vfe famylyerly as my verye frende) hathe promyfed me by his letters, that he wyl
gyue me knowlege of al fuch thynges as fhall chaunce. He hath nowe chofen a flronge place where he may
buyld a Citie nere vnto a comodious hauen. And hath alredy buylded many houfes and a chapell in the
whiche (as in a newe worlde heretofore voyde of all religion) god is dayly ferued with. xiii. preefles accordinge
to the maner of owre churches. When the tyme nowe approched when he promyfed to fende to the kynge and
queene, and hauynge profperous wynde for that purpofe, fent backe the. xii. Carauelles wherof we made mencion
before it was no fmaul hynderance and greefe, vnto hym : Efpecially confyderynge the death of his men whom
he lefte in the Ilande at the fyrfl vyage, wherby we are yet ignorant of many places and other fecretes wherof
we might otherwyfe haue had further knowleage. But as tyme fhall reueale them ageyne, fo wyll I aduertyfe
yowe of the fame. And that you may the better knowe by conference had with the Apothecaries and marchaunt
flrangers Sirophenicians, what thefe Regions beare, and howe hotte theyr ground is, I haue fent you all kyndes
of graynes, with the barke and inner partes of that tree whiche they fuppofe to bee the Cinamome tree. And
yf it be your pleafure to tafle eyther of the graynes, or'cf the fmaule feedes the which you fhoulde perceaue to
haue fawlen from thefe graynes, or of the wodde it felfe, touch them firfle foftely mouinge them to your lyppes.
For although they bee not hurtefull, yet for theyr exceffe of heate, they are fharpe and byte the tongue, yf they
remayne any whyle theron. But if the tongue be blyflered by taflynge of them, the fame is taken away by
drynkynge of water. Of the come alfo wherof they make theyr breade, this brynger fhall delyuer fume graynes
to your Lordefhyppe bothe whyte and blacke : And therwith alfo, a Trunke of the tree of Aloes The which if
you cutte in peeces, you fhall feele a fweete fauoine to proceade from the fame. Thus fare you hartely
wel. From the courte of Methimna Campi. The thyrde day before the Calendes of May. Anno. Domini,
' M. CCCC. XCIIII.
The fyrjl Decade.
73
C The thyrde boke of the fyrst Decade,
to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonye and Neuie to the kyttge.
Owe defyre that folyflie Phaeton fliulde ageine rule the Chariotes of the Sunne: And contende
to drawe fweete lycoures out of the harde flynte, wheras you requyre me to dyffcribe vnto
you the newe worlde, fownde in the wefle by the good fortune and gouemaunce of the
CathoHke Princes Ferdinandus and HeHfabeth, your Vncle and Aunte : fhewyng me alfo
the letters of kynge Frederike your vncle, wrytten to me in the fame behalfe. But fythe
you haue layde this burden on my backe, in whofe power it is to commaunde me to take
vppon me more then I am wel able. Ye bothe flial receaue this precious (lone, rudely
clofed in leade after my maner of workemanfliyppe. Wherfore when you fhall perceaue the lemed forte frend-
elye : The malicious, enuioufly : And the backebyters, furioufly, to bende theyr fclaunderous dartes ageynft
owre fayre Nimphes of the Ocean, you fliall freely protefle in howe fliort tyme, and in the myddefte of what
troubles and calamities, you haue enforced me to wryte of the fame. Thus fare you well frome Granata the
ninthe day before the Calendes of May.
f[ We haue declared in the boke here before, howe the Admirall pafTed by the coafles of the Canibaks to
the Ilande of Hifpaniola with his whole nauie. But nowe we entende further to fhewe what he fownde as
concernynge the nature of this Ilande, after that he had better fearched the feacreates of the fame: Likewyfe
of the Ilande of Cuba nere vnto it which he yet fuppofed to bee the firme lande. Hifpaniola therfore
(which he affirmeth to bee Ophir, wherof we reade in the thyrde boke of the kynges) is of latitude, fyue fouthe
degrees: hauynge the northe pole eleuate on the northe fyde. xxvii. degrees: And on the Southe fyde (as they
faye) xxii. degrees. It reacheth in length from the Eafle to the Wefle, feuen hundrethe and foure fcore myles.
It is diftant from the Ilandes of Gades (cauled Caks) xlix. degrees, and more as fum faye. The forme of the
Ilande, refembleth the leafe of a chefnutte tree. Vppon a high hyll on the North fyde of the Ilande, he
buylded .a citie, bycaufe this place was mofl apte for that purpofe by reafon of a myne of flones which was
nere vnto the fame, feruynge well bothe to buylde with, and alfo to make lyme. At the bottome of this hyll,
is there a great playne of three fcore myles in lengthe : and in bredth fumwhere. xii. fumwhere. xx. myles where
it is brodefl, and. vi. myles where it is narowefl Through this playne runne dyuers fayre ryuers of holfome
waters. But the greatefl of them which is nauigable, fauleth into the hauen of the citie for the fpace of halfe a
furlonge. Howe fertile and fruitfuU this valley is, you fhal vnderfland by thefe thynges which folowe. On the
fhore of this ryuer, they haue lymyted and enclofed certeyne grounde to make ^ardeynes and orchiardes, in the
which al kyndes of bygger herbes, as radyfhe, letufe, colewortes, borage, and fuch other, waxe rype within, xvi,
dayes after the feede is fowen. Lykewyfe Melones, Goiirdes, Cucumers, and fuche other, within the fpace of
xxxvl dayes. Thefe garden herbes, they haue freffhe and greene all the whole yeare. Alfo the rootes of the
canes or reedes, of the lycour wherof, fuger is made, growe a cubette high within the fpace of xv. dayes : but
the lycoure is not yet hardened. The lyke they affirme of plantes or fhrouddes of younge vines : And that
they haue the fecond yeare gathered ripe and fweete grapes of the fame. But by reafon of to muche rankenes,
they beare but fewe cluflers. Furthermore, a man of the countrey fowed a lyttle wheat about the Calendes of
February, and brought with hym to the citie a handefull of the rype eares of the fame the thyrde day before
the calendes of Aprell : which was that yeare the vigile of the Refurrection of owre Lorde. Alfo, al kyndes of
pulfe, as beanes, peafon, fytches, tares, and fuche other, are rype twyfe in the yeare, as all they which come
from thenfe, affirme with one voyce : Yet that the grounde is not vniuerfally apte to beare wheate. In the
meane t)rme whyle thefe thynges were doinge, the Admirall fent owte a companye of xxx. men to fearche the
Region of Cipanga, otherwyfe cauled Cibana This Region is full of mountaynes and rockes : And the myddle
backe of the hole Ilande in the whiche is greate plentie of goulde. When they that went to fearche the Region,
were returned they reported maruelous thynges as touchinge the great ryches of this Region. Frome thefe
mountaynes, defcende foure greate ryuers, which by the maruelous induflrye of nature, deuided the hole Ilande
into foure partes, in maner equall, ouerfpreadinge and wateringe the hole Ilande with their branches. Of thefe
foure ryuers, the one reacheth towarde the Eafle. This the inhabitantes caule lunna : An other, towarde the
Wefle, and is cauled Attibunicus. The thirde towarde the Northe, named lachem : the lafle reacheth into the
Southe, and is cauled Naiba. The daye before the Ides of Marche, the Admiral him felfe with al his horfe
men and foure hundreth footemen, marched directly towarde the South fyde of the goulden Region. Thus
paffinge ouer the ryuer, the plaine and the mountayne which enuironed the other fyde of the playne, he
chaunced vpon an other vale the which a ryuer muche bygger then the fyrfle, and many other meane ryuers
n
The fable of
Phaeton.
Kynge
Ferdinandus and
queene Helizabeth
Nereides.
He meaneth
the Ilandes.
Hispaniola.
11
Ophir whether
Salomons ships
sayled for golde.
Isabella.
A playne of
threescore myles
of lengthe.
A token of
maruelous
fruitfulnes.
Herbes grene al
the hole yeare.
Suger reeds
plantes and vines.
Come and grayne
rype twise a yeare
The Region of
Cipanga or
Cioana.
Golde.
Foure greate
ryuers.
The golden
region of Cibana
74
The fyrjl Decade.
Vales and
mountaynes
The vale of
Cibana.
Goldc for haukes
Graynes and
pipple stones of
goldc
They passe not
for golde, in that
it is golde onely
but etc.
Stones of golde as
byg as the headc
of a chylde.
Spyces.
Wylde vines of
pteasaunte taste.
Fruitful
mountaynes
Golde in the
sandes of ryuere
faulinge from the
mountaynes.
LiberUe and
Idelnes.
The mountaynes
are coulde.
The Ilande of
Cuba.
Least any other
prince, &c
Discencion
betweene the
Portugales and
Spaniardes.
The Ilandes of
Cobouerde or
HiqKrides
13
The Portugalci
ninne throwgh. When he had alfo conueighed his armye ouer the ryuer and paffed the feconde vale whiche
was in no part inferiour to the firfle, he made away through the thirde mountayne, where was no paflage before,
and defcended into an other vale which was nowe the beginninge of Cibana. Through this alfo runne many
fluddes, and ryuers, out of euery hyll, and in the fandes of theym all, is fownde great plentie of goulde. And
when he had nowe entered three fcore and twelue myles into the goulden region from the citie he entended
to buylde a fortreffe vppon the toppe of a hyll, Handing by the fhore of a certeyne great ryuer, that he might
the better and more fafelye fearche the fecreates of the inner partes of the Region. This he cauled the fortreffe
of faynte Thomas. The which in the meane tyme whyle he was buyldynge, th[e]inhabitantes beinge defirous
of haukes belles and other of owre thinges, reforted dayly thyther. To whom the Admirall declared, that
if they wolde brynge goulde, they fhulde haue what fo euer they wolde afke, Forthwith tumynge theyr
backes and runnynge to the (hore of the next ryuer, they returned in a (hort tyme, brynginge with them
their handes full of goulde. Amongefl. al other, there came a owld man bringynge with him two pybble Hones
of goulde weighinge an vnce, defyrynge them to gyue him a bell for the fame who when he fawe oure men
maruell at the byggenes therof, he made fignes that they were but fmaule and of no value in refpecte of fume
that he had feene. And takynge in his hande foure flones the leafl wherof was as bygge as a walnut, and the
byggeft. as bygge as an orange, he fayde that there was fownde peeces of goulde foo bygge in his countrey,
beynge but halfe a dayes ioumey from thenfe, and that they had no regarde to the gatheringe therof. Wherby
we perceaue that they pafle not muche for goulde in afmuch as it is goulde only, but fo farre efleeme it, as the
hande of the artificer hathe fafliioned it in any coomely fourme. For who doth greatly elleeme rowgh marble
or vnwrought luerye. But if they be wrought with the cunninge hande of Phidias or Praxiteles, and (haped to
the fimilitude of the fayre nimphes or fayeres of the fea (cauled Nereiades) or the fayres of the wods, (cauled
Hamadriades) they fhal neuer lacke byers. Befyde this owld man, there came alfo dyuers other, brynginge with
them pypple flones of gold weighing, x. or. xii. drammes : And feared not to confeffe, that in the place where they
gathered that golde, there were found fumtyme Hones of gold as bygge as the heade of a chyld When he had
taryed heare a fewe dayes, he fent one Luxanus, a noble younge gentylman with a fewe armed men to fearche
all the partes of this Region. Who at his retume, reported that th[e]inhabitantes fliewed him greater thinges
then we haue fpoken of here before. But he dyd openly declare nothynge therof: which they thought was
doone by the Admirales commaundement They haue wooddes full of certeyne fpyces : but not fuche as we
commonly vfe. Thefe they gather euen as they do golde : that is as much as wyl feme for theyr purpofe, euery
man for hym felfe, to exchange the fame with the inhabitantes of other countreys adioyninge to them, for fuch
thinges as they lacke, as dyffhes, pottes, flooles, and fuche other neceffaries. As Luxanus returned to the
Admiral, (which was about the Ides of Marche) he fownde in the wooddes, certeyne wylde vines, rype and of
pleafaunt tafle. But th[e]inhabitantes paffe not on them. This Region though it bee full of (lones and rockes
(and is therfore cauled Cibana, whiche is as muche to faye as a Hone) yet it is well replenyfhed wth trees and
paHures. Ye they inflantly affirme, that if the graffe of thefe mountaynes bee cutte, it groweth ageyne within
the fpace of foure dayes, higher then wheate. And for as muche as many fhowers of rayne doo faule in this
Region, whereof the ryuers and fluddes haue "their increafe, in euery of the which, golde is fownde myxte with
fande in all places, they iudge that the golde is dryuen from the mountaynes, by the vehement courfe of the
Hreames which faule from the fame, and runne into the ryuers. The people of this Region are gyuen to
Idelnes and playe. For fuche as inhabyte the mountaynes, fyt quakynge for coulde in the wynter feafon, and
had rather foo wander vppe and downe Idelly, then take the peines to make them apparell, wheras they haue
wooddes full of goITampine cotton. But fuch as dwel in the vales or plaines feele no coulde in wynter. When
the Admirall had thus fearched the beginninge of the region of Cibana, he repayred to Ifabella (for fo he named
the citie) where, leauinge the gouemance of the Ilande with his deputies, he prepared hym felfe to fearch further
the lymettes of the Ilande of Cuba or Johanna, which he yet doubted to bee the firme lande, and diHant from
Hifpaniola, onely three fcore and ten myles. This dyd he with more fpeedy expedicion, caulyng to remem-
braunce the kinges commaundement, who wylled hym fyril with all celeritie to ouer runne the coaHes of the
newe Ilandes, leaHe any other prince fhulde in the meane tyme attempte to inuade the fame. For the Kynge
of Portugale affirmed that it perteyned only to hym to difcouer thefe vnknowen landes. But the byfhop of
Rome Alexander the. vi. to auoyd the caufe of this difcention, graunted to the Kynge of Spayne by th[e]auc-
toritie of his leaden buUes, that no other prince fhulde bee fo boulde as to make any viages to any of thofe
vnknowen regions, lyenge without the precinct of a directe lyne drawen from the North to the Southe a
hundreth leaques weHwarde without the paralelles of the Ilandes cauled Capud Viride. or Caboiterde, which we
thynke to bee thofe that in owlde t)'me were cauled Hefperides. Thefe perteyne to the kynge of Portugale.
And firome thefe, his pylottes whiche doo yearely fearche newe coaHes and regions, directe their courfe to the
EaHe, faylynge euer towarde the lefte hande by the backe of Aphrike and the feas of the Ethiopians : Neyther
to this day had the Portugales at any tyme fayled Southwarde, or WeHewarde from the Ilandes of Cabouerde.
The fyrjl Decade.
75
Preparyng therfore three fhippes, he made hade towarde the Ilande of lohanna or Cuba whyther he came in
fhorte fpace, and named the poynt therof where he fyrfl arryued, Alpha and O : that is, the fyrfle and the lafle :
for he fuppofed that there had byn th[e]end of owre Eafle bycaufe the fonne fauleth there : And of the wefle,
bycaufe it ryfeth there. For it is apparente, that weflwarde, it is the beginninge of India beyonde the ryuer of
Ganges : And Eaftewarde, the furthefl ende of the fame : which thinge is not contrary to reafon forafmuche as
the Cofmographers haue lefte the lymites of I/idia beyonde Ganges vndetermyned : where as alfo fume were of
opinion that India was not farre from the coafles of Spaine as we haue fayde before. Within the profpecte of
the begynnynge of Cuda, he founde a commodious hauen in the extreme angle of the Ilande of Hifpaniola.
For in this part, the Hand receaueth a greate goulfe. This hauen, he named faynt Nycolas porte, beinge
fcarfely. xx. leaques from Cuba. As he departed from henfe and fayled weflwarde by the fouth fyde of Cuba,
the further that he went, fo muche the more the fea feemed to bee extended in breadth and to bende towarde
the fouth. On the fouth fyde of Cuba, he fownde an Ilande which th[e]inhabitantes caule lamaica. This he
affirmeth to bee longer and broder then the Hand of Sicilie : hauyng in it only one mountayne, which on euery
parte begynninge from the fea, ryfeth by little and Uttle into the myddeft. of the Ilande : And that foo playnely
without rowghnes, that fuche as goo vp to the toppe of the fame, can fcarfely perceaue that they afcende. This
Ilande he affirmed to bee very fruitfuU and full of people as well in th[e]inner partes of the fame as by the fhore :
And that th[e]inhabitantes are of quicker wytte then in the other Ilandes, and more experte artificers and
warrelyke men. For in many places where he woulde haue arryued, they came armed ageynfl him and
forbodde him with threatening wordes. But beinge ouercome, they made a league of frendefliip with hym.
Thus departynge from lamaica, he fayled towarde the Wefle with a profperous wynde for the fpace of threefcore
and tenne dayes : thinkinge that he had paffed fo farre by the compaffe of the earth being vnderneth vs, that he
had byn nere vnto Aurea Cherfonefus (nowe cauled Malaccha,) in owre Eafle India beyonde the beginninge of
Perfides, For he playnely beleued that he had lefte onely two of the twelue ho^vres of the fonne, which were
vnknowen to vs, for the owlde wryters haue lefte halfe the courfe of the fonne vntouched, where as they haue but
onely difcufled that fuperficiall parte of the earth which lyeth betwene the Ilandes of Gades and the ryuer of Ganges :
or at the vttermolle, to Aurea Cherfonefus. In this nauigation, he chaunced on many furious feas, running with
a faule as it had byn the flreames of fluddes : Alfo many whorlepooles, and Ihelfes, with many other daungers,
and flreyghtes by reafon of the multy tude of Ilandes, which ley on euery fyde. But not regardinge all thefe perelles,
he determyned to proceade vntyl he had certaine knowledge whether Cuba were an Ilande or firme lande. Thus
he fayled forward coaflinge euer by the fliore towarde the welle for the fpace of CC. xxii. [two hundred and
twenty-two] leaques, that is, abowte a thoufande and three hundreth myles]: And gaue names to feuen hundreth
Ilandes by the waye : Leauynge alfo on the lefte hande (as he feared not to reporte) three thoufande here and
there. But let vs nowe retume to fuche thinges as he fownde worthy to be noted in this nauigatioa Saylinge
therfore by the fyde of Cuba, and fearchinge the nature of the places, he efpied not farre from Alpha and O, a
large hauen of capacitie to harborowe manye fhippes : whofe enteraunce is bendinge, beinge inclofed on bothe
fydes with capes or poyntes which receaue the water. This hauen is large within, and of exceadinge depthe.
Saylinge by the fhore of this porte, he fawe not farre frome the fame, two cotages couered with reedes, and in
many places fyer kyndeled. Here he fente certeyne armed men owte of the fhippes to the cotages : where they
fownde nother man nor woman, but roflemeate enowgh. For they fownde certeyne fpyttes of woodde lyenge
at the fyre, hauinge fyfhe on theym abowt a hundreth pownde weight, and two ferpentes of. viii. foote longe a
piece, wherat marueylinge, and lokynge abowt if they coulde efpye any of th[e]inhabitantes, and that none
appeared in fyght (for they fledde all to the mountaynes at the comminge of owre men) they fell to theyr meate,
and eate the fyfhe taken with other mens trauayle : But they abfleyned from the ferpentes, which they affirme to
differ nothinge from Crocodiles of Egypt, but onely in byggenes. For (as Plinie fayth) Crocodiles haue fumetymes
byn fownde of. xviii. cubettes long. But of thefe the byggefl were but of viii. fote. Thus beinge well refreffhed,
they entered into the next woodde where they fownde many of the fame kynde of ferpentes hangynge vppon
bowghes of trees : of the which, fume had theyr mouthes tyed with flrynges, and fume theyr teethe taken owte.
And as they fearched the places nere vnto the hauen, they fawe abowte. Ixx. men in the toppe of a hyghe rocke,
whiche fledde as foone as they had efpied owre men. Who by fignes and tokens of peace, caulinge them ageyne,
there was one which came nere them and floode on the toppe of a rocke, feemynge as thowgh he were yet
ferefuU. But the Admiral fent one Didacus to hym, a man of the fame countrey, whom he had at his fyrfle
vyage taken in the Ilande of Guanahaini, beinge nere vnto Cuba : wyllinge hym to come nere and not to bee
afrayde. Wlien he harde Didacus fpeke to him in his owne tonge he came bowldly to hym : and fhortly after
reforted to his company, perfuadinge them to come without all feare. After this meffage was doone, there
defcended frome the rockes to the fhippes, abowt three fcore and ten of th[e]inhabitantes, proferinge frende-
fhippe and gentelnes to owre men : whiche the Admirall accepted thankefuUy, and gaue them dyuers rewardes :
And that the rather, for that he had intelligence by Didacus th[e]enterpretoure, that they were the kynges
n
Alpha and O
The ende of the
Easte and west.
Note.
India not far
from Spayne.
Saynt Nycolas
porte.
The Hand of
lamaica.
QuickC wytted
people.
The compaseinge
of the earth.
Aurea
Chersonesus, or
Malaccha.
A secreate of
Astronomie.
The ryuer of
Ganges.
Daungerous
streightes by
reason of many
Ilandes.
The Admiral gaue
names to seuen
hundrethe Ilandes
Thre thousand
Ilandes.
A large hauen
Rostcd fysshe and
serpents of. viii.
foote longe.
14
Crocodiles of
Egypte.
Didacus
th[e]interpretour.
The tynges
fVM>hers.
76
The fyrjl Decade.
Serpentes
esteemed for
delicate meat
Ophiophagi
Blossomes and
fruites bothe at
one tyme.
Trees which
beare gourds
A multitude of
Ilandes.
Hotte water.
A straunge kynde
of fysshynge.
A huntynge
fyssh&
Abundance of
tortoyses. , _
Fyssher men.
The fysshe
Guaicanum.
Humaine people.
A mountaine
fruiteful! and well
inhabited.
Dogges of strange
shape and dumme.
Duckes.
Hearons.
Streightes.
fyflhers, fent of theyr lorde to take fyffhe ageynfl a folemne feafle which he prepared for an other kynge. And
wheras the Admirales men had eaten the fyffhe whiche they lefte at the fyre, they were the gladder therof,
bycaufe they had lefte the ferpentes. For there is nothinge amonge theyr delicate dyffhes, that they efteeme fo
muche as thefe ferpentes : In foo muche that it is no more lawfull for the common people to eate of them, then
peacockes or phefantes amonge vs. As for the fyflhes, they doubted not to take as many more the fame nyght
Beynge alked why they fyrft rofted the fyllhe which they entended to beare to their kynge. They anfwered, that
they might bee the freffher and vncorrupted. Thus ioyninge handes for a token of further frendefhip, euery
man reforted to his owne. The Admirall went forwarde as he had appoynted, folowing the faulinge of the
fonne from the beginninge of Cuba cauled Alpha and O. The fhores or fea bankes euen vnto this hauen, albeit
they be ful of trees, yet are they rowgh with mountains. Of thefe trees, fume were ful of bloflbomes and
flowres, and other laden with fruites. Beyonde the hauen the lande is more fertile and peopulous, whofe inhabi-
tantes are more gentyll and more defyrous of owTe thinges. For as fone as they had efpied owre fhippes, they
flocked all to the fhore, brynginge with them fuche breade as they are accuftomed to eate, and gourdes full of
water, offeringe theym vnto owre men, and further defyringe them to coome alande. In all thefe Ilandes is a
certeyne kynde of trees as bygge as elmes, whiche beare gourdes in the fteade of fruites. Thefe they vfe only
for drinkynge pottes, and to fetche water in, but not for meate, for the inner fubflance of them, is fowrer then
gaule, and the barke as harde as any fhelle. At the Ides of Maye, the watche men lokinge owte of the toppe
caflell of the fhyppe towarde the Southe, fawe a multitude of Ilandes ftandinge thicke together, beynge all well
repleni(hed with trees, graffe, and herbes, and wel inhabyted. In the fliore of the continent, he chaunced into
a nauigable ryuer whofe water was foo hotte, that no man myght endure to abyde his hande therein any tyme.
The day folowinge, efpying a farre off a Canoa of fyfher men of th[e]inhabitantes, fearinge leafl they fhulde flye
at the fyght of owre men, he commaunded certeyne to affayle them pryuily with the fhyppe boates. But they
fearinge nothinge, taryed the comminge of owre men. Nowe fhal you heare a newe kind of fyfhinge. Lyke
as we with greyhoundes doo hunte hares, in the playne fieldes. So doo they as it were with a huntyng fyffhe,
take other fyffhes. This fyffhe was of fhape or fourme vnknowen vnto vs : but the body therof, not muche
vnlyke a greate yele : hauinge on the hynder parte of the heade, a very towgh fkynne, lyke vnto a greate bagge
or purfe. This fyffhe is tyed by the fyde of the boate with a corde lette downe foo farre into the water, that the
fyffhe maye lye clofe hyd by the keele or bottome of the fame, for fhee may in no cafe abyde the fight of the .
ayer. Thus when they efpie any greate fyffhe, or tortoyfe (wherof there is great abundance bygger then great
targettes) they let the corde at lengthe. But when fhe feeleth her felfe loofed, fhee enuadeth the fyflhe or
tortoyfe as fwiftly as an arrowe. And where fhe hath once faflened her howld fhee cafleth the purfe of fkynne
wherof we fpake before : And by drawyng the fame togyther, fo grafpeleth her pray, that no mans flrength is
fufficient to vnloofe the fame, excepte by lyttle and lyttle drawinge the lyne, fhee bee lyfted fumwhat aboue the
brymme of the water. For then, as fone as fhe feeth the brightnes of the ayer, fhee lettethe goo her howlde.
The praye therfore, beinge nowe drawen nere to the brymme of the water, there leapeth foodenly owte of the
boate into the fea foo manye fyffhers, as maye fuffice to holde fafle the praye, vntyll the refle of the coompany
haue taken it into the boate. Which thinge doone, they loofe fo muche of the cord, that the hunting fyffhe,
may ageyne retume to her place within the water : where by an other corde, they let downe to her a piece of
the praye, as we vfe to rewarde greyhoundes after they haue kylled theyr game. This fyffhe, they caule
Guaicanum, But owre men caule it Reuerfum. They gaue owre men foure tortoyfes taken by this meanes :
And thofe of fuch byggenes that they almofle fylled theyr fyflhinge boate. For thefe fyffhes are efleemed
amonge them for delicate meate. Owre men recompenfed them age)me with other rewardes, and foo lette them
departe. Beinge afked of the coompafTe of that lande, they aunfwered that it had no ende weflewarde. Moll
inflantly defyringe the Admirall to coome alande : or in his name to fende one with them to falute their
Cazicus, (that is) their kinge : Affirmynge that he wolde gyue owre men many prefentes, yf they wolde goo to
hym. But the Admiral, leafle he fhulde bee hyndered of the vyage which he had begunne, refufed to goo with
them. Then they defyred to knowe his name, and towld owre men lykewyfe the name of theyr kyng. Thus
fayling on yet further euer toward the Wefl, within fewe dayes he came nere vnto a certeyne exceding high
mountayne, wel inhabyted by reafon of the great fertilitie of the fame. Th[e]inhabitauntes of this mountayne,
browght to owre fhippe, breade, goffampine cotton, cunnies, and fundry kyndes of wyldfowle : demaundynge
relygioufly of th[e]interpretoures, if this nation defcended not from heauen. The kynge of this people, and
dyuers other fage men that lloode by hym, informed hym that that lande was no Ilande. Shortly after,
enteringe into one of the Ilandes beinge on the lefte hande of this lande, they fownde no body therin : for they
fledde al at the commyng of owre men. Yet fownde they there fowre dogges of maruelous deformed fhape,
and fuche as coulde not barke. This kynd of dogges, they eate as we do goates. Here is great plentie of geefe,
duckes, and hearons. Betwene thefe Ilandes and the continente, he entered into foo narowe flreyghtes, that
he coulde fcarfely tume backe the fhippes : And thefe alfo fo fhalowe, that the keele of the fhyps fumtyme rafed
76
The fyrjl Decade.
77
on the Cindes The water of thefe llreyghtes, for the fpace of fortie myles, was white and thycke lyke vnto
mylke, and as thowgh male had byn fparkeled throwgh owte al that fea. And when they had at the lengthe
efcaped thefe flrayghtes, and were nowe coome into a mayne and large fea, and had fayled theron for the fpace
of foure fcore myles, they efpyed an other excedinge hygh mountayne, whyther the Admirall reforted to flore
his fhyppes with freffhe water and fuel. Heare amonge certeyne wooddes of date trees, and pyneable trees of
excedyng height he fownd two natiue fprynges of freffhe water. In the meane tyme whyle the woodde was
cuttynge and the barrelles fyllyng, one of owre archers went into the wood to hunt : where he efpyed a certeyne
man with a whyte veflure, foo lyke a fryer of th[e]order of faynt Marye of Mercedis, that at the fyrfle fight he
fuppofed it had byn the Admiralles preefle which he browght with hym, beyng a man of the fame order. But
two other folowed hym immediatlye owte of the fame wooddes, fhortly after, he fawe a farre of a hole coompany
of men clothed in apparel, beinge abowte. xxx. in nomber. Then turning his backe and cryinge owte to his
felowes, he made hafle to the fhyppes with all that he myght dryue. Thefe apparelled men, made fignes and
tokens to hym to tary and not to bee afrayde. But that notwithftandinge, he ceafed not to flye. The Admirall
beinge aduertifed hereof, and not a lyttle reioyfynge that he had fownde a ciuile people, incontinently fent
forth armed men, with commaundement, that yf neede fhould foo requyre, they (hulde enter fortie myles into
the Ilande, vntyl they myght fynde eyther thofe apparelled men, or other inhabitantes of that countrey. When
they hadde paCfed ouer the woodde, they came into a greate playne full of graffe and herbes, in which appeared
no token of any pathe way. Here attemptinge to goo throwgh the graffe and herbes, they were foo entangled
and bewrapte therin, that they were fcarfely able to paffe a myle, the graffe beinge there lyttle lower then owre
rype come. Beinge therfore weryed, they were enforced to returne ageyne, fyndyng no pathe way. The day
folowing he fent foorth. xxv. armed men an other way: Commaunding them to make diligent fearche and
inquifition what maner of people inhabited the land. Who departinge, when they had fownde not farre from
the fea fyde certeyne fleppes of wylde beafles, of the which they fufpected fum to bee of Lyons feete being
flriken with feare, returned backe ageyne. As they came they fownde a woodde in the which were many
natiue vines here and there crepinge abowte highe trees, with many other trees bearinge aromaticall fruites and
fpyces. Of thefe vines they browght with them into Spaine many cluflers of grapes very ponderous and full of
lycoure. But of the other fruites, they browght none bycaufe they putrified by the waye in the fhippe, and were
cade into the fea. They faye alfo that in the laundes or medowes of thofe wooddes, they fawe flockes of greate
cranes twyfe as bygge as owres. As he went forward and turned his fayles towarde certeyne other raountaines,
he efpied two cotages on the (hore, in the whiche he fawe onely one man : who beinge browght to the fliyppe,
fignified with heade, fyngers, and by al other fignes, that he coulde deuife that the lande which lay beyonde
thofe mountaynes, was very full of people. And as the Admirall drewe nere the fhore of the fame, there mette
hym certeyne Canoas hauinge in them many people of the countrey, who made fignes and tokens of peace and
frendefhyp. But here Didaais th[e]interpretour whiche vnderftoode the language of th[e]inhabitantes of the
beginning of Cuba, vnderflode not them one whytte, wherby they confydred that in fundry prouinces of Cuba,
were fundry languages He had alfo intelligence, that in the inlande of this Region, was a kynge of greate
power, and accuflomed to weare apparell. He fayth that all the tracte of this fliore, was drowned with water
and full of mudde, befette with many trees, after the maner of owre maryffhes, yet whereas in this place they
wente alande for freffhe water, they fownde many of the fhel fyffhes in the whiche pearles are gathered. But
that coulde not caufe the Admirall to tracte the tyme there, entendinge at this viage, only to proue howe many
landes and feas he coulde difcouer accordinge to the kynges commaundement. As they yet proceded forwarde,
they fawe here and there al the waye alonge by the fhore, a great fmoke ryfmge, vntyll they came to an other
mountayne foure fcore myles diflant. There was no rocke or hyll that coulde be feene, but the fame was all
of a fmoke. But whether thefe fyers were made by th[e]inhabitantes for their neceffary bufynes, or as we are
wont to fette beacons on fyre when we fufpecte th[e]approche of owre enemies, thereby to gyue waminge to
theyr neyghbours to bee in a redines, and gather togyther if perhappes owre men fhulde attempte any thinge
ageynil them, or otherwyfe as feemethe mofl lykely, to caule them togyther as to a wonder to behould owre
(hippes, they knewe yet no certentie. In this tracte, the fliores bended fumetyme towarde the Southe, and
fumetyme towarde the Wefte and weflefouthwefl ; And the fea was euery where entangeled with Ilandes : by
reafon whereof, the keeles of the (hippes often tymes rafed the fandes for (halownes of the water: So that the
fhyppes beinge very fore brufed and appayred, the fayles, cables, and other tackelinges, in maner rotten, and
the vytayles, (efpecially the byfkette breade) corrupted by takynge water at the riftes euyll clofed, the Admirall
was enforced to tume backe ageyne. This lafle poynte where he touched of Cuba (not yet beinge knowen to
be an Ilande) he cauled Euangelijla. Thus turning his fayles toward other Ilandes lyinge not farre from the
fuppofed continente, he chaunced into a mayne fea where was fuche a multitude of greate tortoyfes, that
fumtyme they flayed the fhyppes. Not longe after, he entered into a gulfe of whyte water, lyke vnto that
wherof we fpake before. At the length fearing the fhelfes of the Hands, he returned to the fhore of Cuba by
Whyte and thicke
water.
Wooddes of date
trees.
Men appareled
like white fryers.
16
Grasse almost as
hyghe as corne.
Steppes of wyld
beastes feete.
Natiue vines
Trees bearinge
spyces and sweete
fruites.
Greate Cranes.
Dyuers language?
in the Ilande of
Cuba.
Pearles in
shelfysshes.
The sea entangeled
with Ilandes
Euangelista.
A multitude of
great tortoyses
78
The fyrjl Decade.
A goufe of whyte
water
Humaine people.
Stock doues of
more pleasaunt
tast then
partriches.
17
The humanitie of
a reuerende owlde
gouernour.
An oration of the
naked gouernour.
Theyr opinion of
the soul of man.
DesjTe of golde
founde that
which religion
coulde not fynde.
Virtus ^si
nummos. ^t'C.
The Hand as
common as the
sunne and water.
The golden
worlde.
Prxniision without
cax«.
Simple diete
18
The Tland of
Jamaica.
Hispaniola.
The Canibales.
the fame way which he came. Here a multitude of th[e]inhabitantes, as well women as men, reforted to hym'
with cheerefull countenaunce and without feare: bringynge with them popingayes, breade, water, and cunnyes:
But efpecially flocke doues much bygger then owres : which he affirmeth, in fauour and tafle, to bee muche
more plealaunt then owre partryches. Wherfore where as in eatinge of them he perceaued a certeyne fauoure
of fpyce to proceade from them, he commaunded the croppe to bee opened of fuche as were newely kylled, and
fownde the fame full of fweete fpyces, whiche he argued to bee the caufe of theyr llrange tafle. For it flandeth
with good reafon, that the fleffhe of beaftes, fhulde drawe the nature and qualitie of theyr accuftomed nuryfhemente.
As the Admirall harde maffe on the fliore, there came towarde hym a certeyne gouemoure, a man of four fcore
yeares of age, and of great grauitie, althowgh he were naked fauinge his pryuie partes. He had a great trayne of
menne waytinge on hym. All the whyle the preefle was at maffe, he fhewed hym felfe verye humble and gaue
reuerente attendaunce with graue and demure countenaunce. When the maffe was ended, he prefented to the
Admirall, a bafkette of the fruites of his countrey, delyueringe the fame with his owne handes. When the
Admirall had gentelly interteyned hym, defyringe leaue to fpeake, he made an oration in the prefence of
Didacus th[e]interpretoure, in this effecte. I haue byn aduertifed (mofle mighty prince) that you haue of late
with greate power fubdued many landes and Regions hytherto vnknowen to you : and haue browght no little
feare vppon all the people and inhabitantes of the fame. The which your good fortune, you fhal beare with
leffe infolencie, if you remember that the foules of men haue two ioumeyes after they are departed from this
bodye. The one fowle and darke, prepared for fuche as are iniurious and cruell to mankynde : The other
pleafaunt and delectable, ordeyned for them which in theyr lyfe tyme, loued peace and quietnes. If therefore
you acknowleage your felfe to bee mortall, and confyder that euery man fhall receaue condigne rewarde or
punyfhement for fuch thinges as he hath done in this life, you wyl wrongefully hurte no man. When he had
fayde thefe wordes and other lyke, which were declared to the Admirall by th[e]interpretoure, he marueylinge
at the iudgemente of the naked owlde man, anfwered, that he was gladde to heare his opinion as touchinge the
fundry iourneys and rewardes of fowles departed from theyr bodyes : Suppofinge that nother he, or any other
of th[e]inhabitantes of thofe Regions, had had any knowleage thereof. Declaringe further that the chiefe caufe
of his comminge thyther was to inflructe them in fuch godly knowleage and trewe religion : And that he was
fente into thofe countreys by the Chriflian kyngfe of Spayne (his lorde and maifter) for the fame purpofe : And
fpecially to fubdue and puniffhe the Canibales and fuch other mifcheuous people : And to defende innocentes
ageynfl the violence of fuch euyl doers wyllynge hym and all other fuch as embrafed vertue, in no cafe to bee
afrayde : But rather to open his mynde vnto him, if eyther he, or any other fuche quiete men as he was, hadde
fufteyned any wronge of theyr neyghbours : and that he wold fee the fame reuenged. Thefe comfortable
wordes of the Admirall foo pleafed the owlde man, that notwithflandyng his extreeme age, he woulde gladly
haue gone with the Admiral as he had doone in deede, if his wyfe and chyldren had not hyndered hym of his
purpofe. But he marueyled not a lyttle, that the Admirall was vnder the dominion of an other: And muche more,
when th[e]interpretour towlde hym of the glorye, magnificence, pompes, greate powre, and fumymentes of
warre of owre kynges, and of the multitudes of cities and townes which were vnder theyr dominions.
Intendyng therfore to haue gonne with the Admirall, his wyfe and children fell proflrate at his feete, with teares
defyrynge hym not to forfake them and leaue them defolate. At whofe pytifull requefles, the worthy owlde man
beinge moued, rema)fned at home to the comfort of his people and famylie, fatiffyenge rather them then hym
felfe. For not yet ceafinge to woonder, and of heauy countenaunce bycaufe he myght not departe, he demaunded
oftentymes if that lande were not heauen, which browght foorth fuche a kynde of men. For it is certeyne, that
amonge them, the lande is as common as the fonne and water : And that Myne and Thyne (the feedes of all
myfcheefe) haue no place with them. They are contente with foo lyttle, that in foo large a countrey, they haue
rather fuperfluitie then fcarfenes. Soo that (as wee haue fayde before) they feeme to lyue in the goulden worlde,
without toyle, lyuinge in open gardens, not intrenched with dykes, dyuyded with hedges, or defended with
waules. They deale trevvely one with another, without lawes, without bookes, and without Judges. They take
hym for an euyll and myfcheuous man, which taketh pleafure in doinge hurte to other. And albeit that they
delyte not in fuperfluities, yet make they prouifion for th[e]increafe of fuche rootes, wherof they make theyr
breade, as Maizium, lucca, and Ages, contented with fuche fimple dyet, wherby health is preferaed, and
dyfeafes auoyded. The Admirall therfore departinge from thenfe, and myndinge to retume ageyne (hortly after,
chaunced to coome ageyne to the Ilande of Jamaica beinge on the fowthe fyde therof : and coafted all alonge
by the fhore of the fame, from the Wefle to the Fade. From whofe laft comer on the Eaft fyde, when he fawe
towarde the North on his lefte hand, certeyn high mountains he knewe at the length that it was the fowthe fyde
of the Ilande of Hifpaniola, which he had not yet paffed by. Wherfore at the Calendes of September, enter-
inge into the hauen of the fame Ilande, cauled faynt Nycolas hauen, he repayred his fhippes to th[e]intent that
he myght ageyne waft and fpoyle the Ilandes of the Canibales, and bume all theyr Canoas, that thofe raueninge
wolues myght no longer perfecute and deuoure the innocent fheepe. But he was at this tyme hyndered of his
t8
The fyrji Decade.
79
purpofe by reafon of a dyfeafe which he had gotten with to muche watchinge. Thus beinge feeble and weake,
he was ledde of the maryners to the citie of Ifabella, where, with his two brytherne which were there, and other
his famiUers, he recouered his heaUh in fhorte fpace. Yet coulde he not at this tyme aflayle the Canibales, by
reafon of fedicion that was ryfen of late amonge the Spanyardes which he had lefte in Hif^aniola^ wherof we
wyll fpeake more heareafter. Thus fare ye weL '
C The fourth booke of the fyrst decade
to Lodouike Cardinall of Aragonie,
Olonus the Admirall of the Ocean, returning (as he fuppofed) from the continent or firme
lande of Eall India, had aduertifement that his brother Boilus and one Peter Margarita, an
owld familier of the kinges, and a noble man, with diuers other of thofe to whom he had
left the gouemement of the Hand, were of corrupted mynde ageynfl him, departed into Spayne.
Wherfore as wel to purge him of fuch crimes as they fhuld ley to his charge, as alfo to make
a fupply of other men in the place of them which were returned, and efpecially to prouyde
for vitailes, as wheat, wyne, oyle, and fuch other which the Spanyardes are accuftomed to
eate, bycaufe they coulde not yet well agree with fuch meates as they fownde in the Ilandes, determined (hortly
to take his vyage into Spayne. But what he dyd before his departure, I wyll brefely rehearfe.
The kynges of the Ilandes which had hytherto lyued quietly and content with theyr lyttle whiche they
thowght abundante, wheras they nowe perceaued that owre men began to fallen foote within theyr Regions and
to beare rule amonge them, tooke the matter fo greuoufly, that they thowght nothynge elles but by what meanes
they myght vtterly deflroy them, and for euer abolyffhe the memory of theyr name. For that kynde of men
(the Spanyardes I meane which folowed the Admirall in that nauigation,) was for the mofl parte vnruly,
regardynge nothinge but Idlenes, playe, and libertie: And wolde by no meanes abfleyne from iniuries:
Rauyfhynge the women of the Ilandes before the faces of their hufbandes, fathers, and brethrene : By which
theyr abhomynable myfdemaynour, they difquieted the mjmdes of all th[e]inhabitantes : In fo much that where fo
euer they fownde any of owre men vnprepared, they flewe them with fuche fyercenes and gladnes, as thowgh
they had offered facryfyce to God. Intendynge therefore to pacific their troubled myndes, and to punyflie them
that flew his men before he departed from thenfe, he fent for the kynge of that vale, which in the booke before,
we defcrybed to bee at the foote of the mountaynes of the Region of Cibaua. This kynges name was Guarionexius :
who, the more flreyghtly to concyle vnto hym the frendefhyppe of the Admirall, gaue hys fyfler to wyfe to
Didacus, a man from his chyldes age browght vp with the Admiral, whom he vfed for his interpretoure in the
prouinces of Cuba. After this, he fent for Caunaboa, cauled the lorde of the howfe of goulde : that is, of the
mountaynes of Cibaua. For this Caunaboa, he fente one capitayne Hoicda, whom the ditionaries of Caunaboa
had enforced to keepe his howlde byfiegeinge for the fpace of. xxx. dayes, the fortreffe of faynte Thomas, in the
which Hoieda with his fyftie fouldiers, floode at theyr defence, vntyll the comminge of the Admirall. Whyle
Hoieda remayned with Caunaboa, many ambaffadours of the kynges of dyuers Regions were fent to Caunaboa,
perfuadinge hym in no condicion to permitte the Chriflians to inhabite the Ilande, except he had rather ferue then
rule. On the other parte, Hoieda aduertifed Caunaboa to goo to the Admirall, and to make a league of frendefhip
with hym. But the ambaffadours on the contrary part, threatened hym, that yf he wolde foo doo, the other kynges
wolde inuade his Region. But Hoieda aunfwered theym ageyne, that wheras they confpired to maynteyne their
libertie, they fhuld by that meanes be browght to feruitude and dellruction if they entended to refill or keepe
warre ageinfl the Chriflians. Thus Caunaboa on the one fyde and the other, beinge troubeled as it were a
rocke in the fea, beaten with contrary fluddes, and much more vexed with the flormes of his gyltie confcience
for that he had priuilie flaine. xx. of owre men vnder pretence of peace feared to coome to the Admirall. But
at the length, hauing excogitated this deceyte, to haue flayne the Admirall and his coompany vnder the colour
of frendfhippe if oportunitie wold foo haue ferude, he repayred to the Admiral with his hole famiKe and many
other wayting on hym, armed after theyr maner. Beinge demaunded why he browght foo greate a rout of men
with hym, he aunfwered that it was not decente for foo great a prince as he was, to goo foorth of his howfe
without fuche a bande of men. But the thinge chaunced much otherwyfe then he looked for. For he fell into
the fhares which he had prepared for other. For wheras by the way he began to repente hym that he came
foorthe of his howfe, Hoieda with many fayre wordes and promyfes, browght hym to the Admirall : At whofe
commaundement, he was immediatly taken and put in prifon : So that the fowles of owre men were not longe
Sickenesof to
much watchinge.
Easte India.
The Spanyardes
rebelle in the
Admirals absence.
The kynges of the
Uande rebell.
The Spaniardes
misbehauour.
Guarionexius the
kynge of the
great vale
Didacus the
interpretour
Caunaboa, the
kynge of the
house of golde.
Capitayne Hoicda
19
Kynge Caunaboa,
had slain the
Spanyardes.
Caunaboa
conspireth the
Admiralles death.
Fayre words
make fooles fayne>
8o
The fyrjl Decade.
Famine in thr
Ilande of
hispanioUu
The hunger of
golde causeth
great famine.
The towre of
conception.
A masse of gold
weighinge. xx.
ounces.
from their bodies vnreuenged. Thus Caunaboa with all his familie beinge taken, the Admirall was determined
to runne ouer the Ilande. But he was certified that there was fuch famine amonge th[e]inhabitantes, that there
was alredye fyftie thoufande menne deade therof : And that they dyed yet dayly as it were rotton fheepe : The
caufe wherof was wel knowen to bee theyr owne obllinacie and frowardnes. For where as they fawe that owre
men entended to choofe them a dwelling place in the Ilande, fuppofinge that they myght haue driuen them from
thence if the vytailes of the Ilande ihoulde fayle, they determyned with them felues, not only to leaue fowing and
plantyng, but alfo to deftroy and plucke vp by the rootes euery man in his owne region, that whiche they had
alredye fowen of both kyndes of breade wherof we made mencion in the fyrfl booke. But efpecially amonge
the mountaynes of Cibaua, otherwyfe cauled Cipanga, for as muche as they hadde knoweleage that the golde
which abundeth in that Region, was the cheefe caufe that deteyned owre men in the Ilande. In the meane tyme,
he fent foorth a Capitayne with a bande of men to fearche the fowthe fyde of the Ilande. Who at his retume,
reported that throwghe out all the Regions that he trauayled, there was fuche fcarfenes of breade, that for the
fpace of. xvi. dayes he eate nowght elles but the rootes of herbes, and of younge date trees, or the fruites of
other wylde trees. But Guarionexius, the kynge of the vale lyinge beneth the mountaynes of Cibaua, whofe
kyngedoome was not foo wafted as the other, gaue owre menne certeyne vytayles.
Within a fewe dayes after, bothe that the ioumeys myght bee the (horter, and alfo that owre men myght haue
more fafe places of refuge, if the inhabitantes (huld hereafter rebell in lyke maner, he buylded an other fort[r]e(re
(whiche he cauled the towre of Conception) betwene the citie of Ifabella and faint Thomas fortreffe, in the
marches of the kyngdome of this Guarionexius within the precincte of Cibaua vpon the fyde of a hyll, hauynge
a fayre ryuer of holfome water runnynge hard by the fame. Thus when the inhabitantes fawe newe buyldynges
to bee dayly erected, and o\vre fliippes lying in the hauen rotten and halfe broken, they beganne to defpayre of
any hope of libertie, and wandered vp and downe with heuie chere. From the towre of Conception, fearchynge
diligently the inner partes of the mountaynes of Cibaua, there was a certeine kyng whiche gaue them a maffe
of rude golde, as bygge as a mans fyft, weighing, xx. vnces. This golde was not fownde in the banke of that
ryuer, but in a heape of drye earthe : and was lyke vnto the ftone cauled To/us, whiche is foone refolued into
fande. This maffe of golde, I my felfe fawe in Caftile, in the famous citie of Methymna Campi, where the
courte lay all that wynter. I fawe alfo a great piece of pure Eleilrum : of the whiche belles and apothecaries
morters, and many fuche other veffels and inflmmentes maye bee made, as were in owlde tyme of copper of the
citie of Corinthus. This piece of EkSlrum, was of fuch weight, that I was not onely with both my handes
vnable to lifte it from the grownde, but alfo not of flrengthe to remoue it eyther one waye or an other. They
affyrmed that it wayde more then three hundreth pownde weight, after, viii. vnces to the pownde. It was
fownde in the howfe of a certen prynce, and lefte hym by his predeceffours. And albeit that in the dayes of
th[e]inhabitantes yet liuynge, Ekdlrum was no where digged, yet knewe they where the myne therof was : but
owre men with muche adoo, coulde hardely caufe them to fhewe them the place, they bore them fuche priuie
hatred. Yet at the length, they browght theym to the myne, beyng nowe ruinate and ftopped with ftones and
rubbiffhe. It is muche eafier to dygge then is the iren myne : and myght bee reftored agein, if myners and
other woorkemen fkylfuU therin, were appoynted therto. Not farre from the towre of Conception, in the fame
mountaynes, is fownd great plentie of Amber : and owte of certen rockes of the fame diftilleth a fubflance of
the yelowe coloure whiche the paynters vfe. Not farre from thefe mountaynes are many greate wooddes, in the
which are none other trees then brafile, whiche the Italians caule Verzino. But here perhappes (right noble
prynce) yowe wolde alke what (houlde be the caufe, that where as the Spanyardes haue brought owte of thefe
Ilandes certen fliyppes laden with brafile, fumwhat of goffampine cotton, a quantitie of amber, a lyttel golde, and fum
fpices, why they haue not broughte fuche plentie of golde and fuche other ryche marchaundies as the fruitfulneffe
of thefe regions feeme to promiffe. To this I anfwere, that when Colonus the admirall was lykewife demaunded
the caufe hereof, he made anfwere that the Spanyardes whiche he tooke with him into thefe regions, were gyuen
rather to flepe, pley, and ydleneffe, then to laboure: And were more ftudious of fedition and newes, then
defyrous of peace and quietneffe : Alfo that beynge gyuen to lycencioufnes, they rebelled and forfooke hym,
fyndynge matter of falfe accufations agaynft hym, bycaufe he went aboute to repreffe theyr owtragioufenes. By
reafon wherof he was not yet able to breake the power of the inhabytantes, and freely to poffeffe the full
dominion of the Ilande. And thefe hynderaunces to be the caufe that hitherto the gaynes haue fcarfely
counteruayled the charges. Albeit, euen this yere whyle I WTyte thefe thynges at yowre requefte, they gathered
in twoo moonethes the fumme of a thoufande and twoo hundreth poundes weight of golde. But bycaufe we
intende to fpeake more largely of thefe thynges in theyr place, we wyll nowe retourne from whenfe we haue
digreffed. When the inhabitantes perceaued that they could by no meanes (hake the yoke from their neckes, they
made humble fupplication to the Admirall that they myght ftande to theyr tribute, and apply them felues to reincreafe
the fruites of theyr countrey, beinge nowe almofte wafted. He graunted them theyr requefte : and appoynted
fuch order that euery Region fliulde paye their tribute, with the commodities of theyr countreys, accordinge to
Tofus.
Electrum is a
metall naturally
mixt of one portion
of golde and an
other of siluer
beinge of propertie
to bewray poyson,
and was 20
therfore in
owlde tyme in
greater estimation
then golde.
The myne of
Electrum.
An other kynde of
amber is taken out
of greate whale
fishes
Orpement or oker.
Wooddes of
brasile trees.
Causes of
hinderance.
Licenciusnes of
to much libertie
And this only
^thered and not
digged out of the
bodi of the mine
The peoi>le make
supplication to
stand to their
tribute
80
The fyrjt Decade.
ax
theyr portion, and at fuche tyme as they were agreed vppon. But the violent famine dyd fruftrate all thefe
appoyntmentes. For all the trauayles of theyr bodyes, were fcarfely able to fuffice to fynde them meate in the
wooddes, whereby to fufleyne theyr lyues, beinge of long tyme contented with rootes and the fruites of wylde
trees. Yet manye of the kynges with theyr people, euen in this extreme necefTitie, browght parte of theyr
tribute : Mofle humbly defyringe the Admirall to haue compaffion of theyr calamities, and to beare with them
yet a whyle, \ntyll the Hand were reflored to the owlde (late. Promyfmge farther, that that which was nowe
wantinge, fliulde then bee dowble recompenfed. But fewe of the inhabitantes of the mountaynes of Cibaua,
kepte theyr promyfe, bycaufe they were forer oppreiTed with famine then any of the other. They faye, that the
inhabitantes of thefe mountaynes, differ no lelfe in maners and language from them which dwel in the playnes,
then amonge vs, the rufticalles of the countrey from gentylmen of the courte : wheras notwithftandinge, they lyue
bothe as it were vnder one portion of heuen, and in many thinges, much after one faffhion, as in nakednes, and
rude fimplicitie. But nowe lette vs returne to Caimaboa, the kynge of the howfe of golde, beinge in captiuitie.
When he perceaued him felfe to be cade in pryfon, fretinge and gratinge his teethe as it had bin a lyon oi Libia, and
dayely and nightlye deuifinge with hym felfe howe he myght bee delyuered, beganne to perfuade the Admirall, that
for as muche as he had nowe taken vnto his dominion the Region of Cipanga or Cibaua (wherof he was king) it
(hulde bee expedient to fende thyther a garryfon of Chriflian men, to defende the fame from the incurfions of his
owld enemy es and borderers. For he fayde, that it was fignyfied vnto hym, that the countreye was wafled and fpoyled
with fuche incurfions. By this crafty deuife, he thought to haue browght to paffe, that his brother whiche was in
that regyon, and the other his kynfefolkes and frendes with their adherentes, fhoulde haue taken, eyther by
fleyghte or force, as many of owre men, as myght haue redeemed hym. But the Admyrall vnderflandynge his
crafty meanynge, fente Hoieda with fuche a coompany of men; as might vanquifhe the Cibauians, if they fliulde
moue warre ageynfle them. Owre men had fcarfely entered into the Region, but the brother of Caunaioa
came agenfle them with an armie of fyue thoufande naked menne, armed after theyr maner with clubbes,
arrowes typte with bones, and fpeares made harde at the endes with fyre. He flole vpon owre men beyng in
one of theyr howfes : and encamped rownde about the fame on euery fyde. This Cibauian, as a man not
ignorant in the difciplyne of warre, abowte the diflance of a furlonge from the houfe, diuided his armye into
fyue batayles, appoyntinge to euery of them a circuite by equal diuifion : And placed the froont of his owne
batayle, directlye ageynft owre men. When he had thus fet his batayles in good array, he gaue certeyne
fignes that the hole army fliulde mirche forwarde in order with equal paces, and with a larome freffhly aflayle
theyr enemies, in fuch fort that none might efcape. But owre men iudginge it better to encounter with one of
the batayles, then to abyde the brunt of the hole army, gaue onfet on the mayne batayle aranged in the playne,
bycaufe that place was mofl commodious for the horfemen. ^Vhen the horfemen therfore hadde gyuen the
charge, they ouerthrewe them with the brefles of theyr horfes, and flewe as many as abode th[e]ende of the
fyght. The refidue beinge flryken with feare, difparcled, and fledde to the mountaynes and rockes: from
whenfe they made a pytifull houlynge to owre men, defyringe them to fpare them : proteflinge that they wolde
neuer more rebelle, but doo what fo euer they woulde commaunde them, if they wolde fuffer theim to lyue in
theyr owne countrey. Thus the brother of Caunaboa beinge taken, the Admirall hcenced the people to reforte
euery man to his owne. Thefe thinges thus fortunately atchiued this Region was pacified. Amonge thofe
mountaynes, the vale which Caimaboa inhabited, is cauled Magona, and is excedynge fruitfull: hauinge in it
many goodly fpringes : and ryuers, in the fande wherof, is fo^vnde great plentie of golde. The fame yeare in
the mooneth of lune, they faye there rofe fuche a boyfl[r]ous tempefle of wynde from the fowtheafle, as hath not
lyghtly ben harde of: The violence hereof was fuch that it plucked vppe by the roots what fo euer greate trees
were within the reache of the force therof When this whirle wynde came to the hauen of the citie, it beate
downe to the bottome of the fea, three fhippes which lay at anker, and broke the cables in fundre : and that
(which is the greater maruail) without any (lorme or rowghnes of the fea, onely turnynge them three or foure
tymes abowte. The inhabitantes alfo affirme, that the fame yeare, the fea extended it felfe further in to the
lande, and rofe higher then euer it dyd before by the memory of man, by the fpace of a cubet. The people
therfore, muttered amonge them felues, that owre nation hadde trowbled the elementes, and caufed fuch
portentous fignes. Thefe tempefles of the ayer (which the Grecians caule Tiphones, that is, whyrle wyndes)
they caule, Furacanes: which they fay, doo often tymes chaunce in this Ilande: But that neyther they nor
theyr great grandfathers euer fawe fuche violent and furious Furacanes, that plucked vppe greate trees by the
rootes : Neyther yet fuche furges and vehement motions on the fea, that foo wafled the lande. As in deede it
may appeare, for as muche as, where fo euer the fea bankes are nere to any plaine there are in maner euery
where, florifhing medowes reachinge euen vnto the fhore. But nowe let vs returne to Caunaboa. As kynge
Caunaboa therefore and his brother fhoulde haue binne browght into Spayne, they dyed by the waye for verye
penfyuenes and anguyfhe of mynde. The Admiral, whofe fhippes were drowned in the forfayde tempefle,
perceauinge him felfe to bee nowe enclofed, commaunded foorthwith two other fhippes (which the Spaniardes
Eden. K 8i
Famine.
The nature of the
Region disposeth
the maner of the
people.
Kynge Caunaboa
in captiuitie.
The persuasion
of Caunaboa.
21
Caunaboa his
brother rebelleth.
A conflict betwene
the Cibauians and
the Spanyardes.
The Cibauians
haue the
ouerthrowe.
A great tempest
in the moneth
of lune.
Three ships
drowned lyingc
at anker
Whyrle wyndes
Furacanes.
The death of
kynge Caunaboa
and nis brother.
82
The fyrjl Decade.
Baitholomeus
Colonus the
leauetenaunt
search eth the
golde mines.
22
The eolde mynes
of Salomon.
Golde in the
superficiaU partes
of the earth.
The Admiral
taketh his viage
to spaine
The golden towre.
Lacke of vytayles.
Huntinge
houndes.
Kyn^e
Manicautexiu&
Vytayles browght
from Spayne.
Saynt Dominikes
towre.
Groues of
date trees.
Isabella.
23
caiile Caraiielas) to bee made. For he had with hym, all maner of artificers perteyninge therunto. Whyle thefe
thinges were dooinge, he fent foorth BartJiolomeus Colonus his brother, beinge leauetenaunt of the Ilande,
with an army of men to fearche the golde mynes beinge dyflant three fcore leaques from the citie of Jfahdla,
which were fownde by the conducte of certeyne people of the Ilande, beefore the mynes of Cipanga or Cibaua
were knowen. In thefe mynes, they fownde certeyne deepe pittes which had byn digged in owlde tyme, owte
of thefe pyttes, the Admirall (who affirmeth this Ilande of Hifpaniola to bee Ophir, as we haue layde before)
fuppofeth that Salomon the kynge of Hierufalem had his greate ryches of golde wherof we reede in the owlde
teftamente : And that his fliippes fayled to this Ophir by the goulfe of Perfia cauled Sinus Perficus. But
whether it bee foo or not, it lyeth not in me to iudge, but in my opinion it is farre of. As the myners dygged
the fuperficiall or vppermofl parte of the earthe of the mynes, durynge for the fpace of vi miles, and in dyuers
places fyfted the fame on the drye lande, they fownde fuch plentie of golde, that euery hyred labourer could
eafely fynde euery day, the weyght of three drammes. Thefe mynes beinge thus fearched and fownde, the
Lieuetenaunte certifyed the Admirall hereof by his letters. The which when he had receaued the. v. daye of the
Ides of Marche. Anno. 1495. he entered into his newe fliippes, and tooke his viage directly to Spayne to aduertife
the kynge of all his affayres, leauinge the hole regiment of the Hand with his brother the Lieuetenaunte,
il The fyfte booke of the fyrst decade,
to Lodouike Cardinall of Kx2,<gom&.
ilFter the Admyralles departyng into Spain his Brother the Lieuetenaunte, buylded a fort[r]effe
in the golde mynes, as he had commaunded hym. This he cauled the golden towre,
bycaufe the labourers fownde golde in the earth and flone wherof they made the waules of
the fortreffe. He confumed three monethes in makynge the inflrumentes wherwith the
golde fhulde bee gathered, wafhed, tryed, and molten. Yet was he at this tyme by reafon
of wante of vitayles, enforced to leaue all thynges imperfecte, and to goo feeke for meate.
Thus as he with a bande of armed men, had entered three fcore myles further within the
lande, the people of the countrey here and there refortynge to hym, gaue hym a certen portion of theyr breade
in exchange for other of owre thynges. But he coulde not long tary here, bicaufe they lacked meate in the
fortreffe, whyther he hailed with fuch as he had now gotten. Leauyng therfore in the fortreffe a garryfon of
tenne men, with that portion of the Ilande breade whiche yet remayned, leauynge alfo with them a hownde
to take thofe kyndes of lyttle beaftes which they caule Vfias, not muche vnlyke owre conyes, he returned to
the fortreffe of Conception. This alfo, was the moonthe wherin the kynge Guarionexius, and alfo
Manicautexius, bortherer vnto hym, fliulde haue brought in theyr tributes. Remaynynge there the hole
moonthe of lune, he exacted the hole tribute of thefe twoo kinges, and vj'tayles neceffary for hym
and fuche as he brought with hym, whiche were abowt foure hundreth in number. Shortely after, abowte
the calendes of lulye, there came three Caraueles from Spajme, bringynge with them fundry kyndes of
vitayles, as wheate, oyle, wyne, bacon, and marckelmas beafe : whiche were dyuyded to euery man accord-
ynge as neede required. Sum alfo was lofl. in the cariage for lacke of good lookyng too. At the arryuall
of thefe fhyppes, the lieuetenaunte receaued commaundment from the kynge and the Admyrall his brother, that
he with his men fliulde remoue theyr habitation to the fowthe fyde of the Ilande, bycaufe it was nerer to the
golde mynes : Alfo that he flioulde make dilygent fearche for thofe kynges whiche had flayne the Chriftian men,
and to fende them with theyr confederates, bownd into Spayne. At the nexte vyage therfore, he fent three
hundreth captiues with tkree Kinges : And when he had diligently fearched the coaft.es of the fouth fyde, he
tranfported his habitation, and buylded a fortreffe there, vpon the toppe of a hyll, neere vnto a fure hauen.
This fortreffe, he cauled faynt Dominikes towre. Into this hauen, runneth a ryuer of holfome water, replenyftied
with fundrye kyndes of good fyflhes. They affyrme this ryuer to haue many benefytes of nature. For, where
fo euer it runneth all thynges are excedynge pleafaunte and fruitfull: hauynge on euery fyde, groues of date
trees, and dyuers other of the Ilande frutes fo plentyfully, that as they fayled alonge by the fliore, often tymes
the branches therof laden with flowres and fruites, hunge foo ouer theyr heades, that they mi^.ite plucke them
with theyr handes. Alfo that the frutefulnes of this grownde, is eyther equall with the loyle of Ifabella, or
better. In Ifabella, he lefte only certeyne ficke men and fhippe wrightes, whom he had appointed to make
certeyne carauels The refidue of his men, he conueighed to the fowth, to faint Dominickes to^vre. After he
had buylded this fortreffe, leauinge therin a garryfon of. xx. men, he with the remanent of his fouldiers, prepared
The fyrjl Decade.
83
them felues to fearche the inner partes of the Wefle fyde of the Ilande, hytherto knowen onely by name.
Therfore abowte. xxx. leaques, (that is) foure fcore and tenne myles from the fortreffe, he chaunced on the
ryuer Naiba, whiche we fayde to defcende from the mountaynes of Cibaua, ryght towarde the fowth, by the
myddefl of the Hand. When he had ouerpaffed this ryuer with a coompanye of armed men diuided into. xxv.
decurions, that is, tenne in a company with theyr capitaynes, he fent two decurions to the regions of thofe
kinges in whofe landes were the great woods of brafile trees. Inclyninge towarde the lefte hande, they fownde
the woodes, entered into them, and felled the hygh and precious trees, which were to that day, vntouched.
Eche of the decurions fylled certeyne of the Ilande howfes with the trunkes of brafile, there to be referued
vntyll the (hyppes came which Ihulde cary them away. But the Lieuetenaunt directinge his ioumey towarde
the ryght hande, not farre from the bankes of the ryuer of Naiba, fownde a certeyne kynge whofe name was
Beuchius Anacauchoa, encamped ageynft. th[e]inhabitantes of the prouince of Naiba, to fubdue them vnder his
dominion, as he had doone manye other kynges of the Ilande, bortherers vnto hym : The palaice of this great
kynge, is cauled Xaragua : and is fituate towarde the Wefle ende of the Ilande, diftante from the ryuer of
Naiba. xxx. leaques. All the prynces which dwell betwene the Welle ende and his palaice, are ditionaries
vnto hym. All that Region from Naiba, to the furthelle marches of the wefle, is vtterly withowte golde,
althowgh it bee full of mountaynes. When the kynge had efpied owre men, layinge a parte his weapons, and
gyuinge fignes of peace, he fpake gentelly to them, (incerteyne whether it were of humanitie or feare) and
demaunded of them what they woolde haue. The Lieuetenaunte aunfwered : That he Ihulde paye tribute to
the Admirall his brother, in the name of the Chriflian kynge of Spayne. To whom he fayde : Howe can yowe
requyre that of me, whereas neuer a Region vnder my dominion bringeth foorth golde. For he had harde,
that there was a flrange nation entered into the Ilande, whiche made greate fearche for golde. But he fuppofed
that they defyred none other thynge. The leauetenaunt anfwered ageyne : God forbydde that we fhulde enioyne
any man to pay fuch tribute as he myght not eafely forbeare, or fuch as were not engendered or growinge in the
Region : But we vnderfland that your Regions brynge foorth great plentie of Goffampine cotton, and hempe,
with fuche other, whereof we defyre yowe to gyue vs parte. When he harde thefe woordes, he promyfed with
cherefuU countenaunce, to gyue hym as muche of thefe thynges as he wolde requyre. Thus difmifTmge his
army, and fendynge meffengers beefore, he hym felfe accoompanyed the Leauetenaunte and browght hym to
his palaice, beinge dyflante (as we haue fayde). xxx. leaques. In al this tracte, they paffed throwgh the luris-
diction of other princes beinge vnder his dominion : Of the whiche, fume gaue them hempe, of no lefTe goodnes
to make tackelinges for fhippes then owre woodde. Other fume, browght breade, and fum goffampyne cotton :
And foo euery of them payde tribute with fuche commodities as theyr countreys browght foorth. At the lengthe
they came to the kinges manfion place of Xaragua. Before they entered into the palaice, a greate multitude
of the kynges feruauntes and fubiectes reforted to the courte, honorably (after their maner) to receaue theyr
kyng Beuchius Anacauchoa, with the flrangers which he browght with hym to fe the magnificence of his courte.
But nowe fhall yowe heare howe they were interteyned. Amonge other tryumphes and fyghtes, two are
efpecially to bee noted. Fyrfle there mette them a company of xxx. women, beinge al the kynges wyues and
concubines, bearinge in theyr handes branches of date trees, finginge and daunfinge : They were all naked,
fauynge that theyr pryuie partes were couered with breeches of goffampine cotton. But the virgins, hauynge
theyr heare hangynge downe abowte their fhulders, tyed abowte the foreheade with a fyllet, were vtterly naked.
They afRrme that the)T faces, brefles, pappes, handes, and other partes of theyr bodyes, were excedynge fmoothe,
and well proportioned : but fumwhat inclyning to a louely brown. They fuppofed that they had feene thofe
mofl beawtyfull Dryades, or the natyue nymphes or fayres of the fontaynes wherof the antiquites fpeake fo
muche. The branches of date trees which they bore in theyr right handes when they daunced, they delyuered
to the Leauetenaunt with lowe curtefy and fmylynge countenaunce. Thus enteringe into the kynges howfe,
they fownde a delycate fupper prepared for them after theyr maner. When they were well refrefhed with
meate, the nyght drawinge on, they were browght by the kynges officers, euery man to his lodginge, accordyng
to his degree, in certeyne of theyr howfes abowte the palaice, where they refled them in hangynge beddes
after the maner of the countrey, wherof we haue fpoken more largely in an other place.
C The daye folowyng they browght owre men to their common haule, into the whiche they coome together
as often as they make any notable games or triumphes, as we haue faid before. Here, after many daunfynges,
fynginges, mafkinges, runnynges, wrefllynges, and other tryinge of maflryes, foodenly there appered in a large
plaine nere vnto the haule. ii. greate armies of men of warre, whiche the kynge for his paflyme had caufed to bee
prepared, as the Spaniardes vfe the playe with reedes whiche they caule luga de Camas. As the armies drewe
neere together, they affayled the one the other as fierfely, as if mortal ennemies with theyr baners fpleade, fhulde
fight for theyr goodes, theyr landes, theyr lyues, their libertie, -theyr countrey, theyr wyues and theyr chyldren. Soo
that within the momente of an howre, foure men were flayne, and many wounded. The battayle alfo fhoulde haue
contynued longer, if the kynge had not at the requefl of owre men, caufed them to ceafe. The thyrde day, the
The ryuer of
Naiba
Wooddcs of
brasile trees.
Kinge Beuchius
Anacauchoa.
The palaice
of xaragua-
Mountaynes
without gold
Tribute.
The woolfe
entreateth the
sheepe.
Hempe and
gossampine cotton
Howe the
Lieuetenant was
receaued at the
kynges palaice.
The kynges wyuei.
Well fauered
women.
Dryades.
24
A delicate supper.
Hanginge beddes.
A common haule-
A prede pastyme-
Foure men slaine
in sport
84
The fyrji Decade.
Prouision for
diseased men
The castels or
towres of
hispaniola.
The golden
mountaynes
of Cibaua.
Bonftuum
Tribute.
The kynges
rebelle.
Guarionexius
capitaine of
the conspiracie.
An anny of xv.
thousande
Barbarians.
25
The kynges are
taken prisoaers.
Kynge
Guarionexius
is pardoned.
Lacke of vy tayle
Beuchius
Anacauchoa, the
kyngc of Xaragua.
Lieuetenant confelynge the kynge to fowe more plentie of goflampine vppon the bankes nere vnto the waters
fyde, that they niyghte the better paye theyr tribute priuately accordynge to the multitude of theyr howfes, he
repayred to Jfabella to vyfite the ficke men whiche he had lefte there, and alfo to fee howe his woorkes wente for-
warde. In the tyme of his abfence. xxx. of his men were confumed with diuerfe difeafes. Wherfore beinge fore
trowbled in his mynde, and in maner at his wyttes ende what he were beft to doo, for as muche as he wanted al
thynges neceflarie as well to reflore them to healthe whiche were yet acrafed, as alfo vitayles to mayntaine the
hole multitude, where as there was yet no fliippe coome from Spaine, as at the length he determyned to fende
abrode the ficke men here and there to mndrye Regions of the Ilande, and to the caflelles which they had
erected in the fame. For directly from the citie of Ifabella to faynt Dominikes towre, that is, from the north to
the fouth, throwgh the Hand, they had buylded thus many caflelles. Fyrfle. xxxvi. myles diflante from Ifabella,
they buylded the caflell of Sperantia, from Sperantia. xxv. myles, was the caftell of faynte Catharine, from faynte
Catharines, xx. myles, was faynt lames towre. Other, xx. miles from faynte lames towre, was a flronger
fortreffe then any of the other, which they cauled the towre of Conception : which he made the flronger bicaufe it
was fituate at the rootes of the golden mountaynes of Cibaua, in the greate and large playne foo fruitefull and
well inhabited as we haue before defcribed. He buylded alfo an other in the mydde waye betwene the towre
of Conception and faynt Dominikes towre. The which alfo was flronger then the towre of Conception, bycaufe
it was within the lymittes of a great kynge, hauinge vnder his dominion fiue thowfande men : whofe chiefe Citie
and heade of the Realme, beynge cauled Bonauum, he wylled that the caflell fliulde alfo bee cauled after the
fame name. Therfore leauynge the ficke men in thefe caflels and other of the Ilande howfes nere vnto the fame,
he hym felfe repayred to faynte Dominikes, exactinge tributes of all the kynges whiche were in his waye. When
he had taryed there a fewe dayes, there was a rumor fpredde, that all the kynges abowte the borders of the
towre of Conception, had confpyred with defperate myndes to rebell agenfle the Spaniardes. When the
Lieuetenaunte was certified hereof, he tooke his iomeye towarde them immediately, not beyng difcoraged eyther
by the lengthe of the waye, or feebleneffe of his fouldyers, beynge in maner forweried with trauayle. As he
drewe nere vnto them, he had aduertifement that kynge Guarionexius was chofen by the other prynces to bee
the Capitayne of this rebellion : And that he was enforfed therto halfe vnwilling, beynge feduced by theyr
perfwafions and prouocations. The whiche is more lykely to be trewe, for that he had before had experience of
the power and policie of owre men. They came together at a daye appoynted, accoompanied with. xv.
thoufande men, armed after their maner, once agen to proue the fortune of warre. Here the Lieuetenaunte
confultynge with the Capitayne of the fortreffe and the other fouldiers of whom he had the conducte, determyned
to fette vpon them vnwares in their owne howfes before they coulde prepare theyr army. He fent foorthe
therfore to euery kynge, a Centurian, that is, a capitaine of a hundreth, which were commaunded vppon a fudden
to inuade theyr howfes in the night, and to take them fleepinge, beefore the people (beinge fcattered here and
there) might affemble togyther. Thus fecreatly enteringe into their vylages, not fortified with waules, trenches, or
bulwarkes, they broke in vppon them, tooke them, bounde them, and led away euery man his prifoner according
as they were commaunded. The Lieuetenaunt hym felfe with his hundreth men, affayled kynge Guarionexius
as the woorthier perfonage, whom he tooke pryfoner as dyd the other capitaynes theyr kynges, and at the fame
howTe appoynted. Foureteene of theym were browght the fame nyght to the towre of Conception. Shortlye after,
when he had put to death two of the kynges which were the chiefe autours of this newe reuolte, and had fubomed
Guarionexius and the other kynges to attempte the fame: leafl the people for forowe of theyr kynges fhulde
neglecte or forfake their countrey, whiche thinge myght haue byn greate incommoditie to owre men, who by
th[e]increafe of theyr feedes and fruites were oftentymes ayded, he freely pardoned and difmiffed Guarionexius
and the other kynges. The people in the meane tyme flocked togyther abowte the towre, to the nomber
of fyue thowfande withowte weapons, with pytiful houhng for the delyueraunce of theyr kynges: The ayer
thundered, and the earth trembeled throwgh the vehemencie of theyr owtcry The Lieuetenaunt warned
Guarionexius and the other kynges, with threatenynges, with rewardes, and with promyfes, neuer hereafter to
attempte any fuche thynge. Then Guarionexius made an oration to the people of the great power of owre men,
of theyr clemencie towarde offenders, and liberaUtie to fuche as remayne faithfull : defyringe them to quiet theyr
myndes : and from henfefoorth nother in deede nor thowght to interpryfe any thynge ageynfl the Chriflians, but
to obeye and ferue them, excepte they wolde dayly brynge them felues into further calamyties. When the
oration was fynyfhed, they tooke hym vp and fet hym on theyr fhulders, and foo caryed hym home to his owne
palaice. And by this meanes, this Region was pacified for a whyle. But owre men, with heauy countenaunce,
wandered vppe and downe, as defolate in a flrange countrey, lackinge vytailes, and worne owte of apparell,
whereas, xv. moonethes were nowe paffed fence the Admirals departure : duringe which tyme, they coulde heare
nothynge owte of Spayne. The Leauetenaunt comforted them all that he coulde with fayre wordes and promyfes.
In the meane tyme, Beuchius Anacauchoa, the kynge of the Wefle partes of the Region of Xaragua (of whom
we fpake before) fente meffengers to the Lieuetenaunt to fignifye vnto hym, that he hadde in a redynes the
84
Thefyrji Decade.
85
goflampine cotton and fuche other thinges as he wylled hym to prepare for the paymente of his trybute.
Whervppon the Lieuetenaunt tooke his iorney thyther, and was honorably receaued of the kynge and his fyfter,
fumtyme the wyfe of Caunaboa the kynge of Cibaiia, bearing no leffe rule in the 'gouernaunce of her brothers
kyngedome, then he hym felfe. For they affirme her to bee a wyfe woman, of good maners, and pleafaunt in
company. Shee emeflly perfuaded her brother by th[e]example of her hufbande, to loue and obeye the
Chriflians. This woman was cauled Anacaona. He fo^vnde in the palaice of Beuchius Atiacauchoa. xxxii.
kynges whiche hadde browght theyr tributes with them, and abode his comminge. They browght with them
alfo befyde theyr tr)'bute affigned them, further to demerite the fauour of owre men, great plentie of vytayles :
as bothe kyndes of breade, cunnyes, and fyfflies, alredy dryed bycaufe they fhulde not putrifie : Serpentes alfo
of that kynd which wee fayd to bee efteemed amonge them as mofl delicate meate, and lyke vnto Crocodiles
fauing in byggenes. Thefe ferpentes they caule luannas, which owre men learned fumewhat to late to haue byn
engendred in the Ilande. For vnto that day, none of them durfle aduenture to tafle of them by reafon
of theyr horrible deformitie and lothefumnes. Yet the Lieuetenaunt beinge entyfed by the pleafantnes
of the kynges fyfter, determined to tafte of the ferpentes. But when he felte the fleflie therof to bee fo
delicate to his tonge, he fel too, amayne without al feare. The which thinge his coompanyons perceauinge,
were not behynde hym in greedines: In foo muche that they hadde nowe none other talke then of the
fweetenes of thefe ferpentes: which theyaffyrme to bee of more pleafaunte tafte, then eyther owre phefauntes
or pertriches. But they lofe theyr tafte, excepte they bee prepared after a certeyne faffhion : as doo peacockes
and phefauntes except they bee interlarded beefore they bee rofted. They prepare them therefore after this
maner. Fyrft takynge owte theyr bowels euen from the throte to the thyghes, they waflie and rubbe theyr
bodies very cleane bothe within and withowte. Then rouling them togyther on a cyrcle, inuolued after the
maner of a flepynge fnake, they thrufte them into a potte of no bygger capacitie then to houlde them only.
This doone, puttinge a lyttle water vnto them with a portion of the Ilande pepper, they feethe them with a
foft fyer of fweete woodde, and fuche as maketh no greate fmoke. Of the fat of them beinge thus fodde, is made
an excedinge pleafaunte brothe or potage. They fay alfo, that there is no meate to bee compared to the egges
of thefe ferpentes, which they vfe to feethe by them felues. They are good to bee eaten as fone as they are
fodde : And may alfo bee referued many dayes after. But hauinge fayde thus muche of theyr intertaynement
and daintie fare, let vs nowe fpeake of other matters. When the Lieuetenaunt had fylled one of the Ilande
howfes with the gofTampine cotton which he hadde receaued for trybute, the kynges promyfed furthermore to
gyue hym as muche of theyr breade, as he wolde demaunde. He gaue them hartie thankes and gentely
accepted theyr freendly profer. In the meane time whyle this breade was gatheringe in fundry Regions to bee
browght to the palaice of Beuchius Anacauchoa kynge of Xaragua, he fent meffengers to Ifabella for one of the
two carauelles which were lately made there : intendinge to fende the fame thyther ageyne laden with breade.
The maryners gladde of thefe tydynges, layled abowte the Ilande, and in ftiort fpace browght the fliippe to the
coaftes of Xaragua. The fyfter of kynge Beuchius Anacauchoa, that wyfe and pleafaunt woman Anacaona, (the
wyfe fumtyme of Caunaboa the kynge of the golden howfe of the mountaynes of Cibaua, whose hufbande dyed in
the way when he fhulde haue byn caryed into Spayne,) when thee harde faye that owre fhyppe was arryued on
the fliore of her natiue countrey, perfuaded the kynge her brother that they bothe myght goo togyther to fee it.
For the place where the fhyppe lay, was not pafte. vi. myles diflante from Xaragua. They refted all night, in
the mydde way, in a certeyne vyllage in the which was the treafurye or iewell howfe of Aiiacaona. Her
treafure was nother goulde, fyluer, or precious ftones, but only thynges neceffary to bee vfed, as cheyars,
ftooles, fettels, dyfflies, potingers, pottes, pannes, bafons, treyes, and fuche other howfholde ftuffe and inftru-
mentes, workemanly made of a certeyne blacke and harde ftiyninge woodde which that excellent lerned phifition
lohn baptifte Elifius, affirmeth to bee hebene. What fo euer portion of vi^tte nature hath gyuen to the inhabi-
tantes of thefe Ilandes, the fame doth moft appeare in thefe kynde of woorkes, in whiche they fhewe great arte
and cunnyng. But thofe which this woman had, were made in the Hand of Guanabba, fituate in the mouth of
the wefte fyde of Hifpaniola. In thefe they graue the lyuely Images of fuch phantafies as they fuppofe they
fee walke by night which the Antiquitie cauled Lemures. Alfo the Images of men, ferpents, beaftes, and what
foo euer other thyng they haue once feene. What wolde yowe thinke (moft noble Prynce) that they coulde
doo, if they had the vfe of Iren and fteele ? For they onely fyrfte make thefe fofte in the fyre, and afterwarde
make them holowe and came them with a certeyne ftone which they fynde in the ryuers. Of ftooles and
chayers, fhee gaue the Lieuetenaunt. xiiii. And of veffelles perteynynge to the table and kychen, fhee gaue hym
three fcore, fum of wood and fume of earthe. Alfo of goflampine cotton ready fpunne foure great bottomes of
excedinge weight. The day folowing when they came to the fea fyde, where was an other vylage of the kynges,
the Lieuetenaunt commaunded the fhyppe boat to bee browght to the fhore. The kyng alfo had prepared two
canoas, paynted after theyr maner : one for hym felfe and certeyne of his gentelmen : an other for his fyfter
Anacaona and her waytinge women. But Anacaona defyred to bee caried in the fhyppe boate with the
K 2 85
Queene Anacaon.i,
the wife of kynge
Caunaboa.
xxxii. kynges.
Serpentes eaten.
26
The dressing of
serpentes to be
eaten.
Serpentes
egges eaten
Gossampine
cotton.
Queene Anacaona
The treasurie of
Queene Anacaona
Hebene woode.
The Ilande of
Guanabba
Conningeartificersi
A stone in the
steede of Iren
86
The fyrjl Decade.
Gunnes.
27
Musical
instrumentes.
Ignorance causeth
admiration.
Roldanus
Xeminus.
The intemperancie
and malice of a
seruile witte
aduaunced.
Ciguaians.
Maiobanexitis, the
great kynge of
the mountaynes
The inhabytantes
of the mountaynes.
Guarionexiiis
rebelleth ageyne.
Roldanus
Xeminus rebelleth.
28
Licenciousnes
in libeitic
Hercules pyllers
A violentc
penasion.
Lieuetenaunte. When they nowe approched nere vnto the fliyppe, certeyne great pieces of ordinaunce were
difcharged of purpofe. The fea was fylled with thunder, and the ayer with fmooke. They trembled and
quaked for feare, fuppofinge that the frame of the world had byn in danger of fauling. But when they fawe
the Lieuetenaunte lawgh, and looke cherefully on them, they cauled ageyne theyr fpirites. And when
they yet drewe nerer to the fliippe, and harde the noyfe of the fluites, flialmes, and drummes, they
were wonderfully aflonyed at the fweete harmony therof Enterynge into the fhyppe and beholdinge the fore-
fhippe and the flerne, the toppe caflel, the mafle, the hatches, the cabens, the keele, and the tackelinges, the
brother fixinge his eyes on the fyfler, and the fyfler on the brother, they were bothe as it were dumme and
amafed, and wyfle not what to faye for too muche wonderynge. Whyle beholdinge thefe thinges they wandered
vp and downe the fhippe, the Lieuetenaunt commaunded the ankers to bee loofed, and the failes to be hoyfed
vp. Then were they further aflonyfhed, when they fawe foo greate a mole, to moue as it were by it felfe,
without ores and without the force of man. For there arofe from the earth fuche a wynde as a man wolde haue
wyfhed for of purpofe. Yet furthermore, when they perceaued the fliyppe to moue fumtyme forwarde and
fumtyme backewarde : fumtyme towarde the ryght hande and fumtyme towarde the lefte, and that with one
wynde and in maner at one inflante, they were at theyr wyttes ende for to muche admiracion. Thefe thyuges
fyniflied and the fliyppes beinge laden with breade and fuche other rewardes, they beinge alfo recompenfed
with other of owre thynges, he difmifled not onely the kynge Beuchius Anacauchoa, and his fyfler, but lykewife
all theyr feruauntes and women replenyflied with ioye and woonderinge. After this, he hym felfe tooke his
iomey by foote with his fouldiers to the citie of Ifabella: where he was aduertifed that one Roldanus Ximenus,
a nawghty felowe, (whom before beinge his feraante, he had preferred to bee capitayne of the myners and
labourers, and after made hym a ludge in caufes of controuerfie) had vfed hym felfe owtragioufly and was
malycioufly mynded ageinfl hym, and further, the caufe of muche mifchiefe in his abfence. For kynge
Guarionexius (who a whyle before was pardoned of his former rebellion, and perfuaded the people to obeye the
Spanyardes) was by his nawghty vfage, and fuche other as were confethered with hym, fo accenfed to reuenge
the iniuries which they fufleyned at his handes, byfyde the abhominable actes which they folowynge onely the
lawe 01 nature, abhorred to admytte, that he with his famelie, famylyers, and ditionaries, of defperate mynde
fledde to the mountaynes beinge diflant from Ifabella onely tenne leaques Weflwarde, towarde the north fyde
of the fea. Thefe mountaynes, and alfo the inhabitantes of the fame they caule by one name Ciguaios. The
greate kyng of al the kynges and regions of thefe mountayne[s], is cauled Maiobanexius: and his courte or
palaice is named Capronus. The mountaynes are rowgh, hygh, and fuche as no man can paffe to the toppes
therof They are alfo bendynge : and haue theyr comers reachinge downe to the fea. Betwene bothe the
comers of the mountaynes, is there a greate playne, by the which many riuers faule from the mountaynes into
the fea. The people are verye fierfe and warlyke men, hauing theyr original of the Canybales. For when they
defcende from the mountaynes to the playnes to keepe warre with theyr bortherers, they eate all fuche as they
kyll. Guarionexius therfore, flyinge to this kyng of thefe mountaynes, gaue hym many prefentes of fuche
thynges as are wantinge in his countrey : therwith declaringe howe vylely, vylaynoufly, and violently, he had
byn vfed of owre men : with whom he could nothinge preuayle nother by fayre meanes, nor by foule : nother
by humilytie nor by ft.outnes. And that to bee the caufe of his refortinge to hym at that tyme : mofle humbly
defyring hym to bee his defence ageynll th[e]oppreflions of fuche myfcheuous people. Maiobanexius here
vppon, made hym promefle to ayde and helpe hym ageynft, the Chriflians al that he myght The Lieuetenaunt
therfore made haft, to the fortreffe of Conception ; whyther as foone as he was coome, he fent for Roldanus
Xeminus, who with fuche as folowed hym, lay in certeyne of the Ilande vylages, twelue miles diftant from the
fortres. At his comminge, the Leauetenaunt afked h3Tn what al thefe flurres and tumultes ment He anfwered
without abafliement : Yowre brother the Admirall hath to do ther^vith, and ftiall anfwere for the fame before the
kynge. For we perceaue that the kynge hath foo put hym in traft.e, that he hath hadde no regarde to vs.
Here we peryflie for hunger whyle we folowe yowe : and are dryuen to feeke owre vnhappy foode in the defertes.
Yowre brother alfo, affigned me afliftant with yowe in goueminge the Ilande. Wherfore fyth yowe haue no
more refpecte vnto vs, we are determyned noo longer to bee vnder yo\vre obedience. When Roldanus had
fpoken thefe wordes and fuche other, the Lieuetenaunte wolde haue layde handes on hym : but he efcaped
his fyngers, and fledde to the wefle partes of the Region of Xaragua, hauinge with hym a trayne of
threefcore and tenne men whiche were of his confetheracie. Here this fylthy fynke of rebels thus confpired,
played their vages and lyued with loofe brydels in al kyndes of myfchefe, robbynge the people, fpoylinge the
countrey, and rauyftiinge bothe wyues and virgines. Whyle thefe thynges were doing in the Ilande, the Admirall
hadde eyght fliyppes appoynted hym by the kinge: Of the whiche he fent two laden with vitayles, from Cales or
Cades of Hercules pyllers, directly to the Lieuetenaunt his brother. Thefe fliyppes by chaunce arryued fyrfl. on
that fyde of the Ilande where Rolandus Xeminus ranged with his coompanyons. Rolandus in fliorte tyme hadde
feduced them : promyfinge them in the ft.eade of mattockes, wenches pappes : for laboiu-e, pleafure : for hunger,
86
The fyrjl Decade.
87
abundance : and for weaiynes and watchinge, fleepe and quietnes. Guarionexius in the meane tyme, aflemblynge
a power of his freendes and confetherates, came oftentymes downe into the playne, and flewe as many of the
Chriflian men, as he coulde meete conuenientlye, and alfo of the Ilande menne whiche were the)T: freendes :
waflynge theyr grounde, dellroyinge theyr feedes, and fpoyUnge theyr vylages. But Roldanus and his adherentes,
albeit they had knowleage that the Admiral wolde fhortly coome, yet feared they nothynge bycaufe they had feduced
the newe menne whiche came in the fyrfte (hippes. Whyle the Lieuetenaunt was thus tofled in the middeft of
thefe (lormes, in the meane tyme his brother the Admyrall fet forwarde from the coafles of Spayne : But not
directly to Hifpaniola : For he turned more towarde the fouthe. In the which vyage, what he dyd, what coafles
bothe of the lande and fea he coompafed, and what newe regions he difcouered, wee wyl fyrfl declare. For to
what ende and conclufion the fayde tumultes and feditions came, wee wyll expreffe in th[e]ende of the booke
folowynge. Thus fare ye weU.
C The syxte booke of the fyrste decade,
^0 Lodouike Cardina// 0/ Avagome.
O/onus the Admyral, the thyrde day of the Calendes of lune, in the yeare of Chrifle. 1498.
hoyfed vp his fayles in the hauen of the towne Barramedabas, not farre diflante from Cales :
and fet forwarde on his wage with eyght fliippes laden with vytayles and other neceffaries.
He diuerted from his accuRomed rafe which was by the Ilandes of Canarie, by reafon of
certeyne frenchemen pirates and rouers on the fea, whiche laye in the ryght way to meete
with hym. In the way from Cales to the Ilandes of Canarie, abowte foure fcore and ten
myles towarde the lefte hande, is the Ilande of Madera, more fouthwarde then the citie of
Ciuile by foure degrees. For the pole artyke is eleuate to Ciuile, xxxvi. degrees : But to this Hand (as the
mariners faye) only xxxii. He fayled therfore fyrfle to Madera. And fendinge from thenfe directly to
Hifpaniola, the refydue of the fhippes laden with vytayles and other neceflaries, he hym felfe with one (hyppe
with deckes, and two marchaunt carauelles coafled towarde the fouthe to coome to the Equinoctial lyne, and
fo furth to folowe the tracte of the fame towarde the Wefl, to th[e]intent to fearche the natures of fuche places
as he coulde fynde vnder or nere vnto the fame, leauinge Hifpaniola on the north fyde on his ryght hande. In
the myddle of his rafe, lye. xiii. Ilandes of the Portugales, whiche were in owlde tyme cauled Hefperides : And
are now cauled Caput Viride, or Cabouerde. Thefe are fituate in the fea, ryght ouer ageynfl the inner partes of
Ethiope, Weflwarde two dayes faylinge. One of thefe the Portugales caule Bonauifla. With the fnayles, or rather
tortoyfes of this Ilande, many leprous men are healed and clenfed of the3T leprofitie. Departing fodainly from henfe
by reafon of the contagioufnes of the ayre, he fayled. CCCCLXXX. [four hundred and eighty] myles towarde the
Welle fouthwefl, which is the myddefl betwene the wefte and the fouthe. There was he fo vexed with maladies and
heate (for it was the moneth of lune) that his fliyppes were almofte fette on fyre. The hoopes of his barrels cracked
and brake, and the frefflie water ranne owte. The men alfo complayned that they were not able to abyde that
extremitie of heate. Here the northe pole was eleuate only. v. degrees from the Horizontall. For the fpace of.
viii. dayes in the which he fuffered thefe extremites, only the fyrll day was fayre : but all the other, clowdy and
rayny: yet neuertheleffe feruent hotte. Wherefore it oftentymes repented hym not a little that euer he tooke
that way. Beinge toffed in thefe dangiours and vexations eyght contynuall dayes, at the lengthe an Eaflfoutheafte
wynde arofe, and gaue a profperous blafle to his fayles. Which wynde folowinge directly towarde the wefle, he
fownde the llarres ouer that paralelle, placed in other order, and an other kynde of ayer, as the Admirall hym felfe
towlde me. And they al affirme, that within three dayes faylinge, they fownde mofle temperate and pleafaunte
ayre. The Admirall alfo affirmeth, that from the clime of the great heate and vnholfome ayer, he euer afcended
by the backe of the fea, as it were by a hygh mountayne towarde heauen. Yet in all this tyme, coulde he not
once fee any lande. But at the length, the day before the Calendes of luly, the watcheman lookynge foorth of
the toppecaflell of the greateft. Ihyppe, cryed owte alowde for ioy that he efpyed three excedynge hyghe
mountaynes : Exhortinge his felowes to bee of good cheere, and put away all penfiuenes. For they were very
heauy and forowfuU, as well for the greefe which they fufteyned by reafon of th[e]intollerable heate, as alfo that
their frelhe water fayled them, which ranne owte at the ryftes of the barels, caufed by extreme heate as we haue
fayde. Thus beinge wel conforted, they drewe to the lande. Yet at theyr fyrfl, approche, they coulde not arryue by
reafon of the (halownes of the fea nere the Ihore. Yet lookyng owte of theyr fhyppes, they might wel perceaue
that the Region was inhabyted and well cultured. For they fawe very fayre gardens, and pleafaunte medowes :
The furie of
guarionexius
The thyrde vyage
of Colonus the
Admirall.
Frenche mcu
pyrats.
The Hand of
M.^dera.
The Admiral
[sjaj^leth to the
EquinoctialL
xiii. Ilandes of
Hesperides, no\v
cauled Cabouerde
Healynge of the
leper.
Contagious ayre
and extreenie heate
The pole eleuate.
V degrees.
29
The starres placed
in other order.
A sea rysyng lyke
a mountayne.
Heate ciuseth the
barrets to brekc.
88
The fyrjl Decade.
Swete sauours
proceadynge
frome the lande.
ThellandofPuta-
People of feoodjly
corporature and
longe heare nere
the EquinoctialL
The higher the
coulder.
Difference
betwene people of
one cUme.
Ethiopia.
Note the cause of
difference.
Musical
instruDienles.
30
The violent course
of the water from
the Easte to the
Weste.
The goulfe cauled
Os Draconls.
A conflict betwene
the freshe water
and the salte.
A sea of fresh
water.
Mannasets and
monkeys.
frome the trees and herbes wherof, when the momynge dewes beganne to ryfe, there proceaded manye fweete
feuoures. Twentie myles diflant from henfe, they chaunced into a hauen, verye apte to harborowe (hippes, but
it had no ryuer runninge into it. Saylinge on yet fumwhat further, he fownde at the lengthe a commodious
hauen wherin he might repayre his fliippes and make prouifion of freffhe water and fuell. Arenalis cauleth
this lande Puta. They fownd no houfes nere vnto the hauen : but innumerable (leppes of certein wilde beafl.es
feete, of the which they fownde one deade much lyke a goate. The day folowynge, they fawe a Canoa
commynge a farre of, hauinge in it. xxiiii. younge men of godly corporature and high flature, al armed with
targets, bowes and arowes The heare of theyr beds, was longe and plaine, and cutte on the forheade much
after the maner of the Spanyardes. Theyr priuie partes were couered with fillettes of goflampyne cotton, of
fundry coloures enterlaced ; And were befyde al ouer naked. Here the Admirall confideringe with hym felfe
the corporature of this people and nature of the lande, he beleaued the fame to bee foo much the nerer heauen
then other Regions of the fame paralelle, and further remoued from the groffe vapours of the vales and maryffhes,
howe muche the hyghefte toppes of the byggefl mountaynes are diflante from the deepe vales. For he emeftly
affirmeth, that in all that nauigation, he neuer wente owte of the paralelles of Ethiope : So greate difference is
there betwene the nature of th[e]inhabitantes and of the foyles of dyuers Regions all vnder one clyme or
paralelle: as is to fee betwene the people and regions being in the firme lande of Ethiope, and theym of the
Ilandes vnder the fame clime, hauinge the pole ftarre eleuate in the fame degree. For the Ethiopians are all
blacke, hauinge theyr heare curld more lyke wulle then heare. But thefe people of the Hand of Puta (beinge
as I haue fayde vnder the clyme of Ethiope) are whyte, with longe heare, and of yelowe colour. Wherfore it is
apparente, the caufe of this foo greate difference, to bee rather by the difpofition of the earthe, then conftitucion
of heauen. For wee knowe, that fnowe fauleth on the mountaynes of the Equinoctiall or bumte lyne, and the
fame to endure there continually: We knowe lykewyfe that th[e]inhabitantes of the Regions farre diflante frome
that lyne towarde the northe, are molefted with greate heate.
^i; The Admiral that he myght allure the younge men to him with gentelnes, fhewed them lokynge glaCfes,
fayre and bright veffelles of copper, haukes belles, and fuche other thynges vnknowen to them. But the more
they were cauled, fo much the more they fufpected crafte and deceate, and fledde backewarde. Yet dyd they
with greate admiracion beholde owre men and theyr thynges, but flyll hauinge their ores in theyr handes redy
to flye. When the Admirall fawe that he coulde by no meanes allure them by gyftes, he thought to proue what
he coulde do with muficall inflrumentes : and therefore commaunded that they which were in the greatefl (hippe,
(hulde play on theyr drummes and ftialmes. But the younge men fuppofmge this to bee a token of battayle,
lefte theyr ores, and in the twyn[k]lynge of an eye hadde put theyr arrowes in theyr bowes and theyr targettes
on theyr armes : And thus directinge theyr arrowes towarde owre men, ftoode in expectacion to knowe what
this noyfe myght meane. Owre men lykewife preparinge theyr bowes and arrowes, approched toward them by
lyttle and lyttle. But they departinge from the Admirals fhippe, and truftinge to the dexteritie of theyr ores
came foo neare one of the leffe fhippes, that one of theym plucked the cloke from the gouernour of that fhippe,
and as wel as they coulde by fignes, requyred hym to coome alande, promyfmge feyth that they wolde common
with hym of peace. But when they fawe hym goo to the Admirals fhippe whether he went to aflce leaue that
he might common with them, fufpectinge heareby fume further deceate, they lept immediatly into the Canoa,
and fledde as ftvyft as the wynde. So that to conclude, they coulde by no meanes be allured to famiUaritie.
Wherfore the Admirall thowght it not conuenient to beftowe any longe tyme there, at this vyage. No greate
fpace frome this Ilande, euer towarde the wefle, the Admirall faith he fownde fo owteragious a faule of water,
runninge with fuch a violence from the Eafle to the Wefle, that it was nothynge inferioure to a myghty flreame
faul)Tige from hyghe mountaynes. He alfo confeffed, that fince the fyrfl daye that euer he knewe what the fea
mente, he was neuer in fuche feare. Proceadinge yet fumwhat further in this daungerous vyage, he fownde
certeyne goulfes of viii. myles, as it had byn the[e]nteraunce of fume greate hauen, into the which, the fayde
violent flreames dyd faule. Thefe goulfes or flreyghtes, he cauled Os Dracotiis, that is, the dragons mouth.
And the Hand directly ouer ageynfle the fame, he named Margarita. Owte of thefe flreyghtes, iffliewed no
leffe force of frefihe water : whiche encounteringe with the faulte, dyd flryue to pafTe foorth : Soo that betwene
bothe the waters, was no fmaule conflict But enteringe into the goulfe, at the lengthe he fownde the water
therof very freffhe and good to drynke. The Admyrall hym felfe, and they which were his companions in this
vyage, beinge men of good credit, and perceauinge my diligence in fearchinge for thefe matters, towlde me yet
of a greater thynge. That is, that for the fpace of xxvL leaques, amountynge to a hundreth and foure myles, he
fayled euer by frefhe water : In fo muche, that the further he proceaded, efpecially towarde the wefl, he affirm-
eth the water to bee the frefflier. After this, he came to a highe mountayne, inhabited onely with moonkeys or
marmafits on that part towarde the Eafl. For that fyde was rowgh with rockye and flony mountains : And ther-
fore not inhabyted with men. Yet they that went alande to fearche the countrey, fownde nere vnto the fea,
many fayre fieldes well tylled and fowen : But noo people, nor yet houfes or cotages. Parhappes they were
The fyrjl Decade.
89
gone further into the countrey to fowe theyr come and applye theyr hufbandry, as wee often fee owre hufbande
men to leaue theyr flations and vylages for the fame purpofe. In the wefle fyde of that mountayne, they
efpyed a large playne, whither they made hafle, and cafl anker in the brode ryuer. As foone as the inhabi-
tantes had knowleage that a flrange nation was arryued in theyr coafles, they came flockinge withowte all feare
to fee owre men. We vnderflode by theyr fygnes and poyntynges, that this Region was cauled Paria : and
that it was very large : In fo muche that the further it reacheth towarde the wefle, to be fo muche the better
inhabited and replenifhed with people. The Admiral therfore, takynge into his fhyppe foure of the men of
that lande, fearched the wefte partes of the fame. By the temperatenes of the ayer, the pleafauntnes of the
grownde, and the multytude of people which they faw dayly more and more as they fayled, they coniectured
that thefe thynges portended fum great matter : As in deede their opinion fayled them not, as we wyll
further declare in his place. The foonne not yet ryfen, but beginninge euen now to ryfe, beinge one day allured
by the pleafauntnes of the place and fweete fauours which breathed from the land to the fhippes, they went
alande. Here they fownde a greater multytude of people then in any other place. As owre men approched
towarde them, there came certeine meffengers from their Ctuid, that is, the kynges of the countrey, to defyre
the Admirall in the name of theyr princes to coome to theyr palayces withowte feare, and that they and al
theyrs ftiulde bee at his commaundement. When the Admirall had thanked them and made his excufe for
that tyme, there came innumerable people with theyr boates to the fhippes : hauyng for the moft. parte cheynes
abowte theyr neckes, garlandes on theyr heades, and brafelettes on theyr armes of pearles of India : And that
fo commonlye, that owre women in playes and tryumphes haue not greater plentie of (lones of glaffe and cryflall
in theyr garlandes, crownes, gerdels, and fuche other tyrementes. Beinge afked where they gathered them,
they poynted to the next Ihore by the fea bankes. They fignified alfo by certeyne fcorneful gieflures which
they made with theyr mouthes and handes, that they nothyng efleemed perles. Taking alfo bafkettes in theyr
handes, they made fignes that the fame might bee fylled with them in (horte fpace. But bycaufe the corne
wherwith his fliyppes were laden to bee caryed into Hifpaniola, had taken hurt by reafon of the falte water, he
determined to deferre this marte to a more conuenient tyme. Yet he fent to lande two of the (hippe boates
laden with men, to th[e]intent to fetch fum garlandes of perles for exchange of our thynges, and alfo fumwhat
to fearche the nature of the Region and difpofition of the people. They enterteyned owr men gentelly : and
came flockynge to them by heapes, as it hadde byn to beholde fume (Iraunge monfters. Fyrfle there came to
meete owre men, two men of grauitie, whome the multitude folowed. One of thefe was well in age, and the
other but younge. They thinke it was the father with his foonne whiche fhulde fuccede hym. When the one
had faluted and embrafed the other, they browght owre men into a certeyne rownde howfe, nere vnto the
whiche, was a greate courte. Hether were browght many chayers and flooles made of a certeyne blacke woodde,
and very coonningely wrowght. After that owre men, and theyr Princes were fette, theyr wayting men came in
laden, fume with fundry delicate dyffhes, and fume with wyne. But theyr meate, was only fruites : and thofe
of dyuers kyndes and vtterly vnknowen to vs. Theyr wyne was both whyte and redde : not made of grapes,
but of the lycour of dyuers fruites, and very pleafaunte in drynkynge. After this banquette made in the owlde
mans howfe, the younge man browght them to his tabernacle or mancion place, where was a greate coorapany
bothe of men and women, but they ftoode deceauered the one from the other. They are whyte, euen as owre
men are, fauynge fuche as are much conuerfant in the fonne. They are alfo very gentyll, and full of humanitie
towarde (Irangiers. They coouer theyr pryuie partes with goffampine cotton wrowght with fundry coloures:
and are befyde all naked. There was fewe or none, that had not eyther a coUer, a cheyne, or a brafelette of
golde and pearles, and many had all. Beinge alked where they had that golde, they poynted to certeyne
mountaynes, feemynge with theyr countenaunce to diffuade owre men from goinge thyther. For puttinge theyr
armes in theyr mouthes, and grynninge as thowgh they bytte the fame, flylle poyntinge to the mountaynes, they
feemed to infmuate that men were eaten there : But whether they mente by the Canibales, or wylde beafles
owre men cowlde not well perceaue. They tooke it excedinge greeuouflye, that they coulde nother vnderflande
owre men, nor owre men them. When they which were fente to lande, were returned to the fhippes abowte
three of the clocke at after noone the fame daye, bringinge with them certeyne garlandes and collers of pearles,
they loofed theyr ankers to departe, myndinge to coome ageyne fhortly, when all thynges were fette in good
order in Hifpaniola. But he was preuented by an other, which defeated hym of the rewarde of his trauayle.
He was alfo hyndered at this tyme by reafon of the fhalownes of the fea and violent courfe of the water, which
with continual tofling, broofed the greatefl, (hip as often as any great gale of wynde arofe. To auoyde the
daungiours of fuche fhalowe places, and fhelfes, he euer fent one of the fmaulefl carauelles before, to try the
way with foundinge: and the byggeft fhyppes folowed behynde. The Regions beinge in the large prouince of
Paria for the fpace of CCXXX. [two hundred and thirty] myles, are cauled of th[e]inhabitantes, Cumana, and
Manacapana: from thefe regions diflant three fcore leaques, is there an other Region cauled Ctiriaiia. When
he had thus pafled ouer this long tract of fea, fuppofmg flyll that it had byn an Ilande, and doutinge that he
The fayre and
iar^e region of
pana.
Temperate ayer
and frutful
grounde.
Swete sauours
proceadynge
froine the lande.
Humayne people.
Cheynes and
garlandes of gold
and perles
31
Baskettes ful of
pearles, I kiiowc
who had bags ful.
Howe the
Admirals men
were enterteyned.
Cheyers and
stoles of hebene.
Fruites and wyne.
Wyne of the
lycour of fruites.
Whyte men nere
the Equinoctial
Mountaynes arc
the matrices of
golde.
Canibales
Shalownes of the
sea.
The vse of
careuelles or
brigantines.
Cumana and
Manacapana
regions of the
prouince of P.iria.
Curian?,
90
The fyrjl Decade.
A r>'uer of
maruelous depth
and bredth.
A sea of weedes.
Lentiscus.
Mastix.
32
The eleuation of
the pole at Paria.
Note a secreate
as concerning the
pole starre.
An experience
A maruelous
secreate.
That the earth is
not perfectly
rownde.
Paradise is in the
mountaynes of
paria.
Looke the ninth
booke seconde
decade.
Paria is part of
the firme lande of
india
Tyme reuealeth a1
things
Paria more
southewarde then
hispaniola
The spanyardcs
rebell in the
.\dmirals absence
might paffe by the Welle to the Northe directlye to Hifpaniola, he chaunced into a ryuer of. xxx. cubettes
depthe, and of fuch breadth as hath not lyghtly byn harde of. For he affirmeth it to bee. xxviii. leaques. A
lyttle further toward the Wefle, yet fumwhat more fowthwarde as the bending of the fhore requyred, he entered
into a fea full of herbes or weedes. The feede of the herbes whiche fwymme on the water, are muche lyke the
berryes of the tree cauled Leniifcus, which beareth the fweete gumme cauled Mqftix. They grewe foo thicke,
that they fumetyme in maner flayed the fhippes. The Admirall reported, that here there is not one daye
thorowghe owte all the yeare muche longer or fhorter then an other : And that the Northe pole is here eleaute
onely fyue degrees as at Paria, in whofe tracte all thefe coafles lye. Hee alfo declared certeyne thynges as
concerninge the variete of the northe pole : The which becaufe they feeme contrarye to th[e]oppinions of all the
Aflronomers, I wyll louche them but with a drye foote as fayth the prouerbe. But it is wel knowen (mode
noble prince) that the flarre which we caule the pole flarre, or northe (larre, (cauled of the Italians Tramontana)
is not the very poynte of the pole Artyke vppon the whiche the axes or extremities of heauens are turned abowte.
The which thynge may well be proued, if when the flarres fyrfl appeare, yowe beeholde the pole flarre throwgh
any narowe hole. For foo, applyinge yowre inftrument therto in the morninge fumwhat before the day
fpringe haue blemyfhed theyr lyght, yf then yowe looke throwgh the fame hole, yowe fhall perceaue it to bee
moued from the place where yowe fawe it fyrfl. But howe it commeth to paffe, that at the beginnynge of the euenyng
twilight, it is eleuate in that Region only fyue degrees in the moneth of lune, and in the morninge twylight to
bee eleuate. xv. degrees by the fame quaadrante, I doo not vnderflande. Nor yet doo the reafons which he
bringeth, in any poynt fatyffye me. For he fayth, that he hereby coniectured, that the earth is not perfectlye
rownde : But that when it was created, there was a certeyne heape reyfed theron, much hygher then the other
partes of the fame. So that (as he faith) it is not rownde after the forme of an apple or a bal (as other thynke)
but rather lyke a peare as it hangeth on the tree : And that Paria is the Region which pofTeffeth the fuper-
eminente or hyghefl parte thereof nerefle vnto heauen. In foo muche that he emeflly contendeth, the earthly
Paradyfe to bee fituate in the toppes of thofe three hylles, which wee fayde beefore, that the watche man fawe
owte of the toppe caflell of the fhippe: And that the outragious flreames of the firefhe waters whiche foo
violentlye iffhewe owte of the fayde goulfes and flryue foo with the falte water, faule headlonge from the toppes
of the fayde mountaynes. But of this matter, it fhall fuflfice to haue fayde thus muche. Lette vs nowe therfore
returne to the hiflorye from which we haue dygreffed. When he perceaued hym felfe to bee thus inwrapped in
foo greate a goulfe beyonde his expectacion, foo that he had now no hope to fynde any paflage towarde the
northe whereby he myght fayle directly to Hifpaniola, he was enforfed to tume backe the fame way by the
which he came, and directed his viage to Hifpaniola by the northe of that lande lyinge towarde the Eafle.
They which afterwarde fearched this lande more curiouflye, wyll it to bee parte of the continente or firme lande
of India, and not of Cuba as the Admiral fuppofed. For there are many which affirme that they haue fayled
rownd abowt Cuba. But whether it bee fo or not, or whether enuyinge the good fortune of this man, they feeke
occafions of querelinge ageynfle hym, I can not iudge : But tyme fhall fpeake, which in tyme appoynted,
reuealeth both truth and falfehod. But whether Paria be Continent or not, the Admirall dothe not muche
contende. But he fuppofeth it to bee Continente. He alfo affirmeth that Paria is more fouthewarde then
Hifpaniola, by eyght hundreth fourefcore and two myles. At the length he came to Hifpaniola (to fee his
fouldiers which he left with his brethren) the thyrde day of the calendes of September: In the yeare 1498.
But (as often tymes chaunceth in humayne thynges,) amonge his foo many profperous, pleafaunte, and luckye
affayres, fortune mengeled fume feedes of wormewoodde, and corrupted his pure come with the malicious
weedes of coccle.
The seventh booke of the fyrst decade,
to the fame Lodouike Cardinall. etc.
[Hen the Admirall was nowe coome to the Ilande of Hifpaniola, he fownde all thynges
confounded and owte of order. For Roldanus (of whom wee fpake beefore) refufed in his
abfence to obey his brother, truflinge to the multitude of fuch as were confethered with him.
And not onely behaued hym felfe proudely ageynfl the Admiralles brother and Lieuetenaunt
fumtyme his maifter, but alfo fe.nte letters to his reproche to the kynge of Spayne, therin
accufinge bothe the brethren, leying heynous matters to theyr charges. But the Admirall
ageyne, fent meCfengers to the kynge, which myght informe hym of theyr rebellion : Inflantly
defyringe his grace, to fende hym a newe fupplye of men, wherby he myght fuppreffe theyr licentioufnes and
The fyrjt Decade.
91
punyfhe them for theyr mifcheuous actes. They accufed the Admirall and his brother to bee vniufl men, cruel
enemies and fheaders of the Spanyfhe bludde : declarynge that vppon euery lyght occafion, they wolde racke
them, hange them, and heade them : And that they tooke pleafure therin. And that they departed from them
as from cruell tyrantes and wylde beafles reioyfinge in bludde, alfo the kynges enemyes. Affyrminge lykewyfe
that they well perceaued theyr intente to bee none other then to vfurpe Th[e]empire of the Ilandes : whiche
thynge (they fayde) they fufpected by a thoufand coniectures. And efpecially in that they wolde permitte none
to reforte to the golde mynes, but only fuche a^s were theyr familiers. The Admirall on the contrary parte,
when he defyred ayde of the kynge to infringe theyr infolencie, auouched that al thofe his accufers, which had
deuifed fuche lyes ageynfle hym, were nowghtye felowes, abhominable knaues and vylaynes, theues and baudes,
ruffians aduouterers and rauifhers of women, faulfe periured vagabundes, and fuche as had byn eyther conuict in
pryfons, or fledde for feare of Judgment: foo efcaping punyfhement, but not leauinge vice wherin they (lyll
contynued and browght the fame with them to the Ilande, lyuinge there in lyke maner as before, in thefte,
lechery, and all kyndes of myfcheefe : And foo gyuen to Idlenes and fleepe, that wheras they were browght
thyther for myners, labourers, and fcullyans, they wolde not nowe goo one furlonge from theyr houfes except
they were borne on mens backes, lyke vnto them whiche in owlde tyme were cauled Ediks Curules. For, to
this office, they put the miferable Ilande men, whom they handeled mofle cruelly. For leafle theyr handes
fhulde difcontinewe from (headinge of bludde, and the better to trye theyr flrength and manhod, they vfed nowe
and then for theyr paftyme to flryue amonge them felues and proue who coulde mofl. cleanely wth his fwoorde
at one flroke (Iryke of the heade of an innocente. Soo that he which coulde with mofle agilitie make the
heade of one of thofe poore wretches to flye quyte and cleane from the body to the grounde at one flroke, he
was the bed man and counted mode honorable. Thefe thynges and many fuche other, the one of them layde
to the others charge beefore the kynge. Whyle thefe thynges were doinge, the Admirall fente his brother the
lieuetenaunt with an army of foure fcore and tenne footemen, and a fewe horfemen, (with three thoufande of
the Ilande men which were mortall enemies to the Ciguauians) to meete the people of Ciguaua, with Kynge
Guarionexius theyr graunde capitayne, who had doone muche myfcheefe to owre men and fuche as fauoured
theym. Therefore when the Lieuetenaunt had conducted his army to the bankes of a certeyne greate ryuer
runnynge by the playne which we fayd before to lye betwene the comers of the mountaynes of Ciguaua and
the fea, he fownde two fcoutes of his enemyes lurkinge in certeyne buffhes : wherof the one, caflynge hym felfe
head longe into the fea, efcaped : and by the mouthe of the ryuer fwamme ouer to his coompanyons. The other
beinge taken, declared that in the woodde on the other fide the ryuer, there lay in campe fyxe thoufande
Cyguauians redy, vnwares to affayle owre men paflynge bye. Wherfore the Lieuetenaunte fyndyng a fhalowe
place where he myght paffe ouer, he with his hole army entered into the ryuer. The which thyng when the
Ciguauians had efpyed, they came runnynge owte of the wooddes with a terrible crye and mofle horrible afpect,
much lyke vnto the people cauled Agathyrfi of whom the poete virgile fpeaketh. For they were all paynted
and fpotted with fundry coloures, and efpeciall with blacke and redde whiche they make of certeyne fruites
nooryfhed for the fame purpofe in theyr gardens, with the ioyce wherof they paynt them felues from the for-
heade, euen to the knees : hauing theyr heare (whiche by arte they make longe and blacke if nature deny it
them) wrethed and rowled after a thoufande faffliions. A man wold thinke them to bee deuylles incarnate newly
broke owte of hell, they are foo lyke vnto helhoundes. As owre men waded ouer the ryuer, they fhotte at
them and hurled dartes foo thicke, that it almofle tooke the lyght of the fonne from owre men. In fo much
that if they had not borne of the force therof with theyr targettes, the matter hadde gonne wronge with them.
Yet at the length, many beinge wounded, they paffed ouer the ryuer, which thynge when the enemies fawe, they
fledde : whome owre men perfuinge, flewe fume in the chafe : but not many, by reafon of theyr fwyftenes of
foote. Thus beinge in the wooddes, they fhotte at owre men more fafely. For they being accuflomed to the
wooddes and naked without any lette, paffed throwgh the buffhes and (hrubbes as it had byn wylde bores or
hartes : wheras owre men were hyndered by reafon of theyr apparell, targettes, longe iauelens, and ignorance of
the place. Wherfore, when he had refled there all that nyght in vayne, and the daye folowynge fawe none
lleringe in the wooddes, he went (by the councel and conducte of the other Ilande men which were in his
armye) immediatly from thenfe, to the montaynes in the which king Maiobanexius had his cheefe manfion
place in the vylage cauled Capronum, by the which name alfo, the kynges palaice was cauled, beinge in the
fame vylage. Thus marchinge forwarde with his army, abowte twelue myle of, he encamped in the vylage of
an other kynge, which th[e]inhabitantes had forfaken for feare of owre men. Yet makynge dyligent fearch,
they fownde two, by whom they had knowleage that there was tenne kynges with Maiobanexius in his palaice
of Capronum, with an army of eight thoufand Ciguauians. At the Lieuetenantes fyrfl approche, he durft not
gyue them battayle vntyll he had fumwhat better fearched the Region : Yet did he in the meane tyme flcyrmyffhe
with them twyfe. The nexte nyght abowte mydnyght, he fent furth fcoutes, and with them guydes of the Ilande
men which knewe the countrey. Whom the Ciguauians efpyenge from the mountaynes, prepared them felues
33
The Spanyardcs
accuse the
Admirall.
The Admirales
answere.
Insolencies.nd
idelnes of Hberiie.
These had the
custodies of the
temples.
A cruel and
deuelyshe
pastymc
Kynge
Guarionexius is
capitaine of. vi.
thousand
Ciguauians.
PicH Agathyrsi.
Naked men
painted with the
loyce of certen
fruites.
Hesre made long
and black by arte.
The vsc of
targettes.
The Ciguauians
are dryuen to
flyghL
34
Kynge
Maiobanexius.
An army of viiL
thousand
Ciguauians.
92
The fyrjl Decade.
A Larome.
The Cigiiauians
put to nyght
ageine
The Lteuetenaunt
his ambnssage
to kynge
Maiobanexius.
Kynge
Guanonextus.
Maiobanexius his
answere.
Natural hatred
of vyce.
The
Lieuetenauntes
gentelnes toward
maiobanexius
35
A rare faythfulnes
in a barbarous
kynge.
The
Lieuetenauntes
messengers are
filayne.
Al the kirges are
dryuen to flyght.
to the battayle with a terrible crye or alarome after their maner: but yet durft. not coome owte of the wooddes,
fuppofing that the Lieuetenaunt with his mayne army had byn euen at hande. The day folowynge, when he
brought his army to the place where they encamped, leaping owt of the wooddes, they tvvyfe attempted the
fortune of warre, fiercely aflayling owre men with a mayne force, and woundinge manye before they coulde
coouer them with theyr targettes. Yet owre men put them to flyght, flewe many, and tooke many. The
refydewe fledde to the wooddes, where they kept them (lyll as in their mofle fafe houlde. Of them which were
taken, he fent one, and wyth hym an other of the Ilande men which was of his parte to Maiobanexius with
commaundement in this effect. The Lieuetenaunt brought not hether his army (O Maiobatiexius) to kepe
warre eyther ageynft. yowe or yowre people : For he greately defyreth yowre frendelhippe. But his entent is,
that Guarionexius who hath perfuaded yowe to bee his ayde ageynfle hym to the greate deftruction of yowre
people and vndoynge of yowre countrey, may haue dewe correction afwell for his difobedience towarde him, as
alfo for rayfmg tumultes amonge the people. Wherfore, he requyreth yowe and exorteth yowe, to delyuer
Guarionexius into his handes. The which thynge yf yowe fhall performe, the Admirall his brother wyll not
only gladly admitte yowe to his frendefliyppe, but alfo enlarge and defende yowre dominion. And if herein
yowe refufe to accomplyffhe his requefle, it wyll folowe, that yowe fhall fliortelye repent yowe therof. For
yowre kyngedome fhall be walled with fwoorde and fyer, and yowe fhall abyde the fortune of warre wherof
yowe haue had experience with fauour, as you fhall further know here after to yowre payne, yf with flobemes
yowe prouoke hym to fhewe the vttermofle of his poure. When the meffenger had thus doone his errante,
Maiobanexius anfwered, that Guarionexius was a good man, indued with many vertues as all men knewe : And
therfore he thought hym worthy his ayde : efpecially in as muche as he fledde to hym for fuccoure, and that he
had made him fuch promeffe, whom alfo he had proued to bee his faithfull frende. Ageyne, that they were
nawghty men, violent and cruell, defyringe other mens gooddes, and fuche as fpared not to fheede innocentes
bludde : In fyne, that he wolde not haue to doo with fuche myfcheuous men, nor yet enter into frendefhippe
with them. When thefe thynges came to the Lieuetenauntes eare, he commaunded the vylage to be bumte
where he hym felfe encamped, with many other vylages there abowte. And when he drewe nere to the place
where Maiobanexius lay, he fent meffengers to him ageyne, to common the matter with hym, and to wyll hym,
to fende fume one of his mofle feythful frendes to entreate with hym of peace. Where vppon the kynge fent
vnto hym one of his cheefe gentelmen, and with hym two other to wayte on hym. When he came to the
Lieuetenauntes prefence, he frendly requyred hym to perfuade his lord and mafler in his name, and emeflly
to admonyfflie hym, not to fuffer his florylhinge kyngedome to bee fpoyled, or hym felfe to abyde the hafarde
of warre for Guarionexius fake : And further to exhorte hym to delyuer hym, excepte he wolde procure the
deflruction bothe of hym felfe, his people, and his countrey. When the meffenger was returned, Maiobanexius
affembled the people, declaring vnto them what was doone, but they cried owte on hym to delyuer Guarionexius:
And beganne to curie the daye that euer they had receaued hym, thus to diflurbe theyr quietnes. Maiobanexius
anfwered them, that Guarionexius was a good man, and had well deferued of him, giuinge hym many princely
prefentes : And had alfo tawght both his wyfe and hym to fynge and daunce, whiche thynge he dyd not lyttle
efleeme. And was therfore fully refolued in no cafe to forfake hym, or ageynfle all humanitie to betraye his
frende whiche fledde to hym for fuccoure : but rather to abyde al extremities with him, then to minifler occafion
of obloquye to flaunderes to reporte that he had betrayed his gefle whom he tooke into his houfe with warran-
ties. Thus difmiffmge the people fighinge and with forowfull hartes, he cauled Guarionexius before hym,
promyfinge hym ageyne, that he wolde bee partaker of his fortune whyle lyfe lafled. In fo muche that he
thowght it not belle to fende any further woorde to the Lieuetenaunt : but appoynted hym whome before he
fent to hym, to keepe the way with a garryfon of men, to th[e]intent that if any meffengers fliulde be fent from
the Lieuetenaunt, to fleye them by the way, and admitte none to communication or further entretie of peace.
In the meane tyme, the Lieuetenaunt fent twoo, wherof the one was a captiue Ciguauian, and the other an
Ilande man of them which were frendes to owre men : They were bothe taken and flayne. The Lieuetenaunt
folowed them onely with ten footemen and foure horfemen. Fyndinge his meffengers deade in the waye, he
was further prouoked to wrathe, and determyned more extremely to deale with Maiobanexius. And therefore
wente forwarde incontinently with his hole army to his cheefe palaice of Capronum where he yet laye in campe.
At his approche, all the kynges fledde, euery man his way, and forfooke theyr capitayne Maiobanexius: who
alfo with all his famelye, fledde to the rowgh mountaynes. Sum of the Ciguauians, fowght for Guarionexius to
fley hym, for that he was the caufe of all thefe troubles. But his feete faued his lyfe. For he fledde in tyme
to the mountaynes where he lurked in maner alone amonge the defolate rockes.
Whereas nowe the Lieuetenauntes fouldiers . were forweryed with longe warre, with watchinge, laboure,
and hunger, (for it was nowe three moonethes fence the warres beganne) many defyred leaue to departe to
the towre of Conception, where they had graneges and exercifed tyllage. He gaue them theyr paffeportes
with alowance of ■vytayles, foo that only thyrtie remayned with hym. Thefe three moonethes warre, they
The fyrji Decade.
93
contynued very paynefuU and myferablye : Soo that duryng al that tyme, they had none other meate but only
Cazibi: that is, fuche rootes whereof they make theyr breade, and that but fyldome to theyr fyll: Alfo Vfias,
that is, lyttle beafles lyke Conyes, if by chaunce now and then, they tooke fume with theyr houndes. Their
drinke was none other then water, fuch as they fownde, fumtyme fweete, and fumtyme muddy faueringe of the
maryffhes. Emonge thefe deUcates, that lyttle fleepe that they had, was euer for the mofle parte abrode vnder
the firmamente: And that not without watchemen, and in contynual remoouinge as the nature of warre
requyreth. With thefe fewe therfore, the Lieuetenaunt determined to fearche the mountaynes, dennes, and
caues, if he coulde in any place fynde the (leppes of Maiobanexius or Guarionexiiis. In the meane tyme certeyne
of his menne (whom hunger enforced to goo a huntinge to proue if they coulde take any conies) chaunced
vppon twoo of Maiobanexius familyers, whiche were fent to certeyne vylages of his, to make prouifion of breade.
Thefe he enforced to declare where theyr lord lay hydde. And vfed the fame alfo for guides to bringe owre
men to the place. Twelue of owre men tooke this enterpryfe in hand, painting them felues after the maner of
the Ciguauians. Soo that by this flratageme or policie, they came fodenly vppon Maiobanexius, and tooke
hym prifoner with his wyfe, children, and familie, and conueighed them to the towre of Conception to the
Lieuetenaunt. Within a fewe dayes after, hunger compelled Guarionexius to coome owte of the dennes :
whome, certeine of the people fearinge the Lieuetenaunt, bewrayde to owre hunters. The Lieuetenaunt beinge
certified hereof, fent furthe a bande of foote men, commaunding them to lye in ambuflie vntyll fuche tyme as
Guarionexius wente from the playnes to the mountaynes, and then foodenly to intrappe hym. They went as
they were commaunded, tooke hym, and browght hym awaye with them. And by this meanes were
all the Regions nere abowte, pacified and quyeted. A certeyne noble woman of nere kynred to
Maiobanexius, and wyfe to an other kynge whofe dominion was yet vntouched, folowed hym in al thefe
aduerfities. They affirme this woman to bee the fayrefl and mofle bewetifull that euer nature browght foorthe
in the Ilande. Whom, when the kynge her hufbande who looued her mode ardently (as her bewetie deferued)
harde faye that fhee was taken prifoner he wandered vppe and downe the defertes lyke a man owte of his
wytte, not knowinge what to doo or faye. But at the lengthe, he came to the Lieuetenaunte, promyfinge mofle
faythfully that he wold fubmitte hym felfe and all that he coulde make, vnder his poure, foo that he wolde
reftore hym his wyfe. The Lieuetenant accepted the condition and reflored him his wife, with certeyne other
rulers and gentelmen which he had taken prifoners before : Charginge them, and byndinge them with an othe,
to bee euer redye at his commaundement. Shortly after, this kynge, of his owne free motion, came ageyne to
the Lieuetenaunt, bringyng with hym fyue thoufande men without weapons, fauynge onely fuche inflrumentes
as they vfe in tyllage of theyr grownde. He brought with hym alfo, feedes to fowe : wherwith at his owne
charge, he caufed fuche plentie of theyr come and fruites to growe in fundry places of the large vale whereof
wee fpake before, that fhortely after, were feene manye fayre and fruitefuU fieldes that came therof. And for
his gentelnes beinge rewarded of the Lieuetenaunte with certeyne of owre thynges, he departed ioyfuUy. When
the report hereof came to the Ciguauians, it mooued the myndes of the kynges to hope of clemencie. Where
vppon they came togyther to the Lieuetenaunt with humble fubmiffion and faythful promefTe euer after to bee
vnder his obedience : defyring hym to reflore vnto them theyr kynge, with his famylie. At theyr requefle, the
kynges wyfe and his houfeholde was fette at Libertie, but he kepte flyll as a prifoner. Thefe thynges dyd the
Lieuetenaunt in the Ilande, not yet knowinge what his aduerfaries and accufers had layde to his charge before
the kynge of Spayne : who beinge difquyeted with theyr querelinges and accuiacions, and efpecially for that by
reafon of theyr difcention, of foo greate abundaunce of golde and other thynges, there was as yet but lyttle
browght into Spayne, appointed a newe gouernour which fhuld fee a redrefle in thefe thinges : And eyther to
punyfhe fuche as were fautie, or elles to fende them to hym. What was fownde ageynfle the Admirall and his
brother, or ageynd his aduerfaries whiche accufed hym, I doo not wel knowe. But this I am fure of, that both
the brethrene are taken, browght, and call in prifon, with their goodes confifcate. But as foone as the kynge
vnderfloode that they were browght bounde to Cales, he fent meifengers in pofle, with commaundemente that
they fhulde bee loofed and coome freely to his prefence : wherby he declared that he tooke theyr troubles
greeuouflye. It is alfo fayde, that the newe gouemoure fent letters to the kynge, wrytten with the Admiralles
hande in flraunge and vnknowen fypheringes, to his brother the Lieuetenaunt beinge abfente, wyllynge hym to
bee in a redynes with a poure of armed men to coome and ayde hym if the Gouemoure fhulde profer hym any
violence. Wherof the gouemour hauinge knowleage (as he faythe) beinge alfo aduertifed that the Leauetenaunt
was gonne to his brother before the men which he had prepared were in a redines, apprehended them bofhe
vnwares, before the multitude came togyther. What wyl folowe, tyme, the mofle trewe and prudent Judge, wyll
declare. Thus fare ye well.
The Spanyardes
are peinful in the
warres.
A desperate
aduenture with
XXX. men
A poUc[i]e.
Kynge
Maiobanexius
is taken.
Guarionexius is
taken.
36
A BewtifuU
A kynge sendeth
the lieuetenaunt
fyue thousand men
to ty 11 the grownde.
The kynges submit
tliemselues to the
Lieuetenaunt
A newe gouemour
of the ilande.
An vnwoorthy
rewarde for soo
greate paynes.
94
The fyrjl Decade.
The Ocean sea
heretofore
vnknowen.
Shipmasters vnder
the Admiral.
The iiftr. pcrtion
dewe to the kynge.
37
The nau^ation of
Petrus Alphonsus.
Paria,
Cumaita.
Manacapana.
Curiana.
Perles for tryfels.
Great plentie of
pearles.
Huroaync people.
Shel fyshes in
which perles are
engendred.
Beastes and
foules.
Hunters and
archers.
Theyr maner of
barge ning
The vse of pynntjs.
Haukes bels in
great estimation.
Roringe of wyld
beastes
C The eyghth booke of the fyrste Decade,
to Cardinall Lodouike.
He greate, ryche, and plentifull Ocean fea, heretofore vnknowen, and nowe fownde by Chrijlo-
phorus Colonus the Admyrall, by th[e]autoritie and furtherance of the Catholyke kynge, I
haue prefented vnto yowre honoure (ryght noble Prince) lyke a golden cheyne vnwoorkmanly
wrought. But yowe (hall nowe receaue a precious iewell to bee appendaunt therto. Therfore
emonge fuche as were pylottes or gouemoures vnder the Admyrall, and had dylygently
marked the courfes and differences of the wyndes, many had licences graunted them of the
kynge to feeke further of theyr owne charges, vppon condicion to pay hym faithfully his
portion, which is the fyft parte. But bycaufe emonge all other, one Petrus Alphonfus (cauled Nigmts by his
fumame) fayled towarde the Southe with more profperous fortune then any of the other, I thinke it bed firll to
fpeake fumwhat of his vyage. He therfore, with only one fliippe, well furnyfhed at his owne charges, after that
he had his paffeporte with commaundement in no cafe to cade anker pafle fyftie leaques diflante from any
place where the Admyrall hadde touched, fayled fyrfle to Paria where the Admyrall fownde bothe the men and
women foo laden with cheynes, garlandes, and brafelettes of pearles, as wee haue fayde before. Coaftynge
therfore alonge by the fame fhore accordinge to the kynges commaundement, (yet leauinge behynde hym the
Regions of Cumana and Manacapana) he came to the Region which th[e]inhabitantes thereof, caule Curiana :
where he fownd a hauen (as he faythe) muche lyke the porte of Gades or Cales. In to the which enteringe, he
fawe a farre of certeyne howfes on the fhore, and perceaued when he drewe nere, that it was a vylage of onely
eyght howfes. Proceadynge yet further for the fpace of three myles, he efpyed an other vylage well replenyfhed
with people, where there met hym fyftie naked men on a coompany hauinge with them a certeyne ruler, who
defyred Alphonfus to coome to theyr coafles. He browght with hym at this tyme, many haukes belles, pynnes,
nedels, brafelettes, cheynes, garlandes, and rynges with counterfet flones and glaffes, and fuch other tryfelles,
the which within the momente of an houre, he hadde exchaunged for. xv. vnces of theyr pearles which they
wore abowte theyr neckes and armes. Then they yet more emeflly defyred him to fayle to theyr coafles :
Promyfynge hym that he fhulde there haue as many pearles as he wolde defyre. He conde[f Jcended to their
requefle : And the daye folowynge, came to the place where they appoynted h)fm : Lyinge there at anker, a
great multytude of people reforted to hym, inflantely requyringe hym to coome alande. But when he confydered
the innumerable multytude of people which was there affembled, and that he had only, xxxiii. men in his coom-
pany, he durfle not commyt hym felfe to theyr handes, but gaue them to vnderftand by fignes and tokens that
they fhulde coome to the fhyppe with theyr canoas. For theyr boates (which the men of the Hand caule
Canoas) are made only of one hole peece of woodde as in the Ilandes : yet more rude, and not foo artificially
as theyrs are. Thefe they caule Galliias : They fwarmed therefore to the fhyp as fafle as they myght, brynginge
with them great plentie of pearles (which they caule Tenoras) exchaunginge the fame for owre marchaundies.
He fownde this people to bee of gentyl nature, fimple and innocente, beinge conuerfant with them in theyr
houfes, for the fpace of. xx. dayes. Theyr houfes are made of woodde, coouered with the leaues of date trees.
Theyr meate for the mofle parte, is the fhelfyffhes in the whiche pearles are engendred, wherof theyr fea coafles
are fuL They haue alfo greate plentie of wylde beafles, as hartes, wylde bores, and coonys lyke vnto hares,
both in colour and byggenes. Stocke doues alfo, and turtle doues. Lykewyfe geefe and duckes which they
nooryfhe in theyr houfes as wee doo. Peacockes flye abowte in maner in euerye woodde and groue : but they
are not diflinct with fundry coloures as ours are : for the cockes are lyke vnto the hennes. Thefe people of
Curiana, are craftie hunters and exceding cunning archers, foo that they wyll not lyghtly myffe any beafl or
byrde that they fhoote at. Owre men confumed certeyne dayes here very plefauntely. Durynge which tyme,
who foo euer brought them a peacocke, had for the fame, foure pynnes. He that brought a pheafaunt, had
twoo: And for a flocke doue or turtle doue, one: And for a goofe, a fmaul lookyng glaffe or a lyttle flone of
glafTe. Thus they bought and foulde with proferynge and byddynge, denyinge and refufmge as it had byn in
a greate market. When pynnes were profered them, they afked what they fhulde doo with them, beinge naked.
But owre men fatiffied them with a craftie anfwere, declaring by tokens that they were very necellary to picke
theyr teeth and to pul thomes owte of theyr flefThe. . But aboue al thynges haukes belles were mofl efleemed
amonge them, for theyr founde and faire coloure : And wolde therfore gyue much for one of them. Owre men
lodginge in theyr houfes, harde in the nyght feafon horryble noyfes and rorynges of wylde beafles in the
wooddes which are full of exceadinge greate and hygh trees of fundry kyndes. But the beafles of thefe
The fyrjl Decade.
95
wooddes, are not noyfome to men. For the people of the countrey goo dayly a hunting, naked, with theyr
bowes and arrowes : Yet hath it not byn harde of, that any man hath byn flayne of any wylde beafte. As many
hartes or wylde bores as owre men woolde defyre them to brynge, they woolde kyll in the wooddes with their
bowes and arrowes, and not fayle to brynge theim. They lacke kyne, goates, and flieepe. Theyr breade is
made of rootes, as is theyrs of the Ilandes. This nation, hath blacke heare, groffe and fumwhat curlde, yet
longe alfo. They keepe theyr teeth very whyte : And for that purpofe vfe to cary a certeine herbe betwene
theyr lyppes for the moft. parte of the day, and to waffhe theyr mouthes when they caft. it away. The women
doo all theyr bufynes at home in theyr howfes, and haue alfo the cure of tyllage of the grounde. But the men
apply them felues to the warres and huntynge, to playe, fmgynge and daunfmg. They haue fundry kyndes of
water pottes, iugges, and drinckinge cuppes made of earthe in other places abowt theym and brought thether
for exchaunge of other thynges: For they vfe fayres and markettes for the fame purpofe: and are gretly
defyrous of fuch thynges, as are not brought forth or made in theyr countrey, as nature hath gyuen a difpofition
to al men to defyre and bee delyted with newe and flrange thynges. Many of them, had hangynge at theyr
pearles, the Images of certeine beafles and birdes very artificioufly made of golde, but not pure. Thefe alfo
are brought them from other places for exchange of other thynges. The golde wherof they are made, is natiue,
and of much lyke finenes to that wherof the florenes are coyned. The men of this countrey, inclofe theyr
priuie members in a gourde, cutte after the fafhion of a coddepiece : or els, coouer the fame with the ihelle of
a tortoyfe, tyed abowte theyr loynes with laces of goflampine cotton. In other places of that tract, they thrufl
the fynew within the (heethe therof, and bynde the fkinne faft with a ftringe. The greate wylde bealles wherof
wee fpake before, and many other thynges whiche are not founde in any of the Ilandes, tellifie that this region
is part of the continent or firme land. But the chiefefl coniecture wherby they argue the fame, is, that by the
coaftes of that lande, from Paria towarde the welle, they fayled aboute three thoufande myles, fyndynge no
figne or token of any ende. Thefe people of Curiana (whiche fum caule Curtand) beinge demaunded where
they hadde fuche plentie of golde, fignified that it was brought them from a Region cauled Canchieia or Cauchieta,
being diflant from them fyxe foonnes, that is, fyxe dayes ioumey weflwarde : And that theyr Images of goulde,
were made in the lame Region. Where vppon owre men directed th(:)T: vyage thyther immediatly : and
arryued there at the calendes of Nouember, in the yeare of Chrifl a thoufande and fyue hundreth. The people
of the countrey reforted to them withoute feare, bryngynge with them of the golde which we fayde to bee natyue
in that Region. This people had alfo collers of pearles abowte theyr neckes, whiche were brought them frome
Curiana for exchange of theyr marchandies. None of them wolde exchaunge any of thofe thinges which they
had owte of other countreys : as nother the Curians golde, nor the Canchietans pearles. Yet amonge the
Canchietans, they fownde but little gold redy gathered. They toke with them from thenfe, certen very fayre
marmafets or munkeys, and many popingayes of fundry coloures. In the monethe of Nouember, the ayer was
there mod temperate, and nothyng coulde. The guardens of the north pole, were owte of fyght to bothe thefe
people, they are foo nere to the Equinoctiall. Of the degrees of the pole, they can gyue none other accoumpte.
Thefe people, are wel difpofed men, of honeft. condicions, and nothinge fufpicious. For all mod all the nyght
longe, they reforted to the (hippe with theyr boates, and went aboorde fliap withowte feare, as dyd the Curians.
They caule pearles, Corixas. They are fumwhat ielyous. For, when any ftraungers coome emonge them,
they euer place theyr women behynd them. In this Region of Canchida, the goflampine trees growe of them
felues commonly in many places, as doo with vs elmes, wyllowes, and falowes. And therfore they vfe to make
breeches of cotton, wherwith they coouer theyr pryuie partes in many other Regions there aboute. When
they had yet fayled on forwarde by the fame coaftes, there came foorth ageynfte them abowte twoo thoufande
men, armed after theyr maner, forbydding them to coome aland. Thefe people were foo rude and faluage,
that owre men coulde by no meanes allure them to familiaritie. Owre men therfore, contented only with their
pearles, returned backe the fame way they came : where they remayned with the Curians continually for the
fpace of twentie dayes, and fylled theyr bellyes wel with good meate. And here it feemeth to me, not farre
from my purpofe, to declare what chaunced vnto theim in theyr retume, when they came nowe within the
fyght of the coafte of Paria. They happened therefore in the way, at Os Draconis and the goulfes of Paria,
(wherof wee fpake before) to meete with a nauie of xviii. Canoas of Canfljiales which went a rouyng to hunt
for men. Who as foone as they had efpyed owr men, aflailed theyr (hippe fiercely and without feare enclofed
the fame, difturbing owre men on euery fyde with theyr arrowes. But owre men fo feared them with theyr
gunnes, that they fledde immediatly, whom owre menne folowinge with the fliippe boate, tooke one of theyr
Canoas, and in it, only one Canibal (for the other had efcaped) and with hjin, an other man bownde: Who,
with teares runninge downe his cheekes, and with giefture of his handes, eyes, and heade, fignified that fyxe of
his coompanyons had byn cruelly cutte in pieces and eaten of that myfcheuous nation : and that he (hulde
haue byn lykewyfe handeled the day folowynge. Wherfore they gaue hym poure ouer the Canyball, to doo
with hym what he wolde. Then with the Canibales owne clubbe, he layde on hym al that he might dryue with
Hartes and wyld
bores.
38
Blacke and curlde
heare.
White teethe.
Earthen vessels.
Conninge
artificers.
Base golde.
A strange maner
of couennge theyi
priuities.
Tokens of the
continent or firme
lande.
The golden
Region of
Canchieta.
Temperate ayer
in Nouember.
The Equinoctial
lyne.
Humane people
Gossampine trees-
Chorlyshe people
Alphonsus
retumeth to Parii.
Canibales in the
goulfes of Paria.
39
Death for death.
96
The fyrji Decade.
hande and foote, grinninge and fretinge as it had byn a wylde bore : Thinkynge that he had not yet fufficiently
reuenged the death of his companyons, when he had beaten owte his braynes and guttes. ^Vhen he was
demaunded after what forte the Canibales were woont to inuade other contreys, he anfwered that they euer
vfed to carye with them in theyr Canoas, a greate multitude of clubbes : The whiche, where foo euer they
lande, they pitche in the grownde, and encampe them felues within the coompafle of the fame, to lye the more
fafely in the nyght feafon. In Curiana, they fownde the head of a capitaine of the Canibales, nailed ouer the
doore of a certeyne gouemoure, for a token of victorie, as it hadde byn the llanderde or helmette taken from
the enemye in battayle. In thefe coafles of Faria, is a Region cauled ffaraia, in the whiche, greate
plentie of falte is gathered after a flrange forte. For the fea beinge there tofTed with the poure of the
wyndes, dryueth the falte waters into a large playne by the fea fyde: where: afterward when the fea
waxeth caulme, and the foonne begynnethe to fliyne, the water is congeled into mofle pure and whyte falte,
wherewith innumerable fhyppes might bee laden, if men doo reforte thether for the fame beefore there faule
any rayne. For the rayne meltethe it, and caufeth it to fynke into the fande, and foo by the pores of the earthe,
to retume to the place from whenfe it was dryuen. Other fay, that the playne is not fylled from the fea, but
of certeine fpringes whofe water is more fharpe and felt then the water of the fea. Th[e]inhabitantes doo
greatlye efleeme this bay of falte. Which they vfe, not only for theyr owne commoditie, but alfo woorkinge
the fame into a fquare forme lyke vnto brickes, they fell it to flrangers for exchaunge of other th)Tiges whiche
they lacke. In this Region, they flretche and drye the deade bodies of theyr kinges and noble men, layinge
the fame vpon a certeyne frame of woodde much lyke vnto a hurdle or grediren, with a gentell fyre vnder the
fame, thus by lyttle and lyttle confuminge the fleffhe and keepinge the fkynne hole with the bones inclofed
therein. Thefe dryed carcafes, they haue in greate reuerence, and honour them for theyr houfeholde and
famylier goddes. They fay that in this place they fawe a man, and in an other place a woman, thus dryed and
referued. When they departed from Curiana, the. viii. day of the Ides of February to retume to Spayne, they
had three fcore and. xvi. poundes weight (after, viii. vnces to the pownde) of perles, which they bought for
exchange of owre thynges, amountinge to the value of fyue fliyllinges. Departinge therfore, they confumed
three fcore dayes in theyr ioumey (althowgh it were (horter then frome Hifpaniold) by reafon of the contynuall
courfe of the fea into the wefle, whiche dyd not only greately fley the fhippe, but alfo fumtymes dryue it backe.
But at the length they came home foo laden with perles, that they were with euery maryner, in maner as com-
mon as chaffe. But the mafter of the fliyppe, Petrus Alphonftis, beinge accufed of his coompanyons that he
had ftowlen a great multitude of precious perles, and defrauded the kynge of his portion which was the fyueth
parte, was taken of Fernando de Vega, a man of greate leminge and experience and gouemour of Galkcia,
where they arryued, and was there kepte in pryfon a longe tyme. But he flyll denyethe that euer he deteyned
anye parte of the perles. Many of thefe perles were as bygge as hafell nuttes, and oriente, (as we caule it) that
is, lyke vnto them of the Eafle partes. Yet not of foo greate price, by reafon that the holes therof are not foo
perfecte. When I my felfe was prefente with the ryght honorable duke of Methyna, and was bidden to dyner
with hym, in the citie of Ciuile, they browght to hym aboue a hundreth and twentie vnces of perles to be
foulde : which furely did greatly delyte me with their fayrenes and brightnes. Sum faye, that Alphonfus hadde
not thefe perles in Curiana being diflante from Os Dracotiis more then a hundreth and twentie leaques, but
that he had them in the Regions of Cumana and Manacapana, nere vnto Os Draconis and the Ilande of
Margarita. For they deny that there is any perles fownde in Curiana. But fithe the matter is yet in con-
trouerfie, we wyll pafTe to other matters. Thus muche yowe haue whereby yowe maye coniecture what
commoditie in tyme to coome may bee looked for from thefe newe landes of the well Ocean, whereas at the
fyrile difcoueringe, they (hewe fuch tokens of greate ryches. Thus fare ye well.
Howe the
canibales fortifie
theyr campe
Haraia.
Salte engendred
of the water of
the sea.
Sprynges of salt
water.
The bodies of
princes dryed and
reserued
Threescore and
xvi. poundes
weight of perles
for. V. shillynges.
The course of the
sea toward the
weste.
Perles as common
as chaffe
Petnis Alphonsiis
in prison.
Orient perles as
bygge as hasel
nuttes.
40
Curiafia
0.1 Draconis.
Cumana.
Manacapana.
Ths Hand of
M.irgarita.
C The. IX. BOOKE of the fyrst Decade
to Cardynall Lodouike.
The nauigation il
Vincentius and
Aries Pinzonus
Licence and
passeporte.
Incentiagnes Pinzonus, and alfo Aries Finzonus, liis neuie, by his brothers fyde, which accom-
panyed the Admiral Colonus in his fyrde vyage, and were by him appoynted to bee maflers
of twoo of the fmaule fhippes which the Spaniardes caule Carauelas, beinge mooutxi by the
greate ryches and amplytude of the new landes, fumyfhed of theyr owne charges, foure
carauels in the hauen of theyr owne countrey which the Spanyardes caule Falos, bortheringe
on the wefle Ocean. Hauynge therfore the kynges licence and paffeporte to departe, they
loofed from the hauen, abowte the Calendes of December, in the yeare 1499. This hauen
The fyrji Decade.
97
of Palos is three fcore and twelue myles diftant from Gades, commonly cauled Cales : and three fcore and foure
myles from Ciuile. All th[e]inhabitantes of this towne, not one excepted, are greately gyuen to fearchinge of
the fea, and continually exercyfed in fayling. They alfo directed theyr vyage fyrft to the Ilandes of Canarie by
the Ilandes of Hefperides, nowe cauled Cabouerde, which fum caule Gorgodes Medudas. Saylinge therfore
directly towarde the fouthe frome that Hand of the Hefperides which the Portugales (being poffeffers of the
fame) caule Sanfli lacobi, and departinge frome thenfe at the Ides of lanuary, they folowed the fouthweft wynde,
beinge in the myddeft betwene the fouth and the wefle. When they fuppofed that they had fayled aboute three
hundrethe leagues by the fame wynde, they fay that they lofle the fyght of the Northe flarre ; and were fhortelye
after, tofled with excedinge tempefles bothe of wynde and fea, and vexed with intollerable heate. Yet fayled
they on further (not without greate daunger) for the fpace of twoo hundrethe and fortie leaques, folowing yet
the fame wynde by the lofl pole. Wherfore, whether habitable Regions bee vnder the Equinoctiall lyne or not,
let thefe men and the owlde wryters, afwel Philofophers as poetes and cofmographers difcufle. For thefe men,
affirme it to bee habitable, and marueloufly replenilhed \vith people : and they, that it is vnhabitable by reafon
of the foone beames dependinge perpendicularly or directlye ouer the fame. Yet were there many of the oulde
wryters, whiche attempted to proue it habitable. Thefe maryners beinge demaunded, if they fawe the fouth
pole, they anfwered that they knewe no flarre there lyke vnto this pole, that myght be decerned aboute the
poynte. But that they fawe an other order of llarres, and a certeyne thicke myfl ryfynge from the horizontal!
lyne, which greatly hyndered theyr fyght They contende alfo, that there is a great heape or ryfynge in the
myddeft of the earth, which taketh away the fyght of the fouthe pole, vntyll they haue vtterly paffed ouer the
fame. But they verely beleue that they fawe other images of flarres, muche differinge from the fituation of the
(larres of o\vre hemifpherie or halfe circle of heauen. Howe foo euer the matter bee, as they informe vs, wee
certifie yowe. At the lengthe, the feuenth day of the calendes of Februarye, they efpied lande a farre of. And
feinge the water of the fea to bee troubelous, foundinge with theyr plummet, they founde it to bee. xvi. fathames
deepe. Goinge a lande, and tarienge there for the fpace of twoo dayes, they departed bycaufe they faw no
people fteringe, althowghe they fownde certeyne fleppes of men by the fea fyde. Thus grauinge on the trees
and the (lones nere vnto the fhore, the kynges name and theyrs, and the tyme of theyr comming thether, they
departed. Not farre from this flation, folowynge the fyers on the lande by nyght, they founde a nation lyinge
vnder the open f3aTnamente after the maner of warre. Owre men thought it not befle to trowble them vntyll
the mominge. Therefore, at the ryfmge of the foone, fortie of owre men well armed,vwente toward them :
ageynft. whom came furth. xxxii. of them, with bowes, flinges and dartes, euen redy to the feyght. The other
coompanye folowed them, armed after the fame maner. Owr men affirme that they were of hygher flature then
eyther the Almaynes or Pannonians. They behelde owre men with frownynge and threatenynge countenaunce.
But owre men thought it not good to faule to bickeringe with them, vncerteyne whether it were for feare, or
bycaufe they wolde not dryue them to flight. Wherfore they went aboute to allure them by faire meanes and
rewardes. But they refufed all kynde of gentelnes, and floode euer in a redines to feight, declaringe the fame
by fignes and tokens. Thus owr men reforted to theyr fhippes, and they to the place from whence they came,
without any further bufynes. The fame nyght abowte mydnyght, they fledde, and left the place voyde where
they lay in campe. Owre men fuppofe them to bee a vagabunde and wanderinge nacion lyke vnto the
Scythians, withowte houfes or certeyne dweUinge places, lyuinge onely with the fruites of the earth, hauing
theyr wyues and chyldren folowinge them. Such as meafured their footefleppes in the fande, afiirme with
greate othes, that one of theyr feete is almofl as longe as twoo feete of owre men of the meane forte. Saylinge
on yet further, they founde an other ryuer, but not of deapth fufficient to beare the carauels. They fent
therfore the foure fhippe boates to lande, ful of armed men to fearch the countrey. They efpyed vppon a
hyghe hyll nere vnto the fea fyde, a greate multitude of people, to whom owre coompany fent furthe one man
with certeyne of owre thynges to allure them to exchaunge. And when he had cafl a haukes bell towarde
them, they cafl downe a wedge of golde a cubette longe. The which as he flouped to take vppe, they foodenly
inclofed hym, and caryed hym awaye. But he was fhortly after refcued by his coompanyons, to fum of their
paynes : for they flewe eyght of owre men, and wounded many a farre of, with theyr arrowes, and dartes made
of wood hardened at the endes with fyre. After this, they encoompafed owre fhippe boates within the ryuer,
and came raffhelye within the reache of owre men, layinge houlde on the boates fydes, where they were thrufl
throwgh and hewen in peeces as it had byn fheepe, by reafon they were naked. Yet wolde they not for al
this, gyue ouer: but tooke from owre men one of their boates, hauing noo men in it. For the gouemour
therof being flayne with an arrowe, the other fledde and efcaped. And thus they lefte this fierce and warlyke
people, faylinge towarde the northwefle alonge by the fame coafles, with forowfuU hartes for the death of theyr
coompanyons. [When they had fayled abowte. xl. leaques, they chaunced into a fea of fuche frefflie water,
that they fylled theyr barelles and hogges heades therwith. Searching the caufe hereof, they vnderstoode that a
vehement courfe of ryuers difcended with great violence from the toppes of certeyne greate hylles. They fay
Eden. L - 97
Oiles. Ciuile.
The Ilandes of
Canarie
Cabouerde.
S. lames Ilande.
The North pole
owte of syght
Habitable Regions
vnder the
Equinoctial lyne.
An other order of
starres
A thycke mist
A rysinge in the
myddest of the
earth.
41
People of hygh
stature.
A vagabunde
kynde of men
Giantes.
Desperate
bouIdene&
M
>>
f
A sea of freshe
water.
98
The fyrji Decade.
Many fruitefuU
Ilandes.
Humane people.
Maxiatamball
Camomorus.
Paricora.
Regions of Paria.
Golde and perles.
Os Draconis.
Cumarta,
MaTtacaPana,
Curiana
The hole earth
largely taken,
maye bee cauled
an Ilande.
Maragnonus
a ryuer
of cxceadinge
breadth and full
of Hands looke
decade ii. liber, ix.
42
Boriostomea, and
Spiriostomea,
mouthes of the
ryuer of Danubius.
The commodities
of the Regions
and Ilandes about
Paria-
Brasile.
Mani fruitiul
Ilandes lefte
desolate.
Canibales.
Trees of Cassia
fistulx
Trees of maruelous
byggenes.
A monstrous
beaste.
Alteracion of ayer
and change of
meate
Cathay in India
beyonde the
ryner of Ganges
A shipwrake
by tempest
alfo that there lyeth within the fea, many fortunate and fruitful! Ilandes, and well inhabyted: And that th[e]in-
habitantes of this tracte are men of meeke nature and fuche as doo not refufe ftrangers: Yet lyttle profy table
to them, bycaufe they had noo marchandyes for their purpofe, as golde or precyous (lones. For lacke wherof,
they brought frome thenfe thyrtie captiues to fell for flaues. Th[e]inhabitantes caule this Region Mariatambal.
The Region of the eafle parte of that ryuer, is cauled Camomorus: And that of the wefte parte, Paricora: in
the mid lande wherof, th[e]inhabitantes fignified that there is greate plentie of golde. For, folowynge this
ryuer directly toward the Northe (as the bendynge of the (hore requyred) they recouered ageyne the fyght of
the north pole. All the coafte of this tracte, perteyneth to Paria, the which (as we fayd before) was fyril
founde by Colonus hym felfe, and hath in maner in euery place, greate abundaunce of pearles. They faye that
thefe coafles are adioynynge vnto, and all one \vith Os Draconis, and alfo bortherynge vppon the Regions of
Cumana, Manacapana, Curiana, Cauchieta, and Cuchibachoa. Wherfore they thought it to bee parte of the
firme lande of India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges. For the greate and large coompaffe therof, dothe not
permit that it Ihulde bee an Ilande. Albeit, the hole earth vncouered with water, largely taken, may bee
cauled an Ilande. From the poynte of that land where they loft, the fight of the north pole, laylynge by a
continual! tracke abowte three hundreth leaques towarde the wefte fyde of Paria, they fay that almofl.e in the
mydde way, they chaunced into a ryuer cauled Maragtwnum, which they affirme to bee of fuch excedinge
breadth, that it myght feeme incredible, if the antiquitie dyd not make mention of the lyke. Beinge
demaunded of me if it were not falte water where it diuided the lande, they anfwered, that the water therof
was very freffhe and fweete : And that the further it ranne, to bee foo muche the freffher : Alfo full of Ilandes
and holfome fyfhe. They dare auouche the breadth therof, to bee more then thirtie leaques. Yet if wee well
weighe and confyder the largenes and wydenes of Boriojlomea and Spiriojlomea, the mouthes of the famous
ryuer of IJler (nowe cauled Danubius^ and howe farre they violate or corrupte the falte water with their freflienes,
wee ftiall ceafe to marueile, althowgh this other ryuer bee greater. For, who can diminyfflie the poure of
nature, but that it may make this bigger then the other, and an other bygger then this. And I fuppofe this to
bee the ryuer wherof Colonus the Admiral! made mention in the difcription of his vyage in thefe coaftes. But
wee fliall hereafter haue further knowleage hereof Let vs nowe therfore retume to the commodities of thefe
Regions. They fownde in many Ilandes abowte Paria, great wooddes of brafile trees : And brought awaye
with them, three thoufande poundes weight thereof. They fay that the brafile of Hifpaniola, is muche better
then this, to dye clothe with a more fayre and durable colour. From henfe, folowynge the wynde (whiche the
Spanyardes caule Norduejl, and the Itahans Grceco) they paffed by many Ilandes very fruitefull, yet lefte
defolate and wafted by reafon of the crueltie of the Canibales. For they went alande in many places, and
fownde the ruines of many deftroyed howfes. Yet in fum places, they founde men, but thofe exceadinge
fearefull, flyinge to the mountaynes, rockes, and wooddes at the fight of euery ftraunger or fhippe, and wan-
deringe without houfes or certeyne abydinge places, for feare of the Caniballes layinge wayte and huntinge after
them. Here they founde thofe great trees which of them felues in dyuers places bringe furth the fruite or fpice
whiche the Apothecaries caule Caffia fijlula : And that of noo leffe goodnes then that which the phifitians
minift.er to fuch as bee difeafed with the ague. But it was not ripe at theyr beinge there. They affirme that
there are trees of fuche byggenes, that. xvi. men ioyninge handes togyther and flandinge in coompaffe, can
fcarfely embrafe fum of them. Emonge thefe trees is fownde that monftrous beafte with a ihowte lyke a foxe,
a tayle lyke a marmafette, eares lyke a batte, handes lyke a man, and feete lyke an ape, bearing her whelpes
abowte with her in an owtwarde bellye much lyke vnto a greate bagge or purfe. The deade carkas of this
beaft, you fawe with me, and turned it ouer and ouer with yowre owne handes, marueylynge at that newe belly
and wonderfuU prouifion of nature. They fay it is knowen by experience, that fliee neuer letteth her whelpes
goo owte of that purfe, except it bee eyther to play, or to fucke, vntyl fuche tyme that they bee able to gette
theyr lyuing by them felues. They tooke this beafte with her whelpes : But the whelpes dyed fhortely after in
the (hyppes. Yet the damme lined certeyne moonethes : But at the length, not beinge able to abyde foo greate
alteration of ayer, and chaunge of meate, fhee dyed alfo in the way. But of this beafte, wee haue fayde enowgh.
Let vs now therfore retume to the autoures of thefe thynges. Thefe twoo Pinzoni, the vncle and the neuie,
fufteyned manye great trowbles and horrible tempeftes and perilles in this nauigation. For when they had nowe
fayled by the coades of Paria abowte. vL hundreth leaques, and (as they fuppofed) beyonde the citie of Cathay
and the coaftes of Eafte India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges, there rofe foodenly foo fierce a tempefte in the
mooneth of luly, that, of the foure carauels which they had with them, twoo were drowned euen beefore theyr
eyes : and the thyrde lyenge at anker, with lyke foodennes caryed owte of theyr fyght throwgh the violence of
the tempefte : The fourth alfo lyinge at anker, was foo (haken and broofed, that al the feames therof were almoft
loofed. Yet came they to lande owt of this lafte ftiyppe, but vtterlye defpayrynge of the fliyppe. Wherfore
confultynge with them felues what was beft to bee doone in foo extreeme a cafe, and how to prouide them a
fafe dwellinge place in thofe Regions beinge owt of al hope how to departe from thenfe, they determined
«8
The fyrjl Decade.
99
to fley all the inhabitantes of the contrey nere abowte them, leafle they with the other fliulde confpire togyther
to kyl them, but theyr fortune was better. For the carauell which the tempefle had caryed away, was coome
to them ageyne. This had in it. xviii. men ; And the other that remayned, was faued and repayred. With
thefe two therfore, they tooke theyr vyage directly to Spaine And thus beinge toffed with tempefles and vexed
with aduerfities, they returned to theyr natiue contrey of Palos, to theyr wyues and children, the day before
the Calendes of October, with the lofle of many of theyr dere frendes and neighbours. They browght with
them Cinamome and gynger: but not very good, bycaufe they were not there fully feafoned with the heate of
the foone before they brought them from thenfe. They browght alfo, certeyne precious ftones, whiche Baptijla
Elyfius, that excellent philofopher and yowre lordefhippes phifitian, affirmeth to bee trewe Topafes. After
thefe mens retume, other of theyr neighbours beinge moued thereto by a certeyne emulation, to proue yf theyr
fortune wolde bee anye better, lyke men of good corage, beinge nothing difcomforted by the harde fortune of
theyr neighboures, knowinge that it often tymes chaunceth that that which is one mans vndoinge is an other
mans makynge, attempted a newe vyage towarde the fowthe by the coaft.es of Paria, folowynge the fl.eppes of
Colonus the Admiral, who had fyrft. difcouered the fame. They alfo browght with them greate plentie of Caffia
fijlula : And fownde that precious medicine cauled of the Spanyardes, AnimcB album, whofe perfume is of moft.
excellent effect to heale the reumes, murres, and heauines of the heade. As touchinge this vyage, as yet I
knowe noo other newes that I thought worthy to certifie yowe of. Wherfore, I wyl nowe make an ende of this
booke, bycaufe yow put me fo often in rememberance of your departure. Yet to accomplyfflie the Decade, I
wyll declare fumwhat of the fuperftitions of Hifpaniola. Yowe (hall nowe therfore vnderftand the illufions
wherwith the people of the Ilande haue byn feduced after the errours of the owlde gentilitie, and wandered in
the ignorance and blyndenes of humane nature corrupted by the difobedience of owr fyrft, parentes, which hath
remayned in all nations vpon the face of the earth, except where it hath pleafed god by the lyght of his fpirite
by his woorde, to poure vppon his electe the grace of renouation, by the lyght wherof the naturall darkenes
receaueth fume clearenes as in a glaffe, vntyll imperfection fhalbe abolyfhed. Owre men therefore, were longe
in the Ilande of Hifpaniola, before they knewe that the people thereof honorede any other thynge then the
lyghtes of heauen, or had any other Religion. But when theye had byne nowe longe conuerfante with them,
and by vnderflandyng their language, drewe to a further familiaritie, they had knowleage that they vfed dyuers
rytes and fuperftitions. I haue therfore gathered thefe fewe thynges folowynge, owte of a booke wrytten by
one Ramonus an heremyte, whom Colonus had lefte with certeyne kynges of the Ilande to inftruct them in the
Chriftian fayth. And bycaufe in maner their hole religion is none other thing then Idolatry, I wyll begynne
at theyr Idoles. It is therfore apparente by the Images which they honour openly and commonly, that there
appere vnto them in the nyghte feafons certeyne phantafies and illufions of euyll fpirites, feducinge them into
many fonde and folyflie errours. For they make certeyne Images of goffampine cotton foulded or wrethed
after theyr maner, and harde ftopped within. Thefe Images they make fytting, much lyke vnto the pictures of
fprites and deuelles which owr paynters are accuftomed to paint vppon waules. But forafmuch as I my felfe
fent yowe foure of thefe Images, yowe may better prefently fignifie vnto the kynge yowre vncle, what maner of
thynges they are, and howe lyke vnto paynted deuelles, then I can expreffe the fame by wrytynge. Thefe
Images, th[e]inhabitantes caule Zemes : wherof the leafte, made to the lykenes of younge deuels, they bind to
theyr forheades when they goo to the warres ageynft their enemies : And for that purpofe haue they thofe
ftrynges hangynge at them which yowe fee. Of thefe, they beleue to obteyne rayne if rayne be lackyng, and
lykewyfe fayre wether. For they thinke that thefe Zemes are the mediatours and meffengers of the greate god,
whom they acknowleage to be only one, eternall, withowte ende, omnipotent and inuifible. Thus euery kynge
hath his particuler Zemes which he honoureth. They caule the eternall god, by thefe twoo names, locauna,
and Guamaonocon, as theyr prediceffours tawght them. Affirminge that he hath a father cauled by thefe fyue
names: that is, Attabeira, Mamona, Gitacarapita, Liella, Guimazoa. Nowe fliall yowe heare what they
fable on the earth as touchinge the originall of man. There is in the Ilande a Region cauled Caunana,
wher they fayne that mankynde came fyrft owte of twoo caues of a mountayne: and that the byggeft
forte of men, came furth of the mouth of the byggeft caue, and the leaft forte owte of the leafte
caue. The rocke in the which thefe caues are, they caule Cauta. The greateft denne, they name
Cazibaxagua, and the leffe Amaiauna. They fay, that before it was lawful for men to come foorth of
the caue, the mouth of the caue was kepte and watched nyghtly by a man whofe name was Machochael. This
Machochael, departinge fumwhat farre from the caue to th[e]intente to fee what thynges were abrode, was
foodenly taken of the foonne (whofe fight he was forbydden) and was turned into a ftone. They fayne the lyke
of dyuers other, that whereas they went foorthe in the nyghte feafon a fyffhynge, fo farre from the caue that they
coulde not retume before the lyfynge of the foone (the which it was not lawful for them to behold) they were
tranfformed into myrobalane trees, which of them felues growe plentifully in the Ilande. They faye further-
more, that a certeyne ruler cauled Vagoniona, fent one furth of the caue to goo a fyfftiynge, who by lyke chaunce
Extreme remedie
in a desperat
case
/W
43
Cinamome and
gynger
Topas«s.
Men of noble
corage.
A nother vyage
Animm album
The superstitions
of hispaniola.
The errours of the
owlde gentilitie.
The grace of
renouation.
Ramonus an
heremyte.
Idolatry and
Idoles.
Illusions of euyl
spirites.
Images of
gossampine cotton
Zemes.
Younge deuyls.
Mediatours.
Only one god
etemalL
The names of god.
The father of god.
The originall of
mar kynde
Fables much lyke
Guide his
transformations
44
The original of
Mirobalane trees
lOO
The fyrjl Decade.
The nightingale.
The Ilaiid of
Mathinino.
Children turned
into frogges.
A speciall grace.
Holy rcliques
Women are
slippery cattayle.
Al wisedome goeth
not by age.
Here nedeth sum
tropologicall
interpretour.
Myrmidones
Preachers for the
deuyL
A vengeable
greate gourd.
The originall of
the sea.
45
The originall of
Ilandes.
A holy caue.
Images.
The originall of
the soone and
moone.
Pylgramage.
Walkynge sprytes.
Incubi.
A remedye
ageynst walkyng
sprites.
was turned into a nyghtyngale bycaufe the foonne was ryfen beefore he came ageyne to the caue : And that
yearelye abowte the fame tyme that he was turned into a byrde, he dothe in the nyght with a moomynge fonge
bewayle his myffortune, and caule for the helpe of his maifter Vagoniona. And this they thynke to bee the
caufe why that byrde fmgeth in the night feafon. But Vagoniona, beinge fore troubled in his mynd for the
loffe of his familier frende whom he loued foo intierly, leauinge the men in the caue, brought foorth onely the
women with theyr fuckynge chyldren, leauinge the women in one of the Ilandes of that tracte, cauled Mathinino,
and caryed the chyldren awaye with hym : which poore wretches oppreffed with famine, fainted and remained
on the banke of a certeine ryuer where they were turned into frogges, and cryed toa, toa, that is, mama, mama,
as chyldren are wont to crye for the mothers pappe. And hereof they fay it commeth that frogges vfe to cry fo
pytifuUy in the fprynge tyme of the yeare : And that men were fcattered abrode in the caues of Hifpaniola
withowte the companye of women. They fay alfo, that whereas Vagoniona hym felfe, was accuftomed to
wander in dyuers places, and yet by a fpeciall grace, neuer tranfformed, defcended to a certeyne fayre woman
whom he fawe in the bottome of the fea, and receaued of her certeyne pibple ftones of marble (whiche they
caule Cibas) and alfo certeine yelowe and bright plates of laton, whiche they caule Guaninos. Thefe thynges
to this day are had in greate ellimation amonge the kynges, as goodly iewels and mod holy reliques. Thefe
men whiche we fayde before were lefte in the caues wthowte women, went furth in the nyght (as they fay) to
waffhe them felues in a ponde of raine water and fawe a farre of by the way a greate multitude of certeine
beaft.es in fliape fumwhat lyke vnto women, creping as thicke as antes aboute the myrobalane trees : And that
as they attempted to take thefe beafles, they flypped owte of their handes as they had byn yeles. Where vppon
they confulted, and determyned by th[ejaduice of the elders, that al fuche fhulde bee fowght foorthe amonge
them, as were fcabbyd and leprous, to th[e]intente that with theyr rowghe and harde handes, they myght th[e]-
efelyer take holde of them. Thefe men, they caule Caracaracoles : And fente them foorthe a huntinge to take
thefe beafles. But of many which they tooke, they coulde keepe but only foure : The whiche as they wolde
haue vfed for women, they fownde that they lacked womans priuities. AVherefore caulinge th[e]elders ageyne to
counfayle, to confult what were beft.e to bee done in this cafe, theyr aduice was that the byrde which wee caule
the Pye, (huld bee admitted with his byll to open a place for that purpofe, whyle in the meane tyme thefe men
cauled Caracaracoles, (hulde hould fafl the womens thighes abrode with theyr rowgh handes. Full wyfely ther-
fore was the pye put to this office, and opened the womens priuities, and hereof the women of the Ilande haue
theyr original and offpringe. But nowe doo I ceafe to marueyle that the owlde Grekes dyd fable and wryte fo
manye bookes of the people cauled Myrmidones, which they fayned to bee engendred of antes or piffemeres.
Thefe and fuche lyke, the fageft. and wyfeft. of the people, preache continually to the fimple forte, and reherfe
the lame as mode holy oracles. But it is yet more chyldyffhe that they fable as touchinge th[e]originall of the
fea. For they faye that there was once in the Ilande, a man of greate power, whofe name was lata : whofe only
foonne being dead, he buryed hym within a greate gourde. This laia, greuouflye takyng the death of his
foonne, after a fewe moonthes, came ageyne to the gourde : The which when he had opened, there iflhewed
foorth many great whales and other monfters of the fea : where vppon he declared to fuche as dwelt abowte
hym, that the fea was enclofed in that gourde. By which report, foure brethren (borne of one woman
who dyed in her trauail) beinge moued, came to the gourde in hope to haue many fyflhes. The whiche
when they had taken in theyr handes, and efpied laia comming, (who oftentymes reforted to the gourd
to vifet the boones of his foonne) fearing lead he fhulde fufpecte them of thefte and facrileage, fodaynely let
the gourde faule owte of theyr handes : which beinge broken in the faule the fea furthwith brake owte at the
ryftes therof, and fo fylled the vales, and ouerflowed the playnes, that only the mountaynes were vncouered,
whiche nowe conteyne the Ilandes which are feene in thofe coaft,es. And this is the oppinion of theyr wyfe
men as concernynge th[e]originall of the fea. But nowe (mofl. noble prince) you fhall heare a more pleafaunt
fable. There is a certeyne caue cauled louanaboina, in the territorye of a certeyne kynge whofe name is
Machinnech. This caue they honour more religioufly then dyd the Grekes in tyme pafte, Corinth, Cyrrha, or
Nyfa: And haue adoumed it with pictures of a thoufand fafftiions. In th[e]enterance of this caue they haue
twoo grauen Zemes, wherof the one is cauled Binthaitel, and the other Marobu. Beinge demaunded why they
had this caue in foo greate reuerence, they anfwered emeftly, bycaufe the Soonne and the Moone came fyrfl.
owt of the fame to gyue lyght to the worlde. They haue religious concourfe to thefe caues, as wee are
accuftomed to goo on Pylgramage to Rome or Vaticane, Compoftele, or Hierufalem, and moft holye and heade
places of owre Religion. They are alfo fubiect to an other kynde of fuperftition. For they thinke that deade
folkes walke in the nyght, and eate of the fruite cauled Guannaba, vnknowen vnto vs, and fumwhat lyke vnto a
quynfe. Affirmynge alfo that they are conuerfant with lyuing people, euen in theyr beddes, and to deceaue
women in takynge vpon them the fliape of men, (hewynge them felues as thowgh they wolde haue to doo with
them : But when the matter commeth to actual deede, foodenly to vanyfflie away. If any doo fufpecte that a
deade body lyeth by hym when he feeleth anye (Iraimge thynge in the bedde, they fay hee flialbe owt of dout
The fyrjl Decade.-
lOI
by feelynge of the belly therof : affirmyng that the fpirites of deade men may take vppon them al the members
of mans body, fauinge only the nauell. If therfore by lacke of the nauell he doo perceaue that a deade body
lyeth by hym, the feelynge is immediatly refolued. They beleue verely, that in the nyght, and often tymes in
theyr ioumeys, and efpecially in common and hygh wayes, deade men doo nieete with the lyuynge. Ageynfle
whome, if any man bee ftoute and owte of feare, the phantafye vanyffheth incontinentely. But yf anye feare,
the phantafy or vyfion doth foo affaute hym and flryke hym with further feare, that manye are thereby aflonyffhed
and haue the lymmes of theyr bodyes taken. Th[e]iiihabytantes beinge demaunded of whom they had thofe
vayne fuperfticions, they anfwered that they were lefte them of theyr forefathers as by difcent of inheritance :
And that they haue had the fame (before the memory of man) compofed in certeine rymes and fonges, which
it was lawful for none to lerne but onely the kynges foonnes, who commytted the fame to memorye, bycaufe
they hadde neuer any knoweleage of letters. Thefe they fynge beefore the people on certeyne folemne and
fefliuall dayes, as moft. religious ceremonies : whyle in the meane tyme they play on a certeyne inflmmente
made of one hole peece of woodde fumwhat holowe lyke a tymbrell. Their preefles and diuines (whom they
caule Boitios) inflructe them in thefe fuperflitions. Thefe preefles, are alfo phifitians, diuifinge a thoufande
craftes and fubtylties howe to deceaue the fimple people which haue them in greate reuerence. For they
perfuade them that the Zemes vfe to fpeak with theym familierlye, and tel them of thynges to come. And if any
haue bin ficke and are recouered, they make them beleue that they obteyned theyr healthe of the 2^mes. Thefe
Boitii, bynde them felues to muche faflinge and owtewarde clenlynes and pourgeinges : Efpecially when they
take vppon them the cure of any Prince. For then they drynke the pouder of a certeyne herbe, by whofe
qualitie they are dryuen into a furye : At whiche tyme (as they fay) they lerne many thynges by reuelation of
the Zemes. Then, puttinge fecreatly in theyr mouthes, eyther a Hone, or a bone, or a piece of fleflie, they
coomme to the ficke perfon, commaundinge al to departe owte of that place, excepte one or twoo, whom it fhall
pleafe the ficke man to appoynt. This doone, they goo about hym three or foure tymes, greatly deforminge
theyr faces, lyppes, and nofethrils with fundry fylthy gieftures : blowynge, breathinge, and fuckyng the forheade,
temples, and necke of the pacient, wherby (they faye) they drawe the euyll ayer from hym, and fucke the difeafe
owt of his veynes. Then rubbinge hym about the flioulders, thyghes, and legges, and drawynge downe theyr
handes clofe by his feete, holdinge them yet fafle togyther, they runne to the dore beinge open, where they
vnclofe and fhake theyr handes, affirminge that they haue dryuen away the difeafe, and that the pacient (hall
fhortely bee perfectly reflored to health. After this, commynge behynde hym, he conueygheth the piece of
flefhe owte of his owne mouth like a iuggeler, and fheweth it to the ficke man, fayinge, behoulde what you haue
eaten to muche : you fhall nowe bee hole, bycaufe I haue taken this from you. But if he intende yet further to
deceaue the pacient, he perfuadeth hym that his Zemes is angry, eyther bycaufe he hath not buylded hym a chapell,
or not honored hym religioufly, or not dedicated vnto him a groue or garden. And if it foo chaunce that the
ficke perfon dye, his kinffolkes by wytchecrafte enforce the deade to confeffe whether he dyed by naturall deflenye,
or by the neglygence of the Boitius, in that he had not fafled as he fliulde haue doone, or not myniftred a
conuenient medicine for the difeafe. Soo that yf this phifitian bee founde fautie, they take reuenge of hym. Of
the Hones or bones which thefe Boitii carye in theyr mouthes, yf the women can coome by them, they keepe
them religioufly beleauinge them to bee greatly effectuall to helpe women whiche trauayle with chylde : And
therfore honoure them as they doo theyr Zemes. For dyuers of th[e]inhabitantes, honour Zemes of dyuers
faffhions. Sume make theim of woodde, as they were admonylhed by certeyne vifions apperinge vnto them in
the wooddes. Others, whiche haue receaued anfwere of them amonge the rockes, make them of flone and
marble. Sum they make of rootes to the fimilitude of fuche as appeare to them when they are gathering the
rootes cauled Ages, wherof they make theyr breade, as we haue fayde before. Thefe Zemes, they beleue to fend
jilentie and frutefulnes of thofe rootes, as the antlquitie beleued fuche fayries or fpirites as they cauled Dryades,
Hamadryades, Satyros, Panes, and Nereides, to haue the cure and prouidence of the fea, wooddes, and fprynges
and fountaynes, afligninge to euery thynge, theyr peculier goddes. Euen foo doo th[e]inhabitantes of this
Ilande attribute a Zemes to euery thynge, fuppofinge the fame to gyue eare to theyr inuocations. Wherfore, as
often as the kynges afke counfaile of their Zemes as concerning their warres, increafe of fruites or fcarfnes, or
health and fickenes, they enter into the houfe dedicate to theyr Zemes, where, fnuffinge vp into theyr nofethryls
the pouder of the herbe cauled Cohobba (wherwith the Boitii are dryuen into a furye) they fay that immediatly
they fee the houfes turne topfy turuye, and men to walke with theyr heeles vpwarde : of fuche force is this
pouder vtterly to take away all fenfe. As foone as this maddenes ceafeth, he embrafeth his knees with his armes,
holdynge downe his heade. And when he hath remayned thus a whyle aflonyfihed, he lyfteth vp his heade as
one that came newe owt of fleepe : And thus loking vp towarde heauen, Fyrfl he fumbeleth certeyne confounded
woordes with hym felfe. Then certeyne of the nobilitie or chiefe gentelmen that are about him (for none of the
common people are admytted to thefe myfleries) with lowde voyces gyue tokens of reioyfing that he is returned
to them from the fpeache of the Zemes, demaundynge of hym what he hathe feene. Then hee openinge his
L 3 loi
Phantasies
proceadynge of
feare.
Al is not good that
is owlde
Syngynge and
playinge
Preestes and
diuines.
Phisitians.
Ignorance is
noryshed with
superstition.
Fastynge and
outward clenlynes.
A pouder of
maruelous eifecte.
luggelynge.
A strange maner
of curing
46
Angery gods
They make the
deade to speake.
Diucrs Idols of
sundry shape.
Fayries or spirites
of the gentylcs.
Peculier goddes.
I'hey aske
consaile of Idols
The pouder of the
herbe Cohobba.
Secreate niistcries.
I02
The fyrjl Decade.
Reuelations.
The spirite of
ApoUo.
The SibiUcs
I haue harde the
Ivke of other in
'«nglande.
Hungery and
lecherous gods.
Children with two
crownes
47
Wandcringe
Images.
Mediatours.
A woman zemes
of great poure.
Fyuc dayes
fastinge.
A maruelous
illusion of the
deuyll.
The deuyll
sumtyme telleth
truth.
The Idols
abolyshed.
mouthe, doateth that the Zemes fpake to hym duryng the tyme of his traunce : declaring that he had reuelations
eyther concerninge victorye or deflruction : famyne or plentie : health or fyckenes, or what foo euer happeneth
fyrfl on his toonge. Nowe (mode noble Prince) what neede you hereafter to marueyle of the fpirite of Apollo
foo fhakynge his Sibylles with extreme furie? Yowe had thowght that the fuperflitious antiquitie hadde
peryfhed. But nowe wheras I haue declared thus much of the Zemes in generall, I thowght it not good to lette
paffe what is fayde of them in particular. They faye therefore, that a certeyne kynge cauled Guamaretus, had
a Zemes whofe name was Corochotum : who (they fay) was often tymes woonte to defcende from the hyghefte
place of the houfe where Guamaretus kepte hym fade bounde. They affirme, that the caufe of this his
breakynge of his bandes and departure, was eyther to hyde hym felfe, or to goo feeke for meate, or els for the
acte of generation : And that fumtymes beinge offended, that the kynge Gttamaretus had byn negligent and
flacke in honouringe hym, he was woont to lye hyd for certeyne dayes. They lay alfo that in the kynges vylage
there are fumtyme chyldren borne hauing twoo crownes which they fuppofe to bee the children of Corochotum
the Zemes. They fayne lykewyfe, that Guamaretus beinge ouercome of his enemies in the battayle, and his
vylage with the palaice confumed with fyer, Coroc/wtus brake his bandes and was afterwarde founde a furlonge of,
fafe and withowte hurte. He hath alfo an other Zemes cauled Epileguanita, made of woodde, in fhape lyke a foure
footed beafle : who alfo is fayde, often tymes to haue gonne from the place where he is honoured, into the wooddes.
As foone as they perceaue him to bee gonne, a great multitude of them gather togyther to feeke hym with deuoute
prayers : And when they haue fownde hym, brynge hym home religioufly on theyr fhulders to the chapell dedicated
vnto hym. But they coomplayne that fence the commynge of the Chriflian men into the Ilande, he fledde for all
togyther, and coulde neuer fence bee founde, wherby they diuined the deflruction of theyr countrey. They honoured
an other Zemes in the lykenes of a woman, on whom wayted twoo other lyke men, as they were miniflers to
her. One of thefe, executed th[e]office of a mediatour to the other Zetnes which are vnder the power and
commaundement of this woman, to rayfe wyndes, cloudes, and rayne. The other is alfo at her commaunde-
mente a meffenger to the other Zemes whiche are ioyned with her in gouemaunce, to gather togyther the waters
■whiche faule from the hygh hylles to the valleys, that beinge loofed, they may with force burft owte into greate
fluddes and ouerflowe the countrey if the people doo not gyue due honoure to her Image. There remayneth
yet one thynge woorthy to bee noted, wherwith we wyll make an ende of this booke. It is a thynge well
knowen, and yet freffhe in memory amonge the inhabitantes of the Ilande, that there was fumetyme twoo
kynges (of the which one was the father of Guarionexius of whom we made mention before) which were woont
to abfteyne fyue dayes togyther continually from meate and drinke, to knowe fumwhat of theyr Zemes of thynges
to coome : And that for this faflynge beinge acceptable to theyr Zemes, they receaued anfwere of them, that
within fewe yeares, there fhuld coome to the Ilande a nation of men couered with apparell, which fhulde
deftroye al the cuflomes and cerymonyes of the Hand, and eyther fley all theyr chyldren, or brynge them into
feruitude. The common fort of the people, vnderiloode this oracle to bee mente of the Canibales. And
therefore when they had any knowleage of theyr commyng, they euer fledde, and were fully determyned neuer
more [to] aduenture the battayle with them. But when they fawe that the Spanyardes had entered into the
Ilande, confultinge amonge them felues of the matter, they concluded that this was the nation which was ment
by th[e]oracle. Wherin, theyr opinion deceaued them not For they are nowe all fubiecte to the Chriflians,
all fuche beinge flayne as (loobemely refilled. Nor yet remayneth there anye memory of theyr Zemes: for
they are al brought into Spayne, that we myght bee certified of theyr illufions of euyl fpirites and Idoles, the
which yowe yowre felfe (mofl noble Prince) haue feene and felte when I was prefente with yowe. I let pafle
many thynges bycaufe yow put me in remembrance that to morowe yowe take yowre iorney towarde yowre
countrey, to brynge home the queene yowre aunte, whom yowe accoompanyed hether at the commaundemente
of kynge Frederyke yowre vncle. Wherfore I byd yowe farewel for this tyme, defyrynge yowe to remember
yowre Martyr, whome yowe haue compelled in the name of the kynge yowre vncle, to gather thefe fewe
thynges owte of a large feelde of hylloryes.
The fyrjl Decade.
103
€[ The tenth and laste booke of the fyrst decade,
as a conclufton of the fovnter booke s:
Wrytten /i? Inacus lopez Mendocius, countie ^Tendilla, and viceroy e ^^/Granata.
T the fyril begynnynge and newe attempte, when Colonus had taken vppon hym th[e]enter-
pryfe to fearch the Ocean fea, I was emeftly moued and requyred by the letters of certeyne
of my frendes and noble men of Rome to wryte fuche thynges as fhoulde happen. For they
whyfpered with greate admiracion, that where as there were many newe landes founde, and
nations which lined naked and after the lawe of nature, they coulde here noo certentie
therof, beinge greately defyrous of the fame. In this meane tyme had fortune ouerthrowne
Afcanius (his brother Lodouike beinge call owt of Mylayne by the frenchmen) whofe
autoritie wold not fuffer me to bee idle, but euer to haue my pen in hande. To hym I ^vryte the twoo fyrll
bookes of this decade, befyde many other of my hyd commentaries whiche yowe (hall fee fhortely. Fortune
dyd noo leffe withdrawe my mynde frome wrytynge, then diflurbe Afcanius from power. As he was toffed with
contrary flormes and ceafed to perfuade me, euen foo flacked my feruentnes to enquyre any further, vntyl the
yeare of Chrifle. 1500. When the court remayned at Granata where yowe are viceroye: At which time
Lodouike the Cardinall of Aragonie, neuie to kynge Frederike by his brothers fyde (beinge at Granata with
the queene Parthenopea the fyfler of owre catholike kynge) browght me kynge Frederikes letters, wherby he
exhorted me to fynyflie the other bookes whiche folowed the twoo epyflell bookes, which I wryte to Afcanius.
For they both acknowleaged that they hadde the copie of all that I wryte to cardinall Afcanius. And albeit
that euen then I was ficke (as yowe knowe) yet tooke I the burden vppon me, and applyed my felfe to wrytynge.
I haue therfore chofen thefe fewe thynges, owte of a greate heape of fuche as feemed to me moll woorthy to
bee noted amonge the large wrytynges of the autoures and fearchers of the fame. Wherfore, forafmuch as yowe
haue endeuoured to wrede owt of my handes the hole exemple of al my woorkes, to adde the fame to the
innumerable volumes of yowre librarie, I thowght it good nowe to make a breefe reherfall of thofe thynges
which were done from that yeare of a thowfande and fyue hundreth, euen vnto this yeare which is the tenth
from that. For I entende to wryte more largelye of thefe thynges hereafter, if god graunte me lyfe. I hadde
wrytten a hole booke by it felfe of the fuperllitions of the people of the Ilande, fuppofinge therwith to haue
accomplyfhed the hole Decade confiflynge of tenne bookes. But I haue added this to the tenthe as a per-
pendiculer lyne, and as it were a backe guyde or rerewarde to the other: So that yowe may knytte the fyrft
tenthe, to the nynthe, and impute this to occupie the place of the tenthe to fyll vp the Decade. This order
haue I appoynted, left I fhulde bee compelled often times to wryte ouer the hole woorke, or fende yowe the
fame defaced with blottes and interlynynge. But nowe let vs coome to owre purpofe. The fhippe mafters
and maryners ranne ouer many coaftes durynge thefe tenne yeares : But euer folowed fuche as were fyrfte
fownde by Colonus. For rafmge continually alonge by the tracte of Paria, which they beleue to bee parte of
the firme lande or continent of eafte India, fume of theym chaunced vppon certeyne newe landes towarde the
eafte, and fume towarde the wefte, in which they fownde bothe goulde and frankenfence. For they browght
from thenfe many iewels and ouches of golde, and greate plentie of frankenfence, whiche they had of the
people of thofe countreys, partely for exchange of fume of owre thynges, and partely by force, ouercommynge
them by warre. Yet in fume places, althowgh they bee naked, they ouercame owre men, and flewe hole
armyes. For they are excedinge fierce, and vfe venemous arrowes, and longe ftaues lyke iauelens, made harde
at the ende with fyer. They fownde many beaftes, both creepinge and foure footed, muche differinge from
owres, variable and of fundrye fliapes innumerable : yet not hurtfuU, excepte Lyons, Tygers, and Crocodiles.
This I meane in fundry Regions of that greate lande of Paria : but not in the Ilandes : Noo not foo much as
one. For all the beaftes of the Ilandes, are meeke and withowte hurte, except men which (as wee haue fayde)
are in many Ilandes deuourers of mans flefflie. There are alfo dyuers kyndes of foules. And in many places
battes of fuch bygnes, that they are equall with turtle doues. Thefe battes, haue often tymes affauted men in
the nyght in theyr fleepe, and foo bytten them with theyr venemous teethe, that they haue byn therby almofte
dryuen to madnes, in foo much that they haue byn compelled to flye from fuch places, as from rauenous harpies.
In an other place, where certeyne of them flepte in the nyght feafon on the fandes by the fea fyde, a monfter
commynge owte of the fea, came vppon one of them fecreatly and caryed hym away by the myddefte owte of
the fight of his felowes to whome he cryed in vayne for helpe vntyll the beafte lepte into the fea with her praye.
The Lawe of
nature.
Milayne in ihe
hands of the
frenchmen
48
Epistel books
The historye
folowing,
conteyneth the
actes often yeare
Paria, part of the
firme I?.nd of East
India
Golde and
frankensence.
The fiercenes of
the naked people.
Innumerable
beastes vnlyke
vnto owres.
Nothing hurlfull
in the Ilandes.
Battes as byggc
as turtle doucs.
A nian deuoured
of a monster of
the sea
104
The fyrjl Decade.
The Spanyardes
prefer them selues
to subdue the
newe landes.
Note the largenes
of the newe landes.
Commendacion of
the Spaniardes.
Antipodes.
49
The autotirs
excusse.
Hisfaniola.
The nature of the
place, altereth
the formes and
qualities of
thynges.
Wheate.
Herbes.
Catayle.
Hogges.
Mcntie of beastes
and foule.
Cuba, is an
llande.
The description
of Cuba.
The Hand of
Burichema or
S. lohannis.
Golde myncs
The order of
woorkynge in the
golde mynes.
The kynges
brynge theyr
subiectes
to woorke in
the golde mynes.
Tyllage.
50
They abhorre
laboure
They are docible.
The kynges
chyldren.
It was the kynges pleafure that they fliulde remayne in thefe landes, and buylde townes and fortrefles. Where
vnto they were foo wel wyllynge, that dyuers profered them felues to take vppon them the fubduing of the
lande, makyng great fute to the kynge that they might bee appoynted therto. The coafte of this tracte is
exceadynge greate and large: and the Regions and landes therof extende maruelous farre: Soo that they
affirme the continent of thefe Regions with the Ilandes abowte the fame, to bee thryfe as bygge as al Europe,
befyde thofe landes that the Portugales haue fownde fouthwarde, whiche are alfo exceadynge large. Therfore
doubtlefle Spayne hathe deferued greate prayfe in thefe owre dayes, in that it hath made knowen vnto us foo
many thowfandes of Antipodes which leye hyd before and vnknowen to owre forefathers : And hath thereby
mynyflred fo large matter to wryte of, to fuche lerned wyttes as are defyrous to fette furthe knowleage to the
commoditie of men : to whom I opened a way when I gathered thefe thynges rudely to gyther as yowe fee :
The which, neuertheleffe I trufl yowe wyll take in good parte, afwell for that I can not adoume my rudenes
with better vedure, as alfo that I neuer tooke penne in hande to wryte lyke an hiRoriographer, but only by
epiftels fcribeled in hafle, to fatiffie theym, from whofe commaundementes I myght not drawe backe my foote.
But now I haue digreffed enowghe. Let vs nowe therefore returne to Hifpaniola. Owre men haue founde by
experience, that the breade of the Hand is of fniaule ftrength to fuch as haue byn vfed to owt breade made of
wheate : And that theyr fl,ren[g]thes were much decayed by vfynge of the fame. AVherfore the king hath of late
commaunded that wheate fhulde bee fowen there in diuers places and at fundry tymes of the yeare. It groweth
into holowe reedes, with fewe eares, but thofe verye bygge and frutefull. They fynde the lyke foftenes or delicatenes
to bee in herbes, which growe there to the height of come. Neat or cattail, becoome of bygger flature and
exceadynge fat, but theyr flefflie is more vnfauery, and theyr bones (as they fay) eyther withowte marye, or the
fame to bee verye wateryffhe. But of hogges and fwyne, they affirme the contrarye, that they are more holfoome
and of better tafle, by reafon of certeyne wylde frutes whiche they eate, beinge of muche better nooryfhement
then mafle. There is almofl none other kynd of fleffhe commonly foulde in the market The multitude of hogges,
are excedingly encreafed, and becoome wylde as foone as they are owte of the fwyneheardes keepynge. They
haue fuche plentie of beafles and foules, that they fhall heareafter haue noo neede, to haue any brought from
other places. Th[e]increafe of all beafles, growe bygger then the broode they came of, by reafon of the rankenes
of the paflure, althowgh theyr feadynge bee only of grafle, withowte eyther barley or other grayne. But wee
haue fayde enowgh of Hifpaniola. They haue nowe fownde that Cuba, (which of longe tyme they thowght to
haue byn firme lande for the greate length therof) is an llande. Yet is it noo maruell that th[e]inhabitantes them
felues towlde owre men when they fearched the length therof, that it was withowte ende. For this nacion being
naked and contente with a lyttle, and with the limittes of theyr owne contrey, is not greatly curyous to know
what theyr neyghbours doo, or the largenes of theyr dominion. Nor yet knewe they if there were any other
thinge vnder heauen, befyde that whiche they walked on with theyr feete. Cuba, is frome the Eafle into the
Wefle, muche longer then Hifpaniola : And in breadthe from the Northe to the Southe, much leffe then they
fuppofed at the fyrfl : for it is very narowe in refpecte to the length : And is for the mode parte, very frutefull
and pleafaunt, Eaflwarde not farre from Hifpaniola, there lyethe an llande, leffe then Hfpaniola more then by
the halfe, which owre men cauled SanBi loliannis, beinge in maner fquare. In this they founde excedynge r)'che
golde mynes. But beinge nowe occupied in the golde mynes of Hifpaniola, they haue not yet fent labourers into
that Hand. But the plentie and reuenewe of golde of al other Regions, gyue place to Hifpaniola, where they
gyue theim felues in maner to none other thynge then to gather golde, of which woorke this order is appoynted.
To euery fuch wyttie and (kylfuU man as is put in trufte to bee a furuoier or ouerfeer of thefe woorkes, there is
affigned one or more kynges of the llande with theyr fubiectes. Thefe kynges accordyng to theyr league, coome
with theyr people at certeyne tymes of the yeare, and reforte euery of them to the golde myne to the which he is
affigned: where they haue all maner of dygginge or myninge tooles deUuered them: And euery kynge with his
men, haue a certeyne rewarde alowed them for theyr labour. For when they departe from the mynes to fowynge
of come, and other tyllage (whemnto they are addict at certeyne other tymes, leafle theyr foode fliulde fayle
them) they receaue for theyr laboure, one a ierken, or a dublet, an other a flierte, an other a cloke or a cappe.
For they nowe take pleafure in thefe thynges, and goo no more naked as they were wont too doo. And thus
they vfe the helpe and laboure of the inhabitantes both for the tyllage of theyr ground, and in theyr gold mines
as thowghe they were theyr femauntes or bondemen. They beare this yoke of feraitude >vith an euyll wyll : but
yet they beare it. They caule thefe hyred labourers, Anaborias. Yet the kynge doth not fuffer that they fliulde
bee vfed as bondemen : And onely at his pleafure they are fette at libertie or appoynted to woorke. At fuche
tyme as they are cauled together of theyr kynges to woorke (as fouldiers or pioners are affembled of theyr
centurians) many of them dele away to the mountaynes and wooddes, where they lye lurkynge, beinge content
for that tyme to lyue with wyld fmtes, rather then to take the paynes to laboure. They are docible and apte to
leme, and haue nowe vtterly forgotten theyr owlde fuperflicions. They beleue godly, and beare wel in memory
fuche thynges as they haue lerned of o^vre faith. Theyr kynges children are brought vp with the chiefeft of owre
104
The fyrjl Decade.
105
men, and are inflructed in letters and good maners. When they are growen to mans age, they fende them home
to theyr countreys to bee exemple to other, and efpecially to goueme the people if theyr fathers bee dead that
they maye the better fet foorthe the Chriftian Religion, and keepe theyr fubiectes in loue and obedience. By
reafon whereof, they coome nowe by fayre meanes and gentell perfuafions to the mynes which lye in twoo
Regions of the Ilande aboute thirtie myles diflante frome the citie of Dominica : wherof the one is cauled SanHi
Chrijlophori: And the other being diflante aboute foure fcore and tenne myles, is cauled Cibaua, not farre from
the cheefe hauen cauled Partus Regalis. Thefe regions are very large : In the which in many places here and
there, are fownd fumtyme euen in the vpper crufl of the earth and fumtyme amonge the flones, certeyne rounde
pieces or plates of golde, fumtyme of fmaule quantitie, and in fum places of great weyght : In fo muche that there
hath byn found rounde pieces of three hundreth pounde weyght, and one of three thoufande, three hundreth
and tenne pounde weyght : The whiche (as yowe harde) was fente hole to the kynge in that fhyppe in the which
the gouemour Boadilla was comming home into Spayne, the (hyppe with all the men beinge drowned by the
way, by reafon it was ouer laden with the weight of golde and multytude of men. Albeit, there were moo then
a thowefande perfons whiche fawe and handeled the piece of golde. And wheras here I fpeake of a pounde,
I doo not meane the common pounde, but the fumme of the ducate of golde, with the coyne cauled Trims,
which is the thyrde parte of a pounde, whiche they caule Pejus. The fum of the weyght hereof, the Spanyardes
caule Cajlellanum Auraim. Al the golde that is dygged in the mountaynes of Cibaua and Porte Regale, is
caiyed to the towre of Conception, where flioppes with al thynges apperteyninge are redy furnyffhed to fyne it,
melte it, and cafle it into wedges. That doone, they take the kynges portion therof, whiche is the fyfte parte,
and foo reflore to euery man his owne whiche he gotte with his labour. But the golde whiche is fownde in
faynt Chriflophers myne and the Region there aboute, is caryed to the (hoppes whiche are in the vylage cauled
Bonauentura. In thefe twoo fhoppes, is molten yerely, aboue three hundreth thoufand pounde weight of golde.
If any man bee knowen deceatefully to keepe backe any portion of golde, whereof he hathe not made the kynges
officers pryuie, he forfiteth the fame for a fyne. There chaunce amonge them often tymes many contentions
and controuerfies, the whiche onleffe the magiflrates of the Ilande doo fynyflhe, the cafe is remoued by appellation
to the hyghe counfayle of the courte, from whofe fentence it is not lawfull to appele in all the dominions of
Caflyle. But lette vs nowe returne to the newe landes frome whenfe we haue digreffed. They are innumerable,
dyuers, and exceadynge fortunate. Wherfore the Spanyardes in thefe owre dayes, and theyr noble enterpryfes,
doo not gyue place eyther to the factes of Saturnus, or Hercules, or any other of the ancient princes of famous
memorie which were canonized amonge the goddes cauled Heroes for theyr fearchinge of newe landes and
regions, and bringinge the lame to better culture and ciuiHtie. Oh God : howe large and farre Ihal owre
pofleritie fee the Chriftian Religion extended? Howe large a campe haue they nowe to wander in, whiche by
the trewe nobihtie that is in theym, or mooued by vertue, wyll attempte eyther to deferue lyke prayfe amonge
men, or reputacion of well doinge before god. What I conceaue in my mynde of thefe thynges, I am not able
to expreffe with penne or tonge. I wyll nowe therfore foo make an ende of this perpendiculer conclufion of the
hole Decade, as myndinge hereafter to fearche and gather euery thynge particulerlye, that I maye at further
leafure wryte the fame more at large. For Colonus the Admiral with foure fhyppes, and a hundreth threefcore
and tenne men appoynted by the kynge, difcouered in the yeare of Chrifte. 1502. the lande ouer ageynfte the
wefte comer of Cuba, diftant from the lame aboute a hundreth and thirtie leaques : In the myddeft of which
tracte, lyeth an Ilande cauled Guanaffa. From henfe he directed his vyage backewarde towarde the Eafte
by the Ihore of that coaft, fuppofmge that he Ihulde haue founde the coaftes of Paria: but it chaunced
otherwyfe. It is fayd alfo that Vincejitius Agnes (of whom we haue fpoken before) and one lohannes Diaz
(with dyuers other of whofe vyages I haue as yet no certeyne knowleage) haue ouer runne thofe coalles.
But if God graunt me life, I truft to know the truthe hereof and to aduertife yowe of the fame. Thus fare
ye well
C The feconde Decade foloweth.
The two chiefe
golde mynes of
nispaniola.
Golde founde in
the vpper part of
the earth.
A piece of golde
weighinge three
thousande three
hundreth and ten
pounds.
A coastly ship
wrake.
Pesus.
The fynyiige and
distribution of
golde.
Three hundreth
thousand weyght
of gold molten
yerely in
nispaniola.
Controuerscs
The newe landes.
The Spanyardes
noble enterpryses.
are not inferiour
to the actes of
Hercules or
Satmnus. etc.
Enlarging of the
Christian Religion.
The originall of
trewe nobilitie.
51
The Ilande of
Guanassa
The vyage of
lohannes Diaz.
145
io6
West Antipodes.
The increase of
the Christian
congregation.
Christophorus
Colonus.
Of landes distante
from the
Equinoctiall from
fyue degrees to
ten.
The death of
Colonus.
Agenerall lycence.
The nauigation of
Alphonsus Fogeda.
52
Partus
Carthaginis.
The Region of
Caramairi.
People of goodly
stature
Apples whiche
tume into
woormes.
CTHE FYRST BOOKE OF THE SECONDE DECADE,
TO LEO BYSSHOP OF ROME, THE TENTHE OF THAT NAME,
Of the fuppofed Continent or firme lande.
ENSE the tyme that Galeatius Butrigarius of Bononie,and Johannes
Curfnis of Florence (mode holye father) came to the catholyke
kynge of Spayne, the one, of yowre holynes ambafage, and
th[e]other for th[e]affaires of his common welth, I was euer for
the mofle parte in theyr coompanie, and for theyr vertues and
wyfedoome, had theym in greate reuerence. And wheras they
were greatly gyuen to (ludye, and continuall reuoluinge of
dyuers autours, they chaunced vppon certeyne bookes negli-
gently let flyppe owte of my handes, entreatinge of the large
landes and Regions hetherto lyinge hyd, and almofl weft.
Antipodes, fownde of late by the Spanyardes. Yet beinge
allured and delited with the newenes and ft.rangenes of the
matter althowgh rudely adourned, they commended the iame :
Therwith erneflely defyringe me in theyr owne names, and
requyring me in the name of yowr holynes, to adde here
vnto all fuche thynges as were fownde after that tyme, and to gyue
them a copie thereof to fende to yowre holynes, that yowe myght
therby vnderflande, bothe howe greate commoditie is chaunced
to the progenye of mankynde, as alfo increafe of the militante congregation in thefe owre dayes, by the fortunate
enterpryfes of the kjmges of Spayne. For lyke as rafed or vnpaynted tables, are apte to receaue what
formes foo euer are fyrft. drawen theron by the hande of the paynter, euen foo thefe naked and fimple
people, doo foone receaue the cufl.omes of owre Religion, and by conuerfation with owre men, (hake of
theyr fierce and natiue barbaroufnes. I haue thowght it good therfore to fatiffie the requeft of thefe
wyfe men, efpecially vfinge th[e]autoritie of yowre name, wherunto not to haue obeyed, I fliulde
eft-eeme my felfe to haue commytted a heynous offence. Wherefore I wyl nowe brefely reherfe in order, what
hyd coaftes the Spanyardes ouerranne, who were the autours therof, where they reft.ed, what further hope they
browght, and fynallye what great thynges thofe tractes of landes doo promeffe in tyme to coome. In the
declaration of my decade of the Ocean, which is nowe printed and difperfed throwghowte Chriftendome
vnwares to me, I defcribed howe Chrijlophorus Colonus fownde thofe Ilandes wherof we haue fpoken, and that
turnynge from thenfe towarde the lefte hande fouthwarde, he chaunced into greate regions of landes, and large
feas, diftant from the Equinoctial lyne, onely from fyue degrees to tenne : where he founde brode ryuers and
exceadinge hygh mountaynes couered with fiiowe and harde by the fea bankes, where were many commodious
and quyet hauens. But Colonus being now departed owte of this lyfe, the k)Tige beganne to take care, howe
thofe landes myght be inhabited with Chrifl,ian men to th[e]increafe of owre fayth: Where vppon he gaue
licence by his letters patentes to al fuch as wolde take the matter in hand, and efpecially to twoo, wherof Diego
Nicuefa was one, and the other was Alphonfus Fogeda. \Vherfore about the Ides of December, Alphonfus
departinge fyrfl with three hundreth fouldiers from the Ilande of Hifpaniola (in the which wee fayde the Span-
yardes had builded a citie, and planted theyr habitacion) and faylynge in maner full fouthe, he came to one of
the hauens founde before whiche Colonus named Partus Carthaginis, bothe bycaufe of the Ilande ftandynge
ageynfl.e the courfe of the flreame, and alfo that by reafon of the largenes of the place and bendynge fydes, it
is muche lyke to the hauen of Spaine cauled Carthago. Th[e]inhabitantes caule the Ilande Codego, as the
Spanyardes caule the Ilande of theyr hauen, Scombria. This Region is cauled of the inhabitantes Caramairi:
In the which they aifirme bothe the men and women to bee of goodly ftature, but naked. The men haue
theyr heare cutte rownde by theyr eares, but the women were it longe. Bothe the men and women are very
good archers. Owre men fownde certen trees in this prouince, which bore greate plentie of fweete apples, but
hurteful, for they tume into wormes when they are eaten. Efpecially the (hadowe of the tree, is contagious,
The feconde Decade.
107
for fuche as fleepe vnder it any tyme, haue theyr headdes fwolne and lofe theyr fight. But if they fleepe but a
whyle, theyr fyght commeth ageyne after a fewe dayes. This porte is dyflant foure hundreth fyftie and fyxe
myles from that parte of Hifpaniola which the Spanyardes caule Beata, in the which alfo they furnyffhe them
felues when they prepare anye vyage to feeke other newe landes. When Fogeda had entered into the hauen,
he inuaded, flewe, and fpoyled the people, whome he founde naked and fcattered. For they were gyuen hym
for a praye, by the kynges letters patentes bycaufe they hadde bin before tyme cruel ageynfl the Chriftians, and
coulde neuer bee allured to permytte them quietly to coome within theyr dominions. Here they founde gold,
but in no greate quantitie, nor yet that pure. They make of it, certeyne bred plates and brooches, which they
weare for coomelynes. But Fogeda not content with thefe fpoyles, vfinge certeyne captiues whiche he had
taken before, for guydes, entered into a vyllage twelue myles diflante frome the fea fyde further into the lande,
into the whiche they were fledde whom he fyrft. inuaded. Here he founde a naked people, but apte to warre.
For they were armed with targettes, (hieldes, longe fwoordes made of wood, and bowes with arrowes typte with
bone, or hardened with fyer. As foone as they had efpyed owre men, they with their geftes whom they had
receaued, alTayled them with defperate myndes, beinge therto more emeflly prouoked, beholding the calamitie
of thefe whiche fledde vnto theym, by the violence doone to theyr women and chyldren, in the fpoyle and
flawghter. In this conflicte owre men had the ouerthrowe : In the which, one Johannes de Lacoffa (beinge in
autoritie nexte vnto Fogeda the capitayne, and alfo the fyrile that gathered golde in the fandes of Vraba) was
flayne with fyftie fouldiers. For thefe people infecte theyr arrowes with the deadly poyfon of a certeyne herbe.
The other with theyr capitayne Fogeda beinge difcomfited, fledde to the fhyppes. Whyle they remayned thus
in the hauen of Carthago forowfuU and penfyue for the loffe of their companions, the other capitayne F>iego
Nicuefa, (whom they lefte in Hifpaniola, preparyng hym felfe towarde the vyage in the hauen Beata) came to
theim with fyue fhippes and feuen hundrethe foure fcore and fyfteene menne. For the greater number of
fouldyers, folowed Niaiefa, both bycaufe free libertie was gyuen them to choofe which of the capytaynes them
lyfl, and alfo that by reafon of his age, he was of greater autoritie : But efpecially bycaufe the rumoure was that
Beragua beinge by the kynges commiflion appoynted to Nicuefa, was rycher in golde then Vraba affigned to
Alphonfus Fogeda. Therfore, at the arryuall of Nicuefa, they confulted what was befle to bee doone : And
determyned fyrfle to reuenge the deathe of their felowes. Where vppon, fettynge theyr battayle in arraye, they
marched in the nyght towarde them whiche flewe Coffa with his coompanyons. Thus flealynge on them
vnwares in the la(l watche of the nyght, and encoompafmge the vyllage where they laye, confiflynge of a
hundreth howfes and more, hau)mge alfo in it thryfe as many of theyr neyghbours as of them felues, they fet
it on fyer, with diligent watche that none myght efcape. And thus in fhorte tyme they browght theym and
theyr howfes to afflies, and made them pay the raunfome of bludde with bludde. For of a greate multitude of
men and women, they fpared onely fyxe chyldren, al other being deflroyed with fyer or fword except fewe
which efcaped priuilye. They lemed by the referued chyldren, that Coffa and his felowes were cutte in
pieces and eaten of them that flewe them. By reafon wherof, they fuppofe that thefe people of Caramairi
tooke theyr originall of the Caribes otherwyfe cauled Canibales. Here they founde fume golde amonge the
afflies. For the hunger of golde, dyd noo lefle encorage owr men to aduenture thefe perels and labours
then dyd the pofleflynge of the landes. Thefe thynges thus fynyffhed, and the death of Coffa and his felowes
reuenged, they returned to the hauen. After this, Fogeda whiche came fyrfl, fyrfl. lykewyfe departinge with his
army to feeke Vraba, commytted to his gouernaunce, fayled by an Ilande cauled Fortis, lyinge in the mydwaye
betwene Vraba and the hauen of Carthago. In to the which defcendinge, he fownde it to bee an Ilande of the
Canybales, brynginge with hym frome thenfe two men and feuen women : for the refidue efcaped. Here he
fownde in the cotages of them that fledde, a hundrethe foure fcore and tenne drammes of golde, cart,e and
wrought in dyuers formes. Saylynge forwarde from henfe, he came to the Eafle coafl.es of Vraba, whiche
th[e]inhabitantes caule Caribana, from whenfe the Caribes or Canibales of the Ilandes are fayde to haue theyr
name and originall. Here he beganne to buylde a fortrefle, and a vyllage nere vnto the fame, therein intendynge
to place theyr fyrft habitacion. Shortly after, beinge infl.ructed by certeyne captyues that there was aboute
twelue myles further within the lande, a certeyne vyllage cauled Tirufi, hauinge in it a ryche golde myne, he
determyned to defl.roye the vylage. To the which when he came, he fownde th[e]inhabitantes redye to defende
theyr ryght: And that foo floutly, that encounteryng with them, he was repulfed with (hame and domage. For
thefe people alfo, vfe bowes and venemous arrowes. Within a fewe dayes after, beinge enforfed for lacke of
vytayles to inuade an other vyllage, he hym felfe was flryken in the thyghe with an arrowe. Sume of his felowes
fay, that he was thus wounded of one of th[e]inhabytantes whofe wyfe he had ledde awaye captiue before.
They fay alfo that he had firft, frendly comoned with Fogeda for redemynge of his wyfe, and had appoynted a
day to brynge a portion of golde for her raunfome : And that he came at the daye afligned, not laden with golde,
but armed with bowes and arrowes, with eyght other confetherate with hym, whiche had bin before partetakers
of the iniuries doone to them firft. at the hauen of Carthago, and afterward at the burnyng of the vyllage. In
A tree whose
shadowe is
hurtfull.
Fogeda his
autoritie confirmed
by the kynges
letters patents.
Warlyke people.
The Spanyardes
haue the
ouerthrowe.
Arrowes infected
with poyson.
The nauigatlon of
Diego Nicuesa.
The regions of
Vraba and
Beragua.
The Spanyardes
reuenge the
death of theyr
companyons.
A greate
slawghter.
Canibales.
The hunger of
golde.
53
The Ilande Fortis
Wrought gold
Caribana.
A gold myne.
The Spanyardes
are repulsed.
Fogeda is
wounded.
Ransom e.
io8
The feconde Decade.
Fogeda consumeth
by force of the
[venemc.]
Beragua and
Vraba.
Nicuesa.
The goulfe Coiba.
Dyuers languages.
Rergantynes or
brigantynes.
Bamardino de
Calauera.
Ancisus.
54
Fogeda returneth
to hispaniola.
Famyne
A brigantlne
drowned with the
stroke of a fyshe.
The Ilande Fortis.
A ttcisus.
The Region of
Cuchibacoa.
Boium gattL
Mountaynes
couered with
snowe.
Serra Neuatiu
Of Draconis.
reuenge wherof they had defperatly confecrated them felues to death. But the matter beinge knowen, the
captayne of this confpiracie was flayne of Fogeda his coompanyons, and his wyfe deteyned in captiuitie. Fogeda
alfo throwgh the mahcioufnes of the veneme, confumed and was dryed vp by lyttle and lyttle. Whyle thefe
thynges chaunced thus, they efpyed Nicuefa the other capitayne to whom Beragua the region of the wefle fyde
of Vraba, was afligned to inhabite. He gaue wynde to his fayles to take his vyage towarde Beragua, the day
after that Fogeda departed owte of the hauen of Carthago. He with his army which he browght with hym,
coafled euer alonge by the (hore vntyll he came to the goulfe Coiba, whofe kynges name is Careta. Here he
founde theyr language to bee in maner nothynge lyke vnto that Qi Hifpaniola or of the hauen of Cartlmgo:
wherby he perceaued that in this tracte there are many languages differinge from theyr owne bortherers. Niaiefa
departinge frome Coiba, wente to the prouince or Lieuetenauntfhippe of Fogeda his companion. Within a fewe
dayes after he hym felfe enteringe into one of thofe ma'rchaunt fhippes whiche the Spanyardes caule Carauelas,
commaunded that the bygger veffels, fhulde folowe farre behynde. He tooke with hym twoo fmaule fhyppes
commenly cauled bergantines or brygantynes. I haue thowght it good in all the difcourfe of thefe bookes, to
vfe the common names of thinges, bicaufe I had rather bee playne then curious : efpecially forafmuche as there
doo dayly aryfe manye newe thynges vnknowen to the antiquitie, wherof they haue lefte noo trewe names.
After the departure oi Nicuefa, there came a (hyppe from Hifpaniola to Fogeda, the capitayne wherof, was one
Bamardino de Calauera, who had floulne the fame from Hifpaniola with three fcore men, withowte leaue or
aduice of the Admirall and the other gouemours. With the vytayles whiche this fhippe browght they refrefflied
theym felues and fumewhat recouered theyr flrengthes muche weakened for lacke of meate, Fogeda his
companyons whyfpered and muttered ageynfte hym daylye more and more, that he fedde them furthe with
vayne hope. For he had towlde them that he left Ancifus in Hifpaniola (whom he chofe by the kynges
commifTion to bee a ludge in caufes, bycaufe he was lerned in the lawe) to coome fhortly after him with a (hippe
laden with vytayles : And that he marueyled that he was not coome many dayes fenfe. And herein he faid
nothinge but trewth. For when he departed, he lefte Ancifus halfe redy to folowe hym. But his
felowes fuppofinge that all that he fayde of Ancifus had byn fayned, fume of them determyned
priuilie to lleale away the twoo brigantynes frome Fogeda, and to retume to Hifpaniola. But Fogeda
hauing knowleage hereof, preuented theyr diuife. For leauynge the cuflodie of the fortreffe with a
certeyne noble gentelman cauled Francifco Pizarro, he hym felfe thus wounded, with a fewe other in his
companie, entered into the fhyppe wherof we fpake before, and fayled directly to Hifpaniola, both to heale the
wound of his thygh if any remedy myght bee found, and alfo to knowe what was the caufe of Ancifus taryinge :
Leauing hope with his felowes (which were nowe browght from three hundreth to three fcore, partly by famyne
and partly by warre) that he wolde retume within the fpace of xv. dayes : prefcribyng alfo a condition to
Fizarro and his companions, that it (hulde not bee imputed to them for treafon to departe from thenfe if he
came not ageyne at the day appoynted with vytayles and a newe fupply of men. Thefe. xv. dayes beinge nowe
pafte, whereas they coulde yet heare nothynge of Fogeda, and were dayly more and more oppreffed with fharpe
hunger, they entered into the twoo brigantynes which were lefte, and departed from that land. And as they
were nowe faylynge on the mayne fea towarde Hifpaniola, a tempefte foodeynly aryfynge, fwalowed one of the
brygantynes with all that were therein. Sum of theyr felowes affirme that they playnely fawe a fyflie of houge
greatenes fwymmyng abowte the brygantyne (for thofe feas brynge furthe greate monflers) and that with a
flroke of her tayle, (he broke the rudder of the fhyppe in peeces : which fayl)mge, the brigantine beinge dryuen
abowt by force of the temped, was drowned not farre from the Ilande cauled Fortis, lyinge betwene the coaftes
of the hauen Carthago and Vraba. As they of the other brygantyne wolde haue landed in the Ilande, they
were dryuen backe with the bowes and arrowes of the fierce barbarians. Proceadynge therfore on theyr vyage,
they mette by chaunce with Ancifus betweene the hauen of Carthago, and the Region of Cuchibacoa in the
mouthe of the ryuer whiche the Spanyardes cauled Boium gatti, that is, the houfe of the catte, bycaufe
they fawe a catte firfl in that place : and Boium, in the toonge of Hifpaniola, is a houfe. Ancifus came wy th
a fhyppe laden with all thynges neceflarye, bothe for meate and drynke, and apparell, bryngynge alfo
with hym an other brigantine. This is he for whofe comming the capitayne Fogeda looked for foo longe.
He loofed anker from Hifpaniola in the Ides of September : And the fourth day after his departure, he efpyed
certeyne hyghe mountaynes, the whiche for the abundance of fnowe which lyeth continually in the toppes therof,
the Spanyardes cauled Serra Neuata, when Colonus the fyrft fynder of thofe Regions paffed by the fame. The
fyfte daye, he fayled by Os Draconis. They whiche were in the brygantyne, towlde Ancifus that Fogeda
was returned to Hifpaniola. But Ancifus fuppofmg that they had fayned that tale, commaunded them by
th[e]authoritie of his commiflion to tume backe ageyne. The brigantiners obeyed and folowed hym : yet made
they humble fute vnto hym that he woolde graunte them that with his fauour they myght eyther goo ageyne to
Hifpaniola, or that he hym felfe woolde brynge theim to Niatefa : And that they woolde for his gentelnes
declared towarde them in this behalfe, rewarde hym with twoo thoufande drammes of golde. For they were
io8
The feconde Decade.
109
ryche in golde, but poore in breade. But Ancifus affented to neyther of theyr requefles : affirmynge that he
myght by no meanes goo anye other way then to Vraba the prouince affigned to Fogeda. Where vppon, by
theyr conduct, he tooke his vyage directly toward Vraba. But nowe let it not feme tedious to yowre holynes
to heare of one thyng worthy to bee remembred, which chaunced to this Lieuetenaunt Ancifus as he came
thether. For he alfo call anker in the coaftes of the region of Caramairi whiche wee fayde to bee famous by
reafon of the hauen of Carthago : and of the goodly flature, flrength, and beawty of both men and women beinge
in the fame. Here he fent certeyne to goo alande on the fliore, both to fetche frefflie water, and alfo to
repaire the fhippe boate which was fore broofed. In "this meane tyme a greate multitude of the people of the
countrey armed after theyr maner, came aboute owre men as they were occupied abowte theyr bufynes, and
floode in a redynes to feight, for the fpace of three dayes contynually : durynge whiche tyme, neyther durft. they
fet vppon owre men, nor owre men affayle them. Thus bothe parties keepynge theyr arraye, floode flyl three
hole dayes the one gafynge on the other. Yet all this tyme owre men applyed theyr woorke, placinge the
fhippewrightes in the myddefle of theyr armye. As they floode thus amafed, twoo of owre coompanye wente
to fyll theyr water pottes at the mouthe of the ryuer nere vnto them both, where foodenly there came furthe
ageynde them a capitayne of the barbarians with ten armed men which inclofed them, and with terrible
countenaunce bent theyr arrowes ageynfle them, but fliotte theym not of One of owre men fledde : but the
other remayned, caulynge his felowe ageyne and rebukynge hym for his fearefulnes. Then he fpake to the
barbarians in their owne language which he had lerned beinge conuerfant with the captiues that were caryed
from thenfe longe before. They marueylynge to here a (Iraunger fpeake in their natiue tonge, put of theyr
fiercenes and fell to frendly communication, demaundinge who were the capitaynes of that coompanie whiche
were arryued in theyr lande. He anfwered that they were flrangers paflyng by : And that he marueyled why
they wold attempte to dryue them from theyr coaftes and difturbe theyr fliyppes : arguinge theim of foUye and
crueltie, and further threatinge their ruine and deftmction, except they woold vfe them felues more frendely
towarde them. For hee aduertifed them that there wolde Ihortly coome into theyr lande armed men, in nomber
lyke to the fandes of the fea: And that to theyr vtter deftruction, not only if they refyfted them not, but alfo
excepte they receaued them and enterteyned them honorably. In the meane tyme Ancifus was enformed that
his men were deteyned. Wherefore fufpectinge fume deceate, he browght furth al his target men for feare of
theyr venemous arrowes : And fettinge them in battell arraye, he marched forwarde towarde them which fleyed his
men. But he which communed with the barbarians, gyuinge him a figne with his hande to procede noo further,
he fteyed. And cauling to hym the other, he knewe that all was fafe. For the barbarians profered him peace,
bycaufe they were not they whom they fufpected them to haue byn : meanynge by Fogeda and Niatefa, who had
fpoyled the vyllage ftandinge there by the fea fyde, and caryed away many captiues, and alfo bumte an other
vyllage further within the lande. And therefore (as they fayde) the caufe of theyr comminge thether, was to
reuenge thofe iniuries, if by any meanes they coulde. Yet that they woolde not exercyfe theyr weapons ageynfte
the innocente. For they fayde it was vngodly to feyght ageynft any, not beinge prouoked. Layinge a parte
therefore theyr bowes and arrowes, they enterteyned owre men gentelly, and gaue them great plentie of faked
fyffhe and breade of theyr contrey : And fylled theyr veffels with fyder made of theyr contrey frutes and feedes,
not inferiour to wyne in goodnes. Thus Ancifus hauinge entered into frendfhyp and made a league of peace with
th[e]inhabitantes of Caramairi whiche were before fore prouoked by other capitaynes, he lanched from that
lande, and directed his courfe to Vraba by the Ilande Fortis, hauinge in his (hippe a hundreth and fyftie frefftie
men whiche were fubftitute in the place of fuche as were deade. Alfo twelue mares, and manye fwine, and other
beaftes both males and females for increafe. Lykewyfe, fyftie pieces of ordinaunce, with a greate multytude of
targettes, fwoordes, iauelyns, and fuche other weapons for the warres. But all this with euyl fpeede and in an
euyll houre. For as they were euen nowe enteringe into the hauen, the gouemour of the fhippe which fatte at
the helme, ftroke the fliyppe vppon the fandes, where it was foo fafl enclofed, and beaten with the wanes of the
fea, that it opened in the myddefte, and al loft that was therin. A thynge furely miferable to beholde. For
of all the vytayles that they had, they faued onely twelue barels of meale, with a fewe chiefes, and a lyttle byfket
breade. For al the beaftes were drowned : And they them felues fcaped hardly and halfe naked by helpe of the
brigantine and fhip boate, caryeng with them only a fewe weapons. Thus they fell from one calamitie into an
other, beinge nowe more carefull fo rtheyr lyues then for golde. Yet beinge browght alyue and in health to that
land which they foo greatly defyred, they coulde doo noo leffe then to prouide for the fufteynynge of theyr bodyes,
bycaufe they coulde not lyue onely by ayer. And wheras theyr owne fayled, they muft needes lyue by other
mens. Yet amonge thefe foo many adueriities, one good chaunce offered it felfe vnto them. For they founde,
not farre from the fea fyde, a groue of date trees, amonge the which, and alfo amonge the reke or weedes of the
maryfhes, they efpyed a multitude of wylde bores, with whofe flefhe they fed them felues wel certeine dayes.
Thefe they fay to bee leffe then owres : And with foo fhorte tayles, that they thought they had byn cutte of
They dyffer alfo from owres in theyr feete : for theyr hynder feete are hole vndiuided, and alfo withowte any
Riche in frold and
pore in breade.
The Region of
Caramairi
Feare on both
partes.
Ship wryghtes.
55
The vse of
targettes agenst
venemous arrowes.
The barbarians
haue respect to
iustice
Salted fishe.
Wyne of fruites
and seedes.
Vraba.
Artillerie.
Ancisus ship
wracke.
Meale, cheeses,
and bysket.
A groue of date
trees.
Wylde bores.
no
The feconde Decade.
56
Apples of a
strange kynd
Ceders of Libane.
Sorbes are cauled
in french Cormier
they grow not in
Englande.
The frute cauled
zizipha or luiuba
Canibales.
Men of desperat
boldnes.
The goulfe of
Vraba*
The great ryuer
of Darien, fauleth
into the goulfe of
Vraba.
Prayer and vowes.
The souldiers
make an othe.
The barbarians
are dryuen to
Bight.
57
Chestnuttes.
The ryuer of
Darien, but viii.
degrees from the
Equinoctial.
Golde founde in a
thicket of reedes.
houfe. But they affirme that they haue proued by experience theyr flefftie to bee of better tafte and more
holfoome then owres. Durynge this tyme, they fedde alfo of dates and the rotes of younge date trees, which
they eate likewyfe in Ciuile and Gra?iata where they caule them Pahnitos, of the leaues wherof they make
biefomes in Rome. Sumetymes alfo, they eate of the appels of that Region, whiche haue the tafte of prunes,
and haue alfo ftones in them, and are but lyttle and of redde coloure. I fuppofe them to bee of that kynde
wherof I eate in the citie of Alexandria in Egypt in the moneth of Aprell : The trees wherof, the lewes that
dwel there, beinge lemed in the lawe of Moyfes, affirme to bee the Ceders of Libane, which beare owlde fruites
and newe all the yeare as dothe the orange tree. Thefe apples are good to bee eaten, and haue a certeyne
fweetnes myxte with a gentell fharpnes, as haue the frutes cauled Sorbes. Th[e]inhabitantes plant thefe trees
in theyr orchyardes and garedens, and noorylhe theym with greate diligence as wee doo cheries, peaches, and
quynfes. This tree in leaues, heyght, and trunke, is verye lyke vnto the tree that beareth the frute cauled
Zizipha., which the Apothecaries caule luiuba. But wheras now the wylde bores beganne to faile them, they
were ageyne enforced to confulte and prouyde for the tyme to coome. Where vppon with theyr hole army, they
entered further into the land. The Canibales of this prouince, are mofte experte archers. Ancifus had in his
coompany, a hundreth men. They mette by the way with only three men of th[e]inhabitantes, naked, and armed
with bowes and venemous arrowes, who without al feare, affayled owr men fiercely, wounded manye, and flewe
manye : And when they had emptied theyr quyuers, fledde as fwyftely as the wynde : For (as we haue fayde)
they are excedynge fwyfte of foote by reafon of theyr loofe goinge frome theyr chyldes age They affirme that
they lette flyppe no arrowe owte of theyr bowes in vayne. Owre men therfore returned the fame waye that they
came, much more infortunate then they were before and confulted amonge them felues to leaue that lande :
efpecyally becaufe th[e]inhabitantes had ouerthrowne the fortreffe which Fogeda buylded, and had bumte
thirtie houfes of the vyllage, as soone as Pizarrus and his company lefte of Fogeda, had forfaken the
lande. By this occafion therefore, beinge dryuen to feeke further, they had intelligence that the wefte
fyde of that goulfe of Vraba, was more frutefuU and better to inhabite. Wherfore, they fent the one halfe of
theyr men thither with the brigantine, and lefte the other nere to the fea fyde on the eafte part. This goulfe,
is. xxiiii. myles in bredth : And howe muche the further it entereth into the firme lande, it is foo muche the
narower. Into the goulfe of Vraba, there faule many ryuers : but one (as they fay) more fortunate then the
ryuer of Nilus in Egypte. This ryuer is cauled Darieti, vppon the bankes whereof, beinge verye frutefull of
trees and graffe, they entended to playnte their newe colonic or habitacion. But th[e]inhabitantes maruelynge
at the brygantine beinge bygger then theyr canoas, and fpecially at the fayles therof, fyrft fente away theyr
chyldren and weakefte forte of theyr people with theyr baggage and houlholde ftuflfe, and affembled all fuche
togyther bothe men and women, as were meete for the warres : Thus beinge armed with weapons and defperate
myndes, they ftoode in a redynes to feight, and taryed the comminge of owre men vppon a lyttle hyl, as it were
to take th[e]aduantage of the grounde. Owre men iudged them to bee aboute fyue hundreth in nomber. Then
Ancifus the capitayne of owre men, and Lieuetenaunt in the fteede of Fogeda, fettinge his men in order of
battayle array, and with his hole coompany kneelinge on his knees, they al made humble prayers to god for
the victorie, and a vowe to the Image of the bleffed virgin whiche is honoured in Ciuile, by the name of Sanlia
Maria Antiqua, promyfinge to fende her manye golden gyftes and a ftraunger of that contrey : alfo to name
the vyllage Sanda Maria Atitiqua after her name : lykewyfe to erecte a temple cauled by the fame name : or
at the leafte to dedicate the king of that prouince his palaice to that vfe, if it fhulde pleafe her to affifte them
in this daungerous enterpryfe. This doone, al the fouldiers tooke an othe, that noo man fliulde tume his backe
to his enemies. Then the capytayne commaundinge them to bee in a redines with theyr targets and iauelens,
and the trumpyter to blowe the battayle, they fiercely affayled theyr enemyes with a larome. But the naked
barbarians, not longe able to abyde the force of owre men, were putte to flyght, with theyr kynge and capitayne
Cemaccus. Owre men entered into the vyllage, where they fownde plentie of meate fuche as the people of the
contrey vfe, fufficiente to affuage theyr prefent hunger, as breade made of rootes, with certeine fruites vnlyke
vnto owres, whiche they referue for ftore as wee doo cheftnuttes. Of thefe people, the men are vtterly naked :
but the women from the nauell downewarde, are couered with a fyne clothe made of goffampine cotton. This
Region is vtterly withowte any fharpenes of wynter. For the mouthe of this ryuer of Darien, is onlye eyght
degrees diftante from the Equinoctiall lyne : So that the commone forte of owre men, fcarfely perceaue anye
difference in lengthe betwene the day and nyght all the hole yeare. But bycaufe they are ignorant in aftrono-
mie, they can perceaue noo fmaule difference. Therfore wee neede not much paffe if the degree do differ fum
what fi-om theyr opinion, for afmuche as the difference can not bee greate. The day after that they arryued at
the lande, they fayled alonge by the ryuer, where they founde a greate thicket of reedes continuinge for the
fpace of a myle in length fuppofing (as it chaunced in deede) that the bortherers there aboute which had fledde,
had eyther lyne lurkynge there, or els to haue hyd theyr (luffe amonge thofe reedes : ^Vhcre vppon, armynge
them felues with theyr targettes, for feare of the people lyinge in ambuffhe. they fearched the thicket dilygently,
The feconde Decade.
Ill
and founde it withowte men, but replenyfhed with houfeholde fluffe and golde. They fownde alfo a great
multitude of (heetes, made of the fylke or cotton of the goffampine tree. Lykewyfe dyuers kyndes of veflels
and tooles made of woodde, and many of earth : Alfo many brefle plates of gold and ouches wrought after theyr
maner, to the fum of a hundreth and twoo pounde weight. For they alfo take pleafure in the bewtie of gold,
and worke it very artificially, although it bee not the price of thynges amonge them as with vs. They haue it
owte of other Regions for exchaunge of fuch thynges as theyr contrey bringeth furthe. For fuche Regions as
haue plentie of breade and goffampine, lacke golde : And fuche as brynge furth golde, are for the mofl parte
rowght with montaynes and rockes, and therfore baren. And thus they exercife marchandies withowte the vfe
of money. Reioyfmg therfore with double gladdenes, afwell in that they fawe greate lykenes of golde, as alfo
that fortune hadde offered them foo fayre and frutefull a contrey, they fent for theyr felowes whom they hadde
lefte before in the eafle fyde of the goulfe of Vraba. Yet fume faye that the ayer is there vnholfome, bycaufe
that parte of the Region lyethe in a lowe valley enuironed with mountaynes and maryffhes.
€1 The seconde booke of the seconde decade,
Of the fuppofed continente.
Haue defcribed to yowre holynes where Fogeda with his coompany (to whome the large
tractes of Vraba was affigned to inhabite) intended to fallen there foote. Lette vs nowe
therfore leaue them of Vraba for a whyle, and retume ageyne to Niaiefa to whom the gouer-
naunce and Lieuetenauntefhippe of the mofle large prouince of Beragua (beinge the wefle
fyde of the goulfe of Vraba) was appoynted. We haue declared howe Nicuefa departinge
with one carauell and twoo brigantines frome Vraba the iurifdiction of his frende and com-
panyon Fogeda, directed his courfe weflwarde to Beragua, leauinge the bygger fhippes
fumewhat behynde hym, to folowe hym a farre of. But he tooke this diuife in an euyll howre. For he bothe
lofle his felowes in the nyght, and went part, the mouth of the ryuer of Beragua, which he chiefely fowght. One
Lupus Olanus a Cantabrian, and gouemoure of one of the greate fhippes, had the conducte of one of the
brigantines. He commynge behynde, lerned of th[e]inhabitantes which was the waye Eaflewarde to the goulfe
of Beragua ouer paffed and lefte behynde of Nicuefa. Olanus therfore directinge his courfe towarde the Eafle,
mette with the other brigantine which had alfo wandered owte of the way by reafon of the darkenes of the
nyght. The gouernour of this brigantine, was one Petrus de Vmbria. ' Thus bothe beinge gladde of theyr
meetinge, they confulted what was beft. to bee doone, and which way they coulde coniecture their gouernour
had taken his vyage. After deliberation, they iudged that Nicuefa could no more lacke fum to put him in
rememberaunce of Beragua, then they them felues were myndful therof, hopynge alfo to fynde hym there.
They fayled therefore towarde Beragua : where they founde within, xvi. myles dyflant, a ryuer which Colonus
named Lagartos, bycaufe it nooryfhethe greate lyfardes whiche in the Spanyffhe toonge are cauled Lagartos.
Thefe lyfertes are hurtfull bothe to man and beafle, and in fhape muche lyke vnto the Crocodiles of the ryuer
of Nilus in Egypte. In this ryuer, they founde theyr companyons and felowes of theyr erroure lyinge at anker
with the greate fhippes which folowed behynde by the gouemours commaundement. Here the hole afrembl[i]e
beinge carefuU and difquieted by reafon of the gouemours erroure, after confultacion, by th[e]aduife of the
capitaynes of the brigantines, who had rafed nere vnto the coafles of Beragua, they fayled directly thether.
Beragua, in the language of th[e]inhabitantes of the fame prouince, is as much to faye, as the golden ryuer.
The region it felfe is alfo cauled by the fame name, takynge name of the ryuer. In the mouth of this ryuer, the
greatefl veflels cafl anker, and conueighed al theyr vytailes and other neceifaries to lande with theyr fhippe
boates: and elected Lupus Olanus to bee theyr gouernour in the fleede oi Nicuefa whom they had lofle. By
th[e]aduice therfore of Olanus and the other vnder capitaynes, that all hope of departure myght bee taken from
the fouldiers which they had nowe browght thether, and to make them the more wyllinge to inhabite that land,
they vtterly forfooke and eafle of thofe fhyppes beinge nowe rotten for age, and fuffered them to bee fhaken
and broofed of the furges of the fea. Yet of theyr foundefle plankes, with other newe, made of the trees of that
Region (which they fay to be excedinge bygge and hygh) they framed a newe carauel fhortly after, whiche they
myght vfe to feme for theyr neceffitie. But Beragua was founde by the vnfortunate deflenie of Petrus de Vmbria.
For he, beinge a man of prompt wytte and apt forwardenes to attempte thynges (in whiche fumetyme fortune
wyll beare a flroke notwithflandinge owre prouidence) tooke vpon hym th[e]aduenture to fearche the fhore to
th[e]intent to find a waye for his felowes where they myght befle coome alande. For this purpofe, he chofe
Sheetcs of
gossarnpine.
Breste plates of
golde.
The golden
Regions, are for
the moste parte
baren.
Foged.i, the
Lieuetenaunt of
Vraba.
Nicuesa the
Lieuetenaunt of
Beragua.
Nicuesa loste his
felowes in the
night
Lupus Olaitus
Petrus de vmbria
The capitaynes
consulte where to
find theyr lost
gouernour.
The ryuer
Lagartos.
58
The golden ryuei
of Beragua.
The enterprise
and death of
Petrus de Vmbria.
112
The feconde Decade.
The daungerous
place of Scilla in
the sea of Cicilie.
Swymmlnge
The fyssher boate
of Nicuesa his
carauele.
The miserable
case of Nicuesa.
59
The Region of
Gratia Dei or
Cerabaro.
The ryuer of
Sancti Matthei.
The rigorousnes
of Nicuesa.
Corne waxeth
rype euery foiirth
month
The commendation
of a younge man
browght vp with
Colonus.
Partus Belltts.
Weakenes of
hunger.
C«/, Af armor.
hym twelue maryners, and wente aboorde the (hippe boate whiche ferued the greatefle fliyppes. The flowinge
of the fea, raged and rored there, with a horrible whurlinge as wee reede of the daungerous place of Scylla in the
fea of Scicilie, by reafon of the houge and ragged rockes reachyng into the fea, from which the waues rebounding
with violence, make a greate noyfe and rowghnes on the water, whiche rowghnes or reflowinge, the Spanyardes
caule Refacca. In thefe daungers wretched Vmbria -nTefteled a while. But in (horte fpace, a waue of the fea
almofle as bygge as a mountayne, reboundinge from the rockes, ouerwhelmed the boate and deuoured the fame
with the men, euen in the fight of theyr felowes : So that of them all, onely one efcaped by reafon he was
experte in fwymmynge. For gettinge holde of the comer of a rocke, and fufteynynge the rage of the fea vntyll
the nexte daye when it wexed caulme, and the (hore was drye by the faule of the water, he efcaped and reforted
to his coompanye. But Vmbria with the other eleuen, were vtterlye cafle away. The refydue of the coompany,
durfl not commite them felues to the fhippe boates, but went alande with theyr brigantines. Where remaynynge
a fewe dayes, and fayUnge alonge by the ryuer, they founde certeyne vyllages of th[e]inhabitantes, which they
caule Mumu. Here they beganne to build a fortreflfe, and to fowe feedes after the maner of theyr countrey, in
a certeyne vale of frutefull grownde, bicaufe in other places the region is baren. As thefe thynges were thus
dooinge in Beragua, one of their coompanye flandynge vppon the toppe of a hyghe rocke of efpeciall, and
lyftynge his eyes towarde the Wefle, beganne to crye, Lynnyn fayles, lynnyn fayles. And the nerer it drewe
towarde hym, he perceaued it to bee a fhyppe boate comminge with a lyttle fayle. Yet receaued they it with
muche reioyfmge : for it was the fyffher boate of Nicuefa his carauele, and of capacitie to carye onely fyue men,
and had nowe but three in it, which had floulne it from Nicuefa bycaufe he refufed to gyue credit to theim that
he had paffed Beragua, and lefte it behynde hym Eaflwarde. For they feinge Nicuefa and his felowes to
confume dayely by famynne, thowght they woolde proue fortune with that boate, if their chaunce myght bee to
fynde Beragua, as in deede it was. Debatinge therefore with theyr felowes, of thefe matters, they declared
howe Nicuefa erred and lofle the carauele by tempefl, and that he was nowe wanderinge amonge the maryffhes
of vnknowen coafles, full of myferie and in extreeme penurie of all thynges, hauinge nowe lyued for the fpace
of three fcore and tenne dayes, only \vith herbes and rootes, and fyldoome with frutes of the countrey, contented
to drinke water, and yet that often tymes faylynge, bycaufe he was inflant to trauayle weftwarde by foote, fuppofmg
by that meanes to come to Beragua. Colonus the fyrfle fynder of this mayne lande, had coafted alonge by this tracte,
and named it Gratia Dei: but the inhabitantes caule it Cerabaro. Throwghe this Region, there runneth a ryuer
which owre men named SanHi Matthei, diflante from the wefle fyde of Beragua aboute a hundrethe and thirtie
myles. Here I lette pafie the name of this ryuer, and of manye other places by the names which th[e]inhabitantes
vfe, bycaufe owre men are ignorant thereof. Thus Lupus Olanus the conductor of one of the (hippes of Nicuefa,
and nowe alfo vice Leauetenaunt in his fleede, after that he hadde receaued this information of the maryners,
fente thether a brigantine vnder theyr guydynge, thefe maryners therfore, which came in the fyffher boate,
founde Nicuefa, and browght hym to the place where Olanus laye, whome at his commynge he cafle in pryfon,
and accufed hym of treafon bycaufe he vfurped th[e]autoritie of the Lieuetenauntfliippe, and that for the defyre
he had to beare rule and bee in autoritie, he tooke no care of his errours : alfo that he behaued hym felfe
negligently : demaundinge further more of hym, what was the caufe of his foo longe delay. Lykewyfe he fpake
to al the vnder officers fharplye and mth a troubled mynde : And within fewe dayes after commaunded them
to truffe vp theyr packes, and make them redye to departe. They defyred hym to quyet hym felfe, and to
forbeare them a while vntyl they had reaped the come that they had fowne, which wolde fliortly bee rype. For
all kynd of come waxeth rype there euery fourth moonethe after it is fowne. But he vtterly denyed to tarye
any whytte : but that he woolde foorthwith departe from that vnfortunate lande : And plucked vp by the rootes
al that euer was browght into the goulfe of Beragua, and commaunded them to directe theyr courfe towarde
the Eafle. After they had fayled aboute the fpace of. xvi. myles, a certeyne younge man whofe name was
Gregorie, a Genues bome, and of a chylde browght vp with Colonus, cauled to rememberance that there was a
hauen not farre frome thenfe : And to proue his fayinge trewe, he gaue his felowes thefe tokens : that is, that
they (hulde fynde vppon the (hore, an anker of a lofle (hyppe halfe couered with fande : And vnder a tree nexte
vnto the hauen, a fprynge of cleere water. They came to the lande : founde the anker and the fprynge, and
commended the wytte and memorye of the younge man, that he only amonge many of the maryne[r]s whiche
had fearched thofe coafles with Colonus, bore the thynge foo well in mynde. This hauen, Colonus cauled
Portus Bellus. Wheras in this vyage for lacke of vytayles they were fumetymes enforced to goo alande, they
were euel entreated of the inhabitantes. By reafon wherof, theyr flrengthes were foo wekened with hunger,
that they were not able to keepe warre ageynfl naked men, or fcarfely to beare theyr hames on their backes.
And therfore owre men lofle twentie of theyr coompanie, which were flayne with venemous arrowes. They
confulted to leaue the one halfe of theyr felowes iii the hauen of Portus Bellus : And the other parte Nicuefa
tooke with hym towarde the Eafle : where abowte twentie and eyght myles from Portus Bellus, he intended to
buylde a fortreffe harde by the fea fyde vppon the poynte or cape which in tyme pafle Colonus named Marmor.
The feconde Decade.
113
But they were foo feeble by reafon of longe hunger, that theyr ftrength ferued them not to fufleyne fuche
laboure. Yet he erected a lyttle towre able to refyfl the fyrfl aflaute of the inhabitantes. This towre he
cauled Noinen Dei. From the tyme that he left Beragua, what in the iomey amonge the fandie playnes, then
alfo for hunger whyle he buylded the towre, of the fewe which remayned a lyue, he lode twoo hundreth. And
thus by lyttle and lyttle, the multitude of feuen hundreth foure fcore and fyue men, was nowe browght to
fcarfely one hundreth. AVhyle Niaiefa lyued with thefe few miferable men, there arofe a contention amonge
them of Vraba, as conceminge the Lieuetenantlhippe. For one Vafchus Nunnez, by the iudgemente of all
men, truflynge more to his flrengthe then wytte, floured vp certeyne lyght felowes ageynft Ancifus, fayinge that
And/us had not the kynges letters patentes for that office : And that it was not fufficient that he was autorifed
by Fogeda, And therfore forbodde that he fhulde execute the office of the Lieuetenauntefhippe : And wylled
theym to chufe certeyne of theyr owne coompanye, by whofe counfayle and authoritie they myght bee
gouemed.
Thus beinge diuided into factions by reafon that Fogeda, their capitayne came not ageyne, whom they
fuppofed to bee nowe deade of his venemous wounde, they contended whether it were befte to fubflitute Niaiefa
in his place. The wyfefte forte fuche as were famylier with Nimefa, and coulde not beare th[e]infolencie of
Vafchus Nunmz, thowght it good that Niaiefa (huld bee fowght owt throwgh owt all thofe coafles. For they
had knoweledge that he departed from Beragua bycaufe of the barennes of the grounde: And that by
th[e]exemple of Ancifus, and fuche other as had made fhippewracke, it were poffible that he might wander in
fume fecreate place : And that they coulde not be quiete in theire myndes vntyll they knewe the certentie,
whether he with his felowes were alyue or deade. But Vafchus Nunnez, fearinge leafle at the commyng of
Nicuefa he (hulde not bee had in autoritie emonge his felowes, fayde they were mad men to thinke that Nicuefa
lyued : And althowgh he were alyue, yet that they hadde noo neade of his helpe. For he auouched that there
was none of his felowes, that were not as meete to rule as Nicuefa. While they were thus reafonynge too and
froo, one Roderiais Colmenaris arryued in thofe coafles with two greate fhippes hauinge in theym three fcore
frefflie men, with greate plentie of vitailes and apparel. Of the navigation of this Colmenaris, I intende to fpeake
fumewhat more. He therfore departed from the hauen of Hifpaniola cauled Beata (where they prepare and
fumyflhe theym felues whiche make any viage into thefe landes) aboute the Ides of October in the yeare.
1 5 10: And landed the. ix. of Nouember in a Region in the large prouince oi Paria founde by Colonus betwene
the hauen Carthago and the Region of Cuchibachoa. In this viage what by the rowghnes of the fea and fiercenes
of the barbarians, he fuffered many incommodities. For when his freffhe water fayled, he fayled to the mouthe
of a certeyne riuer which th[e]inhabitantes caule Gaira, beinge apte to receaue fliippes. This ryuer had his
courfe from the toppe of an exceadinge hyghe mountayne couered with fnowe, hygher then the which, all the
coompanyons of this capitayne Rodericus, faye that they neuer fawe. And that by good reafon, yf it were
couered wyth fnowe in that Region which is not pafl ten degrees diflante from the Equinoctial lyne. As they
beganne to drawe water owt of their (hippeboate, a certeyne Kynge made towarde theym appareled with vellures
of goflampine cotton, hauinge twentie noble men in his coompanye appareled alfo : Whyche thinge feemed
(Iraunge to owre men, and not feene before in thofe parties. The Kinges apparell, hunge loofe from his
fhoulders to his elbowes : And from the gerdle downewarde, it was muche like a womans kertle, reachinge euen
to his heeles. As he drewe neere towarde owre men, he feemed frendly to admonyflhe theym to take none of
the water of that ryuer, affirminge it to bee vnholfome for men ; And Ihewed theym that not farre from thenfe,
there was a ryuer of good water. They came to the ryuer. And endeuouringe to coome nere the fliore, they
were dryuen backe by tempelle. Alfo the burbulinge of the fande, declared the fea to bee but Ihalowe there.
They were therefore enforced to retume to the fyrfte ryuer where they myght fafely cade anker. This Kinge
layde wayte for owre men. For as they were fyllinge theire barrelles, he fet on theym with abowt feuen
hundreth men (as owre men iudged) armed after theire maner, althowgh they were naked. For only the
kynge and his noble men were appareled. They tooke away the fhippeboate, and brooke it in maner to chips :
foo fiercely aflaylynge owre menne with theyr venemous arrowes, that they flewe of them fortie and feuen beefore
they coulde couer them felues with theyr targettes. For that poyfon is of fuch force, that albeit the woundes
were not great, yet they dyed therof immediatly. For they yet knewe noo remedie ageynfte this kynde of poyfon,
as they after lemed of th[e]inhabitantes of Hifpaniola. For this Ilande bringeth foorth an herbe which
quencheth and mortifieth the violent poyfon of the herbe wherewith theyr arrowes are infected, foo that it bee
miniftred in tyme. Yet of owre coompany whiche went for water, feuen efcaped that conflicte, and hyd them
felues in a hollowe tree, lurkynge there vntyll nyght Yet efcaped they not the handes of theyr enemyes. For
the fhippe departed from thenfe in the nyght feafon and lefte them there, fuppofmge that they had byn flayne.
Thus by manye fuche perels and daungers (which I lyghtly ouerpaffe bicaufe I wyl not bee tedious to yowre
holynes) he arryued at the length at the hauen of Vraba, and cafl anker at the eafte fyde therof, from whenfe not
longe before, o^vTe men departed to the weft fyde by reafon of the barennes of that foyle. When he had
Eden. M 113
Nomen Dei.
Nicuesa his men
Contencion
about the
Ueuetenauntship
of Vraba.
Vaschus Nunnez
nioueth sedition.
Ancisus
lieuetenaunt for
Fogeda.
60
Nicuesa.
Rodericus
Colmenaris.
The nauigation
of Rodericus
Colmenaris.
Citckibacoa.
The ryuer Gaira.
An cxceding hyi;h
mountayne
couered with
snowe.
Appareled men.
Seuen and forty
Spanyardes are
slaine with
venemous airowea.
lerua.
A remedy agenste
venemous arrows
Seuen men left
behynde.
The hauen of
Vraba.
114
The feconde Decade.
contynued a whyle in the hauen, and fawe noo man (lourynge, marueylinge at the filence of the places
(for he fuppofed there to haue fownde his felowes) he coulde not coniecture what this fhulde meane:
and there vppon beganne to fufpecte that eyther they were deade, or that they had chaunged the place
61 of theyr habitacion. To knowe the certentie hereof, he commaunded all the greate ordinaunce and other fmaule
gunnes which he had in his (liippes, to bee charged : And fyers to bee made in the nyght vppon the toppes of
the rockes. Thus the fyers beinge kyndeled, he commaunded all the gunnes to bee fliotte of at one inflante:
by the horrible noyfe whereof, the goulfe of Vraba was ftiaken, althowghe it were, xxiiii. myles dillante : for foo
brode is the goulfe. This noyfe was harde of theyr felowes in Dariena : And they aunfwered them ageyne
with mutual fyers. Wherfore, by the folowynge of thefe fyers, Colmenaris browght his fhippes to the Weft fyde.
Here thofe wretched and miferable men of Dariena which nowe thorowgh famen and feeblenes helde theyr wery
fowles in theyr teethe redy to departe from theyr bodies by reafon of the calamities which beefell vnto them
after Ancifus fhippewracke, lyftinge vp theyr handes to heauen, with the teares runnynge downe theyr cheekes
bothe for ioye and forowe, embrafed Rodericus and his felowes with fuch kynde of reioyfmge as their prefente
neceffitie feemed to requyre. For whereas they were before his comminge, withowte vytayles and almofte naked,
he brought them abundance of meate, drynke, and apparell. It reftethe nowe (mofte holy father) to declare
what came of the dilTention amonge them of Vraba, as concernynge the gouemaunce after the lofTe of theyr
capitaynes.
The goulfe of
Vraba.
Dariena.
Famen.
What became of
the contencion of
Vraba
C The thyrde booke of the seconde Decade
Of the fuppofed continent.
Beragym.
Nicuesa is sought
foorth
Nicuesa is founde
in a miserable
case.
Insolencie of to
much felicuie.
62
Nicuesa fauleth
from one mtserie
into an other.
LI the chiefe officers in Beragua, and fuch as were moft politike in counfayle, determyned that
Nicuefa fhulde bee fowght owte if by any meanes he coulde bee founde. Where vppon they
tooke from Ancifus the gouernoure refufmge the commynge of Nicuefa, a brygantyne whiche
he made of his owne charges : And agreed, ageynft bothe the ivyll of Ancifus, and the mafter
of fence Vafchus Nunnez, that Nicuefa (hulde bee fowght foorthe to take away the ftryfe as
touchinge the gouemement They elected therfore Cobnenaris (of whom we fpake before)
to take this matter in hande: wyllynge hym to make diligent fearch for Nicuefa in thofe
coaftes where they fuppofed he erred. For they harde that he had forfaken Beragua, the region of an vnfrute-
full grounde. They gaue hym therfore commaundement to brynge Nicuefa with hym, and further to declare
vnto hym that he fhulde doo ryght good feruice to coome thether, in takyng away th[e]occafion of ihtyt
feditions. Cobnenaris tooke the thynge vppon hym the more gladly bycaufe Nicuefa was his very frende :
Suppofmge that his commynge with vytayles (hulde bee noo lefle thankefuU to Nicuefa and his coompanie,
then it was to them of Vraba. Fumyffliynge therefore one of his owne (hippes whiche he browght with hym
and alfo the brigantyne taken frome Ancifus, he frayghted the fame with part of the vytayles and other
neceflaries which he browght with hym before from Hifpaniola to Vraba. Thus courfynge alonge by all the
coaftes and goulfes nere there abowte, at the length at the poynte called Marmor, he founde Nimefa, of all
lyuynge men moft infortunate, in maner dryed vppe with extreeme hunger, fylthye and horrible to beholde,
with onely three fcore men in his company, lefte alyue of feuen hundreth. They al feemed to hym foo
miferable, that he noo leffe lamented theyr cafe, then yf he had founde them deade. But Cobnaiaris conforted
his frende Nicuefa : and embrafmge hym with teares and cherefull woordes, relyued his fpirites, and further
encoraged hym with greate hope of better fortune : declarynge alfo that his commynge was looked for and
greatelye defyred of al the good men of Vraba, for that they hoped that by his autoritie, theyr difcorde and
contention fhulde bee fynyfthed. Nicuefa thanked his frende Cobnenaris after fuch forte as his calamitie
requyred. Thus they tooke fhyppe to gyther, and fayled directly to Vraba. But fo variable and vnconflant
is the nature of man, that he foone groweth owte of vfe, becommeth infolente and vnmyndful of benefites after
to much felicitie. For Nicuefa, after thus many teares and weepynges, after dyuers bewayUnges of his infortu-
nate defteny, after fo many thankes geuynge, ye after that he had faulen downe to the grounde and kyffed the
feete of Cobnenaris his fauioure, he beganne to quarel >vith hym before he came yet at Vraba, reprouinge hym
and them all for th[e]alteracion of the ftate of thynges in Vraba, and for the gatheringe of golde : Affirming
that none of them owght to haue layde hande of any golde with owte the aduice of hym or of Fogeda his coom-
panion. When thefe fayinges and fuche lyke, came to the eares of theym of Vraba, they foo ftoured vp the
myndes of Ancifus Lieuetenaunte for Fogeda, and alfo of Vafchus Nunnez, of the contrary parte, ageinfte Nimefa,
The feconde Decade.
"5
that fhortely after his arryuall with his three fcore men, they commaunded hym with threatenynge to departe
from thenfe. But this pleafed not the better fort. Yet fearynge lead tumult fliulde bee amonge the people
whom Vafchus Nunnez had ftered to factions, the beft. parte was fayne to giue place to the greateft.. This
>vretched man therfore Nicuefa thus drowned in miferies, was thrufle into the brigantyne whiche he hym felfe
browght: and with hym only feuentene men, of his three fcore which remayned alyue. He tooke (hyppe in
the Calendes of Marche in the yeare. 1511. intendynge to goo to Hifpaniola to coomplayne of the rafflienes of
Vafchus Nunnez, and of the violence doone to hym by Ancifus. But he entered into the brigantine in an
vnfortunate houre : for he was neuer feene after. They" fuppofe that the brigantine was drowned with all the
men therin. And thus vnhappie Nicuefa faulynge headlonge owte of one miferye into an other, ended his lyfe
more myferablye then he lyued. Nicuefa beinge thus vylely reiected, and al theyr vytayles confumed which
Colmenaris browght them, faulynge in maner madde for hunger, they were enforced lyke raueninge woolues
feakynge theyr praye, to inuade fuche as dwelte abowte theyr confynes. Vafchus Nunnez therefore, theyr newe
capitayne of theyr owne election, affembling togyther a hundreth and thirtie men, and fettinge them in order of
battell after his fwoordeplayers faffliion, puffed vppe with pryde, placed his fouldiers as pleafed hym in the
forwarde and rereward, and fume as pertifens abowt his owne perfon. Thus affociatinge with hym Colmenaris,
he wente to fpoyle the kynges which were bortherers there abowte, and came fyrfl to a Region abowte that
coafte, cauled Coiba, (wher of we made mencion before) imperioufly and with cruel countenaunce commaund-
inge the kynge of the region whofe name was Careta, {pi whome they were neuer troubled as often as they
paffed by his dominions) to gyue them vytayles. But Careta denyed that he coulde gyue them any at that
tyme : alleagyng that he had oftentymes ayded the Chriflians as they paffed by thofe coafles : by reafon wherof
his flore was nowe confumed : Alfo that by the meanes of the contynuall warre which he kepte euer from his
chyldes age with a kyng whofe name is Poncha, bortheringe vppon his dominion, he and his famelie were in
greate fcarfenes of all thynges. But Vafchus woolde admytte none of thefe excufes: And thervppon tooke
Careta prifoner, fpoyled his vyilage, and browght hym bownd with his twoo W3aies and chyldren and all his
famelie to Dariena. With this kynge Careta, they founde three of the felowes of Nicuefa, the whiche when
Nicuefa paffed by thofe coafles to feeke Beragua, fearynge punyffliement for theyr euyll defertes floule away
from the Ihyppes lyinge at anker: And when the nauie departed, commytted them felues to the mercie of
Careta, who enterteyned them very frendely. They had nowe bynne there, xviii. moonethes, and were there-
fore as vtterly naked as the people of the contrey. Duringe this tyme, the meate of th[e]inhabitantes feemed
vnto them delicate diffhes and princely fare : efpecially bycaufe they enioyed the fame withowte any flryfe for
myne and thyne, which twoo thynges moue and enforce men to fuch harde fhyftes and miferies, that in lyuing
they feeme not to lyue. Yet defyred they to returne to theyr owlde cares, of fuche force is education and
natural effection towarde them with whom we haue byn browght vp. The vytayles whiche Vafchus browght
frome the vyilage of Careta to his felowes lefte in Dariena, was rather fumewhat to affuage theyr prefent hunger,
then vtterly to take away theyr neceffitie. But as touchinge Ancifus beinge Lieuetenaunt for Fogeda, whether
it were before thefe thynges or after, I knowe not. But this I am fure of, that after the reiectinge of Nicuefa,
many occafions were fought agenfl Ancifus by Vafcus and his factionaries. Howe foo euer it was, Ancifus was
taken, and call in pryfon, and his goodes confifcate. The caufe hereof was, (as Vafchus alleaged) that Ancifus
hadde his commiffion of the Lieuetenauntfhippe, of Fogeda onely whome they fayde to bee nowe deade,
and not of the kynge. Sayinge that he woolde not obey any man that was not put in office by the
kyng hym felfe by his- letters patentes. Yet at the requefl. of the grauefle forte, he was fumwhat pacified,
and delt more gentelly with hym, hauinge fum compaffion of his calamities. And thervppon commaunded
hym to bee loofed. Ancifus beinge at libertie, tooke fhyppe to departe from thenfe to Hifpaniola. But beefore
he had hoyfed vppe his fayle, all the wyfefl forte reforted to hym, humbly defyringe hym to returne ageyne :
promyfynge that they wolde doo theyr diligence, that Vafchus beinge reconciled, he myght bee reflored to his
full autoritie of the Lieuetenauntfhippe. But Ancifus refufed to confent to theyr requefl and foo departed.
Yet fume there were that murmured that god and his angels fliewed this reuenge vpon Ancifus, bycaufe Nicuefa
was reiected throwgh his counfayle. Howe foo euer it bee, the fearchers of the newe landes, faule headlonge
into ruine by theyr owne follye, confuminge them felues with ciuile difcorde, not weighinge foo greate a matter,
nor employinge theyr befle endeuoure aboute the fame as the woorthynes of the thynge requyreth. In this
meane tyme, they determyned all with one agreemente, to fende meffengers into Hifpaniola to the younge
Admirall and viceroy, fonne and heyre to Chriflophorus Colo7ius the fynder of thefe landes, and to the other
gouemoures of the Ilande (from whom the newe landes receaue theyr ayde and lawes) to fignifie vnto them
what flate they floode in, and in what neceffitie they lyued : alfo what they had founde, and in what hope they
were of greater thinges if they were fumyfhed with plentie of vytayles and other neceffaries. For this purpofe
they elected at the affignement of Vafcus, one Valdiuia, beinge one of his faction, and inflructed by hym ageinfl
Ancifus. And to bee affiflant with hym, they appoynted one Zamudius a Cantabrian : So that commaunde-
The greatest part
ouercommeth the
best
The death of
Nicuesa.
Famen enforseth
them to faule to
spoylynge.
Vaschus vsurpeth
th[e]autoritieof the
Lieuetenantshippe.
Careta, kinge of
Coiba.
Kynge Careta is
taken and spoyled.
Hunger is the best
sauce.
Myne and thine
the seedes of al
mischefe.
Andsus,
lieuetenaunt for
Fogeda is cast in
prison.
Ancisus taket
his vyage to
hispaniola.
63
The reueng[t T
God.
The
inconueniences uf
discorde.
The Sonne m I
heyre of Lj!'Hii
is Admiral) aiiu
Viceroy of
hispaniola.
Vaidiuia.
ii6
The feconde Decade.
Zamudius and
Ancisus, take their
vyage to Spayne.
Kinge Poncha.
Swoordes of
woodde.
Kynge Careta
conspireth with
the Spanyardes
agensi kynge
Poncha.
Wrought gold
The region of
ComoCTa, distant
frome Dariena.
XXX leaques.
Kynge Comogrus.
The kynges
palaice.
64
Wync and syder
Blacke wine.
The bodyes of
deade kynges
religiously
honoured.
Penates.
The carcases of
men dryed
The kynges Sonne
a yonge man of
excellent wytte.
Foure thousande
vnces of wrought
golde.
ment was gyuen to Valdiuia to returne from Hifpaniola with vytayles: And Zatnudiiis was appoynted to take
his vyage into Spayne to the kynge. They tooke fliippe togjther with Ancifus, hauinge in mynde to certifie the
kynge howe thynges were handeled there, muche otherwyfe then Zamudius information. I my felfe fpake with
both Ancifus and Zamudius at their commynge to the courte. Whyle they were occupied aboute thefe matters,
thofe wTetched men of Dariena loofed Careta the kynge of Coiba vppon condicion that he fliulde ayde theym in
theyr warres ageynfl. his enemy and theyrs, kynge Poncha bortheringe vpon his dominions. Careta made a league
with them, promyfinge that as they paffed by his kyngedome, he woolde gyue them all thynges neceflarie, and
meete them with an armie of men, to goo forwarde with them to the battaile agenft Poncha. Theyr weapons
are nother bowes nor venemed arrowes, as we fayde th[e]inhabitantes to haue which dwel eaflwarde beyonde
the goulfe. They feight therefore at hande, with longe fwordes (which they caule Macanas) made of wood
bycaufe they haue noo Iren. They vfe alfo longe flaues lyke iauelens hardened at the endes with fyer, or typte with
bone. Alfo certeyne flynges and dartes. Thus after the league made with Careta, bothe he and owtc men had
certeyne dayes appoynted them to tyll theyr grounde and fowe theyr feedes. This doone, by the ayde of
Careta and by his conduction, they marched towarde the palaice of Poncha, who fledde at theyr commynge.
They fpoyled his vyllage and mytigated theyr hunger with fuch vytayles as they founde there. Yet coulde they
not helpe their felowes therwith by reafon of the farre diflance of the place, althowghe they had greate plentie.
For the vyllage of Poncha, was more then a hundreth myles diftant from Dariena : wheras was alfo none other
remedy but that the fame fliulde haue byn caryed on mens backes to the fea fyde beinge farre of, where they
left theyr fliyppes in the which they came to the vyllage of Careta. Here they founde certeyne powndes
weyght of gold, grauen and wrought into fundrye ouches. After the facking of this vyllage they reforted
toward the Ihips intendyng to leaue the kinges of the inland vntouched at this tyme, and to inuade onely them
which dwelt by the fea coaftes. Not farre from Coiba, in the fame tracte, there is a Region named Comogra,
and the Kinge thereof, cauled Comogrus after the fame name. To this Kinge they came fyrfl next after the
fubvertion oi Poncha: And founde his palaice fituate in a frutefull playne of twelue leaques in bredthe, at the
rootes of the further fyde of the nexte mountaynes. Comogrus had in his courte a certeyne noble man of nere
confauguinitie to Kynge Careta, whiche had fledde to Comogrus by reafon of certeyne diflention whiche was
betwene Careta and hym. Thefe noble men, they caule lura. This lura therfore of Coiba, mette owre men
by the way, and conciled Comogrus to them, bycaufe he was well knowen to owr men from the time that
Nicuefa pafled fyrfl by thofe coaftes. Owre men therefore went quietlye to the palaice of Comogrus beinge
diflante from Dariena thirtie leaques by a plaine waye abowte the mountaynes, This Kynge Como^us, had
feuen fonnes, younge men of comelye forme and flature, whiche he had by fundry wyues. His palaice was
framed of pofles or proppes made of trees faflened togeyther after a flraunge forte, and of foo llronge bylding,
that it is of no leffe flrength then waules of (lone. They which meafured the length of the floure thereof,
founde it to bee a hundreth and fyftie pafes, and in breadthe, foure fcore foote : beinge roofed and paued with
maruelous arte. They founde his flore houfe, fumyfflied with abundance of delicate vitailes after the maner of
theyr countrey : And his wyne celler repleniflied with great veffelles of earth and alfo of woodde fylled \vith
theyr kynde of wyne and fyder. For they haue noo grapes. But lyke as they make theyr breade of thofe
three kyndes of rootes cauled lucca, agis, and Maizium, (whereof we fpake in the fyrfte decade) Soo make they
theyr wyne of the frutes of date trees, and fyder of other frutes and feedes, as doo the Almaynes, Flemynges,
Englyfftie men, and owTe Spanyardes whych inhabite the mountaynes, as the Vafcons and Afturians : likewife
in the mountaynes of tlie Alpes, the Noricians, Sueuians, and Heluetians, make certeyne drynkes of barley, wheat,
hoppes, and apples. They lay alfo that with Comogrus, they droonk wynes of fundry tafles, both whyte and
blacke. But nowe yow fliall heare of a thynge more monfljous too behoulde. Enterynge therfor into the
inner partes of the palaice, they were browght into a chamber hanged aboute with the carkefes of men, tyed
Avith ropes of goflampine cotton. Beinge demaunded what they ment by that fuperilition, they anfwered that
thofe were the carkefes of the father, graundefather, and great graundfather with the other aunceftours of theyr
Kyng Comogrus. Declaringe that they had the fame in greate reuerence, and that they tooke it for a godly
thynge to honoure them religioufly : And therfore appareled euery of the fame fumptuouflye with golde and
precious ftones accordynge vnto theyr eflate. After this forte dyd the antiquitie honoure theyr Penates, whyche
they thowght had the gouemaunce of their lyues. Howe they drye thefe carkefes vppon certeine inflrumentes
made of wood, hke vnto hurdels, with a fofte fyer vnder the fame, fo that onely the fkynne remayneth to houlde
the bones together, we haue defcribed in the former decade. Of Comogrus his feuen fonnes, the elded had an
excellente naturall wytte. He therfore thowght it good to flatter and pleafe thys wandrynge kynde of men
(owr men I meane) lyuynge onely by fliiftes and fpoyle, leaft beinge offended and feekynge occafions ageynile
h)Tn and his familie, they fliuld handle hym as they dyd other whiche fowght noo meanes howe to gratifie theym.
Wherefore, he gaue Vqfchus and Colmenaris foure thoufande ounces of golde artificially wrought, and alfo fyftie
flaues whyche he had taken in the warres. For fuche, eyther they fell for exchaunce of other thinges, or
ii6
The feconde Decade.
117
otherwife vfe them as theym lyfteth : For they haue not the vfe of money. This golde with as muche more
which they had in an other place, o\vre men wayed in the porche of Comogrus his palaice to feparate the fyfte
parte thereof, whiche portion is due to the Kynges efcheker. For it is decreed that the fyft parte of both goldei
perles, and precious (lones, fhulde be affigned to the Kinges treafourers: And the refydue, to bee diuided
emoonge theym felues by compofition. Here as brabblynge and contention arofe emonge owr men abowt the
diuidinge of gold, this eldefle foonne of Kynge Comogrus beinge prefente, whome we prayfed for his ^vyfedome,
commynge fume what wyth an angery countenaunce towarde hym whiche helde the balences, he flrooke theym
wyth his fyfte, and fcatered all the golde that was therein, abowte the porche, fharpely rebukynge theym with
woordes in this effecte. What is the matter yowe Chriftian men, that yow foo greatly efteme foo litle a portion
of golde more then yowr owne quietnes, whiche neuertheleffe yow entend to deface from thefe fayre ouches
and to melte the fame into a rude maffe. If yowre hunger of goulde bee foo infatiable that onely for the defyre
yowe haue therto, yowe difquiete foo many nations, and yow yowre felues alfo fufteyne foo many calamit[i]es and
incommodities, lyuing like banifhed men owte of yowre owne countrey, I wyll fhewe yowe a Region floweinge
with goulde, where yowe may fatiffie yowr raueninge appetites. But yowe mufte attempte the thynge
with a greater poure: For it ftandeth yow in hande by force of amies to ouercome kynges of greate
puiflaunce, and rigorous defenders of theyr dominions. For befyde other, the greate kinge Tnmanatna
will coome foorthe ageynfte yowe, whofe kengdome is mofte ryche with golde, and diftante from henfe
onely fyx foonnes: that is, fyx dayes: for they number the dayes by the fonne. Furthermore, or euer
yowe canne coome thether, yow muft pafle ouer the mountaynes inhabited of the cruell Canybales
a fierce kynde of men, deuourers of mans fiefflie, lyuing withowte lawes, wanderinge, and withowte empire.
For they alfo, beinge defyrous of golde, haue fubdewed them vnder theyr dominion whiche before inhabited
the golde mynes of the mountaynes, and vfe them lyke bondemen, vfyng their laboure in dygginge and work-
ynge theyr golde in plates and fundry Images lyke vnto thefe whiche yowe fee here. For we doo no more
efteeme rude golde vnwrought, then we doo cloddes of earthe, before it bee formed by the hande of the worke-
man to the fimilitude eyther of fume veffell neceffarie for owre vfe, or fume ouche bewetifull to be wome.
Thefe thynges doo wee receaue of theim for exchaunge of other of owre thynges, as of prifoners taken in warre,
whiche they bye to eate, or for fheetes and other thynges perteynynge to the fumyture of houfeholde, fuche as
they lacke which inhabite the mountaynes : And efpecially for vitayles wherof they flande in greate neede by
reafon of the barrennes of the mountaynes. This iomey therfore, mufl bee made open by force of men. And
when yowe are paffinge ouer thefe mountaynes (poyntinge with his fynger towarde the fouthe mountaynes) yowe
fhal fee an other fea, where they fayle with fhyppes as bygge as yowres (meanynge the caraueles) vfmge both
fayles and ores as yowe doo, althowghe the men bee naked as wee are. All the waye that the water runnethe
frome the mountaynes, and all that fyde lyinge towarde the Sou the, bryngeth foorth golde abundantly. As he
fayde thefe woordes, he poynted to the veffelles in whiche they vfe to feme theyr meate, affirmynge that kynge
Tumanama, and all the other kynges beyonde the mountaynes, had fuche and al their other houfeholde ftuffe of
golde : And that there was noo lefle plentie of golde amonge thofe people of the Southe, then of Iren with
vs. For he knewe by relation of owre men, wherof owre fwoordes and other weapons were made. Owre
capitaynes mameylyng at the oration of the naked younge man (for they had for interpretours thofe three men
whiche had byn before a yere and a halfe conuerfant in the court of kynge Careta) pondered in theyr myndes,
and emeftly confidered his fayinges. Soo that his raffhenes in fcatteringe the golde owte of the balances, they
turned to myrth and vrbanitie, commendynge his dooinge and fayinge therin. Then they afked hym frendely,
vppon what certeyne knoweleage he fpake thofe thynges : Or what he thowght befte herein to bee doone yf
they fliulde brynge a greater fupplye of men. To this, younge Comogrus, ftayinge a whyle with hym felfe as it
were an oratour preparinge him felfe to fpeake of fume graue matter, and difpofynge his bodye to a giefture
meete to perfuade, fpake thus in his mother tonge. Gyue eare vnto me o yowe Chryftians. Albeit that the
gredie hunger of golde hathe not yet vexed vs naked men, yet doo we deftroy one an other by reafon of ambi-
tion and defyre to rule. Hereof fpringeth mortall hatred amonge vs, and hereof commethe owre deftruction.
Owre prediceffours kepte warres, and foo dyd Comogrus my father with princes beinge bortherers abowte hym.
In the which warres, as wee haue ouercoome, fo haue wee byn ouercoome, as dothe appere by the number of
bondemen amonge vs, which we tooke by the ouerthrowe of owre enemyes, of the whiche I haue gyuen yowe
fiftie. Lykewyfe at an other tyme, owre aduerfaries hauinge th[e]upper hande agenfte vs, ledde away manye
of vs captiue. For fuche is the chaunce of warre. Alfo, amonge owre familiers (wherof a great number haue
byn captiues with them) beholde here is one whiche of longe tyme ledde a paynefuU lyfe in bondage vnder the
yoke of that kynge beyonde the mountaynes, in whofe kyngdome is fuche abundance of golde. Of hym, and
fuche other innumerable, and lykewyfe by the refort of free men on theyr fyde comminge to vs, and ageyne of
owre men refortinge to theim by fafe conduct, thefe thynges haue byn euer as well knowen vnto vs, as owre
owne poffeffions. But that yowe maye bee the better affured hereof, and bee owte of all fufpection that yowe
M 3 117
The distribution
of golde.
Young Comogrus
his oration.
The hunger of
golde.
A region flowinge
wyth golde.
Kynge
Tumanama.
Canibales.
65
The golde mynes
of the mobntaynes.
Vnwrought golde
not estemed.
Exchaunge.
Abundance of
golde.
HousehoMe stuffe
of gold
Naked people
tormented with
ambition.
A vehement
persuasion.
ii8
The feconde Decade.
(hal not bee deceaued, make me the guyde of this viage, byndynge me fad and keepyng me in lafe cuflodie to
bee hanged on the next tree, yf yowe fynde my fayinges in any point vntrewe. Folowe my counfayle therfore,
and fend for a thoufande ChriRian men apte for the warres, by whofe power we may with alfo the men of
warre of Comogriis my father armed after owre maner, inuade the dominions of owre enemyes : where, bothe
yowe may bee fatiffyed with golde, and we for owre conductinge and aydynge yowe in this enterpryfe, (hall
thynke owre felues abundantly rewarded, in that yowe (hall helpe to delyuer vs from the iniuries and perpetuall
66 feare of owre enemies. After thefe woordes, this prudente younge Comogrus helde his peace. And owre men
A token of hunger moucd With greatc hope and hunger of golde, beganne ageine to fwalowe downe theyr fpettle.
C The fovrth booke of the seconde Decade,
Of the fuppofed Continent. -
Kynge Comognis
is baptised with
his famely.
Valdiuiaretunieth
from hispaniola.
Horrible thunder
and Hghtnynge in
the moneth of
Nouember.
Bread of Maizius
and hobba
Digestion
strengthened by
owtwarde colde.
Hunger.
A newe supply of
a thousande
souldyers.
MarcJui.
Pes7ts.
A thousande and
fyue hundreth
pounds weyght
of wrought gold
67
Fter that they had taryed here a fewe dayes and baptifed Comogrus with all his famelie, and
named hym by the name of Charles after the kynge of Spayne, they returned to theyr
felowes in Dariena leauinge with hym the hope of tlie thoufande fouldyers, which his fonne
requyred to paffe ouer thofe mountaynes towarde the South fea. Thus enteringe into the
vyllage which they had chofen to inhabite, they had knowleage that Valdiuia was returned,
within fyxe moonethes after his departure : but with noo great plentie of vytayles, bycaufe
he browght but a fmaule fliippe : yet with hope that (hortely after, there fliulde bee fent
them abundance of vytayles with a newe fupply of men. For younge Colonus, the Admiral and viceroy of
Hifpaniola, and the other gouemours of the Ilande, acknowleaged that hetherto they had noo refpecte to theym
of Dariciia, bycaufe they fuppofed that Ancifus the Lieuetenant had fafely arryued there with his fhippe laden
with vatayles : wyllynge them from henfefoorth to bee of good cheere, and that they fhulde lacke nothynge
hereafter : But that at this prefent tyme, they had noo bygger fhippe wherby they myght fende them greater
plentie of neceffaries by Valdiuia. The vytayles therfore which he browght, ferued rather fumwhat to mytigate
theyr prefent neceffitie, then to fatiffye theyr lacke. Wherfore within a fewe dayes after Valdiuia his retume,
they fel ageine into lyke fcarfnes : efpecially for afmuch as a great florme and temped whiche came from the
hyghe mountaynes with horrible thunder and lyghtnynge in the mooneth of Nouember, browght with it fuche
a fludde, that it partely caryed away and partly drowned all the come and feedes whiche they had fowne in the
moonethe of September in a frutefull grounde before they went to kyng Comogrus. The feedes which they of
Hifpaniola caule Maizium, and they of Vraba caule Hobba : Wherof they make theyr breade, which alfo wee
fayde to bee rype thryfe euery yeare, bycaufe thofe Regions are not bytten with the fliarpnes of ^vynter by
reafon of theyr nerenes to the Equinoctial lyne. It is alfo agreable to the principles of naturall philofophie,
that this breade made of Maizius or Hobba, fhulde bee more holfome for th[e]inhabitantes of thofe contreys
then breade made of wheate, by reafon that it is of eafyer digeflion. For wheras coulde is wantinge, the
naturall heate is not dryuen frome the owtewarde partes into the inwarde partes and precordials, whereby
digeflion is much flrengthened. Beinge therfore thus fruftrate of the increafe of theyr feedes, and the kynges
nere abowte them fpoyled of both vytayles and golde, they were enforced to feeke theyr meate further of: And
therwitii to fignifie to the gouemours of Hifpaniola with what great neceffitie they were oppreffed : And what
they had lemed of Comogrus as concemynge the Regions towarde the Southe : wyllynge them in confideration
therof to aduertyfe the kynge to fende them a thoufande fouldiers, by whofe helpe they myght by force make
waye throwghe the mountaynes diuidynge the fea on bothe fydes, if they coulde not brynge the fame to paffe
quyetly. The fame Valdiuia was alfo fent on this meffage, caryinge with hym to the kynges treafourers (hauinge
theyr office of recepte in Hifpaniola) three hundreth poundes weyght of golde after eyght ounces to the pounde,
for the fyfte portion dewe to the kynges efcheker. This pounde of viii. vnces, the Spanyardes caule Marcha,
whiche in weyght amounteth to fyftie pieces of golde cauled Caflellani. But the Caflilians, caule a pound
Pefum. We conclude therfore, that the fume hereof, was. xv. thoufande of thofe peeces of golde cauled
Caflellani. And thus is it apparente by this accompte, that they receaued of the barbarous kynges, a thoufande
and fyue hundreth poundes of eyght ounces to the pounde. All the whiche tliey founde redy wrought in fundry
kyndes of ouches, as cheynes, brafelets, tablets, and plates, bothe to hange before theyr breftes, and alfo at
theyr eares, and nofethryls. Valdiuia therefore tooke fliyppinge in the fame carauell in the whiche he came
laft, and retumed alfo beefore the thyrde day of the Ides of lanuary, in the yeare of Chrifl M. D. XI. What
chaunced to hym in this vyage, we wyll decldre in place conuenient. But let vs nowe retume to them which
u8
The feconde Decade.
119
remayned in Vraba. After the difmiffinge of Valditiia, beinge pricked forwarde with owtragious hunger, they
determined to fearche the inner partes of that goulfe in fundry places. The extreme angle or poynt of the
lame goulfe is diflant from the enterance therof, aboute foure fcore myles. This angle or comer, the Span-
yardes caule Culata. Vafchus hym felfe came to this poynte with a hundreth men, coaftynge alonge by the
goulfe with one brygantine and certeyne of the boates of thofe regions, which the Vrabians caule Vru, lyke
vnto them whiche th[e]inhabitantes of Hifpaniola caule Canoas. From this poynt, there fauleth a ryuer from
the Eafl into the goulfe, ten tymes bygger then the ryuer of Dariena which alfo fauleth into the fame. Saylyng
alonge by the ryuer about the fpace of thirtie myles (for they caule it nyne leaques) and fumwhat inclynynge
towarde the ryght hande fouthwarde, they founde cS'teyne vyllages of th[e]inhabitantes, the Kynge whereof,
was cauled Dabaiba. Owre men alfo were certifyed before, that Cemacchus the kynge of Dariena whom they
put to flyght in the battayle, fledde to this Dabaiba. But at the commynge of owre men, Dabaiba alfo fledde.
It is thowght that he was admonyfflied by Cemacchus, that he fliulde not abyde the bmnte of owre men. He
folowed his counfayle : forfooke his vyllages, and lefte all thynges defolate. Yet o^vre men founde heapes of
bowes and arrowes : Alfo much houfehold ftuffe and many fyffhyng boates. But thofe maryfhe groundes were
neyther apte for fowinge of feedes or planting of trees. By reafon wherof, they founde there fewe fuche thynges
as they defyred : that is, plentie of vytayles. For th[e]inhabitantes of this Region, haue noo breade but fuch as
they get in other contreys nere abowte them by exchaunge for theyr fyffhe, only to feme theyr owne neceffitie.
Yet founde they in the houfes of them that fledde, golde wrought and grauen, amountynge to the fume of feuen
thoufande of thofe pieces whiche we fayde to bee cauled Cajlellani : Alfo certeyne canoas : of the which they
brought away twoo with them, and great plentie of theyr houfholde fluffe, with certeyne bundels of bowes and
arrowes. They faye, that from the maryffhes of that ryuer, there coome certeyne battes in the nyght feafon, as
bygge as turtle dooues, inuadyng men and bytinge them with a deadly wounde, as fume of them teflifie whiche
haue byn bytten of the fame. I my felfe communing with Ancifus the Lieuetenant whom they reiected, and
amonge other thynges afkynge him of the venemous bytinge of thefe battes, he toulde me that he hym felfe was
bytten by one of them on the heele, his foote lyinge vncouered in the nyght by reafon of the heate in fommer
feafon : But that it hurt hym noo more, then yf he hadde byn bytten by any other beafle not venemous. Other
faye, that the bytynge of fume of them is venemous : Yet that the fame is healed incontinently, if it be wafihed
with water of the fea. Ancifus toulde me alfo, that the' venemous woundes made by the Canibales arrowes
infected with poyfon, are healed by waflhynge with water of the fea, and alfo by cauterifmg with hotte Irens :
And that he had experience thereof in the region of Caribana, where many of his men were fo wounded.
They departed therfore, from the poynte of the goulfe of Vraba, not well contented bycaufe they were not laden
with vitailes. In this their returne, there arofe foo greate a temped in that wyde goulfe, that they were enforced
to cade into the fea, all the houfeholde (luflfe whiche they tooke from the poore wretches whiche lyued onely by
fiflhinge. The fea alfo fwalowed vpp the two boates that they tooke from theym, wherewyth the men were
likewife drowned. The fame tyme that Vafchus JVunnez attempted to fearche the poynte of the goulfe towarde
the fouthe, euen then by agremente, dyd Rodericus Colmenaris take his viage towarde the mountaynes by the
ealle, with thre fcor[e] men, by the ryuer of the other goulfe. Aboute fortie miles diftante from the mouthe of
the ryuer, (for they caule it twelue leaques) he founde certeyne vilages fituate vppon the bankes of the ryuer,
whofe Chiui, (that is,) kinge, they caule Tumi. With this kinge dyd Colmenaris yet remayne when Vafchus
after his returne to Dariena, fayling by the fame ryuer, came to hym. Here refreffhinge theyr hole coompany
with the vitailes of this Turui, they departed from thenfe togyther. Other fortie myles from henfe, the ryuer
encoompafeth an Hand inhabited with fyfiher men. In this, bycaufe they fawe greate plentie of the trees which
beare Caffia fiflula, they named the Hand Cannafiflula. They found in it, threefcore villages of tenne cotages
apiece. On the right fyde of the Hand there runneth an other ryuer, whofe chanell is of depth fufficiente to
beare brigantines. This ryuer they cauled Riuum Nigrum : from the mouthe wherof about, xv. myles diftante
they founde a towne of fyue hundreth houfes feuered: whofe Chebi, (that is,) kinge, was cauled Abenamachei.
They all forfooke theyr houfes as foone as they harde of owre mennes commyng. But when they fawe that
owre men purfued them, they turned ageyne and ranne vppon them with defperate mindes, as men driuen from
their owne poffeflions. Theyr wepons, are fwordes of wod, and long ftaues like iauelens, hardened at the ende
with fyer: But they vfe neyther bowes nor arrowes: nor any other of th[e]inhabitantes of the wefte fyde of the
goulfe. The pore naked wretches were eafely dryuen to flight with owre weapons. As owre men folowed theym
in the chafe, they tooke the kinge Abenamachei and certeine of his noble men. A common fouldier of owres
whom the kynge had wounded, coomminge to hym when he was taken, cutte of his arme at one ftroke with his
fwoorde. But this was doone vnwares to the capitaynes. The number of the Chriilian men which were here,
was aboute a hundrethe and fiftie : the one halfe whereof, the capytaynes lefte here, and they with the refydue,
rowed vpp the ryuer ageyne with twelue of the boates of thofe Regions, whiche they caul. Vru, as they of
Hifpaniola caule them Canoas, as we haue fayde. From the ryuer of Riuus Niger and the Hand of Cannafiflula,
The goulfe of
Vraba.
Citinta.
Vaschus searcheth
the goulfe of
Vraba.
A maruelous great
ryuer, faulyng
into the goulfe of
Vraba.
Kynge Dabaiba
and Chemacchus,
are dryuen to
flyght.
Marysshe grounde
Wrought gold
wheyghynge
vii. thousand
Castellanes.
Battes as bygge as
turtle doues.
Ancisus bytten
of a batte
Remedies ageynst
venemous arrows
A tempest.
Colmenaris taketh
his vyage towarde
the montains
Kynge TuruL
The Hand of
CannaHstuIa.
68
The ryuer of
Riuus Niger.
A towne of v.
hundreth houses.
Th [e]inhabitantes
of the west syde
of the goulfe.
Kynge
Abenamachei, is
taken and his
arme cut of.
120
The fecofide Decade.
Many other
ryuers fauling
into Riuus Niger.
Kyng abibeiba
dwellethe in a
tree.
Abundance of
moyster and heat
is cause of
byggenes.
The rysynge of
the Ocean sea.
Trees of maruclous
height
Plinie.
Frutefull grounde.
Cellers in the
grounde.
Abibeiba, the
kynge of the tree,
yeldethe to
Vaschus.
69
Gold no more
estemed then
stones.
Canibales.
Kyng Abraiba
for the fpace of threefcore and ten myles, leauing both on the right hande and on the lefte many riuers faulinge
into it bigger then it felfe, they entred into one by the conductynge of one of the naked inhabitantes, beinge
appoynted a guyde for that purpofe. Vppon the banke of this ryuer next vnto the mouthe of the fame, there
was a kynge cauled Abibeiba: who, bycaufe the Region was full of maryfflies, had his palaice buylded in the
toppe of a highe tree, a newe kynde of byldynge and feldome feene. But that lande beareth trees of fuche
exceding heig[h]th, that emonge theyr branches, a man may frame large houfes : As wee reede the Uke in diuers
autoures howe in many Regions where the ocean fea ryfethe and ouerflowethe the lande, the people were
accuftomed to flye to the high trees, and after the faule of the water, to take the fyfflie lefte on the lande. This
maner of buyldinge, is to laye beames croffe ouer the branches of the trees, fade bownde togyther, and there
vppon to rayfe theyr frame, (Irongly made ageynfle wynde and wether. Owre men fuppofe that they buylde
theyr houfes in trees, by reafon of the greate fluddes and ouerflowinge of ryuers whiche often tymes chaunce in
thofe Regions. Thefe trees are of fuche heighth, that the ilrength of no manes arme is able to hurle a flone to
the houfes buylded therein. And therfore doo I gyue the better credit to Plinie and other autours whiche wrytte
that the trees in fume places in India are foo high by reafon of the frutefulnes of the grounde, abundance of
water, and heate of the Region, that noo man is able to fhute ouer theym with an arrowe. And by iudgemente
of all men, it is thowght that there is noo frutfuUer ground vnder the foonne, then this is whereof wee nowe
cntreate. Owr men meafuringe manye of thefe trees, founde theym to bee of fuche biggnes, that feuen men,
ye fumetymes eight, holdinge hande in hande with theyr amies flreached furthe, were fcarfely able too fathame
them aboute. Yet haue they theyr cellers in the grounde, well replenyfflied with fuch wynes wherof wee haue
fpoken beefore. For albeit that the vehemencie of the Avynde, is not of poure to cade downe thofe houfes, or
to breeke the branches of the trees, yet are they toffed therewith, and fwaye fumwhat from fyde to fyde, by
reafon wherof, the wyne fhulde bee muche troubeled with moouinge. All other neceffayre thinges, they haue
with theym in the trees. When the kynge or any other of the noble men, dyne or fuppe in thefe trees, theyr
wynes are browght theym from the celleres by theyr femantes, whyche by meanes of exercife, are accuftomed
with noo leffe celeritie to runne vppe and downe the fteares adherente to the tree, then doo owre waytynge
boyes vppon the playne grounde, fetche vs what wee caule for from the cobbarde byfyde owr dyninge table.
Owre men therfore, came to the tree of kinge Abibeiba, and by th[e]interpretoures cauled hym foorthe to
communication, gyuinge hym fignes of peace, and there vppon willinge hym to coomme downe. But he denyed
that he woolde coomme owte of his houfe : Defyringe them to fuffer hym to lyue after his faflhion. But owtc
men fell from fayre woordes to threateninge, that excepte he wolde defcende with all his famehe, they wolde
eyther ouerthrowe the tree, or elles fet it on fyer. When he had denied them ageyne, they fell to hewinge the
tree with theyr axes. Abibeiba feeinge the chippes faule from the tree on euery fyde, chaunged his purpofe, and
came downe with only two of his foones. Thus after they had entreated of peace, they communed of gatheringe
of golde. Abibeiba anfwered that he had noo golde, and that he neuer had any neede therof, nor yet regarded
it any more then ftones. But when they were inftante vppon hym, he fayde vnto them. If yowe foo greatly
defyre golde, I will feeke for fume in the nexte mountaynes, and bringe it vnto yowe. For it is plentifully
engendred in thofe mountaynes. Then he a^ pointed a day when he wold bringe this golde. But Abibeiba
came neyther at the day, nor after the daye appoynted. They departed therfore from thenfe well refreflhed with
his vitailes and wyne, but not with goulde as they hoped. Yet were they enformed the like by Abibeiba and his
ditionaries as conceminge the golde mynes and the Canibales, as they harde before of kinge Comogrus.
Saylinge yet further aboute thirtie myles, they chaunced vppon certeyne cotages of the Canibales : But vtterly
voyde with owte men or ftuffe. For when they had knowleage that owre men wandered in the prouinces nere
aboute theym they reforted to the mountaynes, caryinge al theyr goodes and ftuffe wyth them.
C The fyfte booke of the seconde Decade
Of the fuppofed continent.
N the meane tyme whyle thefe thynges were doone alonge by the fhores or bankes of the
ryuer, a certeyne Decurian, that is a capytayne ouer tenne, of the coompanye of thofe which
Vafciis and Colmenaris had lefte for a garryfon in Riuo Nigra in the dominion of kynge
Abiimmachei, whether it were that he was compelled tlirowgh hunger, or that his fataule dayes
was nowe coome, he attempted with his fouldiers to fearche the countreys nere there about,
and entered into the vyllage of a king cauled Abraiba. This capitaynes name was Raia :
whom Abraiba flewe, with twoo of his felowes : but the refydue fledde. Within a fewe dayes
The feconde Decade.
121
after, Abraiba hauinge compaffion of the calamitie of his kynfeman and neyghbour Abenamacheius being dryuen
from his owne poffefllons (whofe arme alfo we fayd before that one of the fouldiers cut of at the riuer of Rim
Nigra and nowe remaynynge with Abraiba to whome he fledde by llehh after he was taken, went to Abibeiba
th[e]inhabitour of the tree, who had nowe lykewyfe forfaken his contrey for feare of owre men, and wandered
in the defolate mountaynes and wooddes. When he had therfore founde him, he fpake to him in this effecte.
What thynge is this Oh vnfortunate Abibeiba : or what nation is this that foo tormenteth vs that wee can not
enioye owre quyet lybertie? Howe longe, ho we longe I fay fhall wee fuffer theyr crueltie? were it not much
better for vs to die, then to abide fuch iniuries and oppreffions as yow, as Abinamac/ieius owre kynfeman, as
Cemacchus, as Careia, as Poncha, as I and other princes of owr order doo fufteyne ? Canne any thinge bee more
intoUerable then to fee owre wyues, owre chyldren, and owre fubiectes, to bee ledde awaye captiues, and owre
goodes to be fpoyled euen before owre faces.
I take the goddes to wytnes, that I fpeake not foo much for myne owne part as I doo for yowe whofe cafe
I lament. For albeit they haue not yet touched me, neuertheleffe, by the example of other, I owght to thynke
that my deftruction is not farre of. Let vs therfore (yf wee bee men) trye owre flrengthe and proue owre
fortune ageynfl them whiche haue delte thus cruelly with Abenamacheius, and dryuen hym owte of his contrey.
Let vs fet on them with all owre poure, and vtterly deftroy them And yf wee can not fleye them al, yet fhall
wee make them afrayde eyther to affayle vs ageyne, or at the leafl dimynyfflie theyr poure. For what foo euer
(hall befaule, nothynge can chaunce woorfe vnto vs then that which we now fuffer. When Abibeiba harde thefe
wordes and fuch other like, he conde[f]cended to doo in al thinges as Abraiba wolde requyre : Where vppon
they appoynted a day to brynge theyr confpiracie to pafTe. But the thynge chaunced not accordynge to their
defyre. For of thofe whiche wee fayde to haue palfed to the Canibales, there returned by chaunce to Riuus
Niger the nyght before the day appoynted to woorke theyr feate, thirtie men to the ayde of theym whiche were
lefte there yf anye fedition fhulde ryfe as they fufpected. Therfore at the daunyng of the day, the confetherate
kynges with fyue hundreth of theyr ditionaries armed after theyr maner, befeaged the vyllage with a terrible
alarome, knowynge nothynge of the newe menne which came thether the fame nyght. Here owre target men
came foorth ageynfl them, and fyrfl affayled them a farre of with theyr arrowes, then with theyr pykes, and lafle
with theyr fwoordes : But the naked feely fowles, perceauinge a greater number of theyr aduerfaries then they
looked for, were foone dryuen to flyght, and flayne for the mofl parte lyke fcaterynge fheepe. The kynges
efcaped, they flewe manye, and tooke many captiues whiche they fente to Dariena where they vfe them for
labourers to tyU and fowe they grounde. Thefe thynges thus happely atchyued, and that prouince quyeted,
they returned by the ryuer to Dariena, leauinge theyr thyrtie men for a garryfon vnder the gouernance of one
Furatado a capitayne. This Furatado therfore, fente from Riuo Nigra where he was appoynted gouernoure,
twentie of his felowes and one woman, with, xxiiii. captiues to Vafchus and his company, in one of the byggefl
Canaas of that prouince. As they rowed downe by the ryuer, there came foorth foodenly ouerthwarte the
ryuer ageynfl them, foure greate Canaas, which ouerthrew theyr boate and flewe as many of them as they coulde
coome by, bycaufe they were vnprepared fufpecting noo fuch thinge. Owre men were all drowned and flayne
excepte twoo, which hyd them felues amonge certeyne fagottes that fwamme on the water, in the whiche they
laye lurkynge, and foo efcaped to theyr felowes in Dariena : who by them beinge aduertyfed hereof, beganne
to cafle theyr wyttes what this thyng might meane : beinge no leffe felicitate for them felues, then meditatynge
in what daunger theyr felowes had byn in Riuo Nigra, excepte by good fortune, thofe thirtie newe men which
were fente to them, had coome to the vyllage the nyght before the confpiracie fliulde haue byn wrought. Con-
fultinge therefore what was beft. to bee doone herein, at the lengthe with dylygent fearchynge they had
intelligence that fyue kynges, that is to wytte, Abibeiba the inhabitoure of the tree, and Cemacchus dryuen from
his vyllage whiche owre menne nowe poffefTed, Abraiba alfo and Abenamacheius, kynfemen, with Dabaiba the
king of the fyfher men inhabytinge the comer of the goulfe whiche we cauled Culata, were all affembled to
confpire the Chriflian mens deflruction at a day afTigned. Which thynge had furely coome to pafTe, if it had
not byn otherwyfe hyndered by gods prouidence. It is therfore afcrybed to a myracle: And trewly not
vnwoorthely if wee weye howe chaunce detected and bewrayed the counfayle of thefe kynges. And bycaufe it
is worthy to bee harde, I wyll declare it in fewe woordes. Vafchus Nunnez therfore, who rather by poure then
by election, vfurped the gouernaunce in Dariena, beinge a mafler of fence, and rather a raffhe royfler then
politike capitayne (althowgh fortune fumtyme fauoureth fooles) amonge many women which in dyuers of thefe
regions he had taken captyue, had one whiche in fauoure and bewtie excelled all other. To this woman her
owne brother often tymes reforted, who was alfo dryuen owte of his contrey with kynge Cemacchus, with whom
he was very familier and one of his chiefe gentelmen. Amonge other communication which he had with his
fyfler whom he loued entierly, he vttered thefe woordes. My deare and welbeloued fyfler, gyue eare to my
Xayinges, and keepe mofle fecreatelye that whiche I wyll declare vnto yowe, yf yowe defyre yowre owne wealth
and myne, and the nrofperitie of owre contrey and kynfefolkes. The infolencie and crueltie of thefe menne
Abraiba causeth
the kynges to
rebell.
Men good
enowgh yf they
had iren
The kynges are
are dryuen to
flyght.
70
Captyues.
A garyson of xxx,
men.
xviiL Span yard es
slayne and
drowned
The kinges which
conspired the
death of the
Christians.
A strange chaunce.
Vaschus.
Women can keepc
no counsayle.
I
122
The feconde Decade.
An army of C
[hundred] canoas
and fyue. M.
[thousand] men.
Tryumphe before
victory
AfTection
corrupteth trew
iudgement.
71
The conspiracie
of the kynges is
detected.
Kyng Cemacchus,
conspyreth the
deth of Vaschus.
whiche haue dryuen vs owte of owre poflefTions, is foo intollerable, that the princes of the lande are determyned
noo longer to fufleyne theyr opprefTions.
By the conductinge therfore of fyue kinges (which he named in order) they haue prepared a hundreth
greate Canoas, with fyue thoufande men of warre by lande and by fea, with vitailes alfo in the village of Tichiri,
fufficient to maintayne fuch an army. Declaringe further, that the kinges by agremente, had diuided emonge
theym the goodes and headdes of owre men : And therfore admonyflied her, at the daye appoynted by fume
occafion to conueigh her felfe owte of the way, lefle fliee (huld bee flayne in the confufion of the bataile. For
the fouldier victourer, is not woonte to fpare any that commethe in his rafe. And thus fhewinge his fyfler the
daye affigned to the flawghter, he departed. But the younge woman (for it is the fwoord that women feare and
obferue more then the grauitie of Cato^ whether it were for the loue or feare that fliee had to Vafchus, for-
gettinge her parentes, her kynffolkes, her countrey and all her frendes, ye and all the kinges into whofe throtes
Vafchus, had thrufle his fwoorde ftiee opened all the matter vnto hym, and conceled none of thofe thinges
whiche her vndifcrete broother had declared to her. When Vafchus therfore had hard the matter, he caufed
Fultiia, (for foo had they named her) to fende for her brother, who came to her immediatly, was taken, and
enforced to tell the hole circumftances of the matter. Where vppon, he playnely confeffed that kinge Canaahus
hys lorde and mafler, fente thofe foure canoas to the deflruction of owre men, and that thefe newe confpiracies
were attempted by his confaile. Likewife that Cemacchus fowght the deflruction of Vaschus hym felfe when he
fent hym fortie men vnder pretence of frendfhippe to tyll and fowe his grownd after the maner of the contrey,
gyuinge them in commaundement to fleye Vafchus at Marris, whyther he reforted to comforte his laboures as
the maner is of all good hufbandes. Yet durfle they at noo tyme execute theyr lordes commaundemente vppon
hym, bycaufe Vafchus came neuer emonge them afoote or vnarmed, but was accuflomed to ryde to theym in
harnes with a iauelen in his hande and a fwoorde by his fyde. Wherfore Cemacchus beinge frullrate of his
particuler confaile, tooke this lafle thing in hande to his owne deflruction and his neighbours. For the
confpiracie beinge detected, Vafchus cauled threefcore and tenne fouldiers, commaundinge them to folowe him,
but declared nothing vnto them whether hee wente or what hee entended to do. He wente forwarde therfore
fyrlle towarde Cemacchus which ley from hym, onely tenne myles. But he had knowleage that he was fledde to
Dabaiba the kinge of the mariflies of Culata. Yet fearchinge his village, he founde a noble man a ruler vnder
hym and alfo his kinlfeman, whome he tooke prifoner with many other of his familiers and frendes both men
and women. The fame houre that he fette fonvarde to feeke for Cemacchus, Rodericus Colmmaris rowed vp the
ryuer with foure of theyr byggefle Canoas and threefcore men by the conduction of the maydes brother who
browght hym to the village of Tichiri, in the which we fayd all their vitailes to remayne whiche were prepared
for theyr armye. Colmenaris therfore, facked the village, and pofTefled all their vitayles and wyne of fundry
colours : likewife tooke the gouemoure diereof prifoner, and hanged hym on the tree in whiche he dwelte hym
felfe, commaundinge hym too bee (liotte throwgh with arrowes in the fight of th[e]inhabitantes, and with hym
foure other rulers to bee hanged on iebbettes to the exemple of other rebelles. This punyflhmente thus
executed vppon the confpiratours, flrooke the hartes of all th[e]inhabitantes of the prouince wyth fuche feare,
that there is not nowe a man that dare floore his finger ageynfl the wrathe of owre men. They lyue nowe
therefore quietly : And the other kinges by theyr exemple doo the gladlyer liue in fubiection, with leffe offence
bearinge the yoke whyche they can by noo meanes fliake of.
Vaschus purseweth
the kynges with
three score and
Colmenaris
sacketh the
vyllage of Tichiri.
Fyue rulers
hanged and shot
throwgh with
The syxte booke of the seconde decade
Of the fuppofed continente.
The goldeii
regions on the
south side the
mountaynes.
The death of
Valdiuia and
Zamudius.
Hefe thynges, thus fynyflhed, affemblinge all their company togither they determined with one
confente, that a meffynger fhulde foorth with bee fente to Hifpaniola (from whenfe they haue
their lawes and ayde) to declare the hole order of all thefe affayres, fyrfte to the admirall and
gouemoure of the Hande, and afterwarde to the Kinge of Spayne, and to perfuade hym to
fende thofe thoufand men which younge Comognts faid to bee expediente to paffe ouer the
mountaynes lying betwene them and the golden regions towarde the Southe. Vafchus him
felfe dyd greatly affecte this embafage: But neyther woolde the refydewe of his felowes
electe hym therto, nor his factionaries fuffer hym to departe : Afwell for that therby they thought they fhulde
bee left defolate, as alfo that they murmured that if Vafchus fliulde once goo from theym, he wolde neuer returne
to fuche turmoyles and calamities, by th[e]example of Valdiuia and Zamudius, who had byn now abfente fence
The fecoiide Decade.
123
lohanncs
Quicedus is sent
to Spain
72
Chaunge of the
ayeris daungerous.
Rodcricus
Colmenaris,
assistant with
Quicedus.
the mooneth of January, in foo muche that they thowght they woolde neuer coomme ageine. But the matter
was otherwife then they tooke it, as I wyl fliewe in his place. For they were periflhed. At the lengeth after
many fcrutinies, they elected one lohn Quicedus, a graue man well in yeares, and treafourer of the kings efcheker
in thofe prouinces. They had conceaued a good opinion of this Quicedus that all thynges fhulde bee well
browght to paffe by his meanes, afwell for his wyfdome, as alfo that they were in good hop[e] of his returne, bycaufe
he had brought his wifTe with hym to thofe regions, whome he lefte with his felowes for a pledge of his comminge
ageyne. When they had thus elected Quicedus, they were ageyne of diuers opinions whome they might ioyne
with hym for affiflance : AfRrminge that it were a daungerous thinge to committe foo weightye a matter to one
mans handes. Not that they miflrufled Quicedus, but bycaufe the life of man is frayle, and the chaunge of the
ayer perelous, efpecially to theym hauynge nowe of longe tyme byn accuftomed to the temperature nere vnto
the Equinoctiall, if they (hulde bee compelled to returne to the North \vith alteration of ayer and dyet. They
thowght it therfore good to appoynt a companion to Quicedus, that if by chance the one fliuld fayl the other
might remayne : And that if they both efcaped, the king (huld gyue the better credit to the relation of both :
After longe confultation therfore, they chofe Rodericus Colmenaris a man of good experience, of whom we haue
often tymes made mencion. For from his youth, he had trauayled ouer al Europe by land and by fea, and was
prefent at the doinges of all thynges in Italy ageynll the Frenchemen : Of whofe returne alfo, they had noo
fmaule hope bycaufe he had many fermes and hadde tylled and fowne much grounde in Dariena, by th[e]in-
creafe wherofhe might get much gold by fellyng the fame to his felows. He lefte therfore the charge of al his
affayres in Dariena, with his partener Alphonftis Nuniiez, a ludge of the lawe, who alfo was lyke to haue byn
chofen procuratoure of this vyage before Colmenaris if one had not put theim in remembraunce that he had a
wyfe at Matritis: fearyng leafl beinge ouercoome with her teares, he woolde no more returne. Colmenaris
therefore, a free man and at libertie being affociate affiflant with Quicedus they tooke fhyppyng togyther in a
brigantine, the fourth day of the Calendes of Nouember, in the yeare of Chrifl. 15 12. In this vyage, beinge
tolled with fundry tempefles, they were by the violence of the wynde, cad vppon the Welle coalles of that large
Ilande whiche in the fyrlle Decade we cauled Cuba, fuppofed to haue byn fyrme lande. They were fore
opprefled with hunger. For it was nowe three moonethes fence they departed from theyr felowes. By reafon
whereof, they were enforced to take lande to proue what ayde they coulde gette amonge the inhabitantes.
Theyr chaunce therefore, was to arryue in that part of the Ilande, where Valdiuia was dryuen alande by tempell.
But oh yowe wretched men of Darienal Tary for Valdiuia whom yowe fent to prouide to helpe yowre
neceffities ? Prouyde for yowre felues rather and trull not to them whofe fortune yowe knowe not. For when
he arryued in Cuba, th[e]inhabitantes flewe him with al his felowes, and lefte the carauell wherin they were
caried, tome in pieces and halfe couered with fande on the Ihore : where Quicedus and Colmenaris fyndyng the
fragmentes therof, bewayled their felowes myffortune. But they founde none of theyr carkefes ; fuppofmge
that they were eyther drowned, or deuoured of the Canibals, which oftentymes make incurfions into that Ilande
to hunte for men. But at the length, by twoo of the Ilande men which they had taken, they had knowleage of
Valdiuia his dellruction : And that th[e]inhabitantes the more greedely attempted the fame, for that they had
harde by the bablynge of one of his felowes that he had great plentie of gold. For they alfo take pleafure in
the bewtie of gold, which they forme artificially into fundry ouches. Thus owre men llryken with penfyuenes
for the cruell dellenie of theyr felowes, and in vayne feekynge reuenge for theyr iniuries, determyned to forfake
that vnfortunate lande, departynge from thofe couetous naked barbarians with more forowe and neceffitie then
they were in before. Or euer they had pafled the South fyde of Cuba, they fel into a thoufande mylfortunes ;
and had intellygence that Fogeda arryued thereaboute, leadynge a myferable lyfe, tolTed and turmoyled with
tempelles and vexed with a thoufand perplexities : Soo that departing from thenfe almofl alone, his felowes
bemge for the moll parte all confumed with maladies and famyn, he came with much difficultie to Hifpaniola,
where he dyed by force of the poyfon of his venemous wound which he had receaued in Vraba as we haue faid
before. But Ancifus elected Lieuetenaunt, fayled by all thofe coalles with much better fortune. For as he
hym felfe toulde me, he founde profperous wjmdes in thofe parties, and was well enterteyned of th[e]inhabi-
tantes of Cuba. But this fpecially in the dominion of a certeyne kynge whofe name was Commendator.
For wheras he defyred of the ChriHian men whiche pafled by, to bee baptifed, demaundynge the
name of the gouernour of the Ilande next vnto Hifpaniola, beinge a noble man and a knyght of
th[e]order of Calatraua of which order al are cauled Commendatores, this kynges defyre was to bee named
after hym. Kynge Commendator therfore, frendely receaued Ancifus, and gaue hym greate abundance
of al thynges necelfarie. But what Ancifus lemed of theyr religion durynge the tyme of his remaynynge
there, I haue thowght good to aduertyfe yowre holynes. Yowe fhall therefore vnderflande, that certeyne
of owre men faylinge by the coafles of Cuba, lefte with kynge Commendator a certeyne poore maryner
beinge difeafed. Who in Ihorte fpace recoueringe his health, and hauynge nowe fumwhat lemed theyr language,
beganne to growe into great ellimation with the kynge and his fubiectes, in foo muche that he was oftentymes
IS3
A wyfe is a
hynderance
Cuia.
Three moonethes
from Dariena to
Cuba, by reason
of tempests
The death of
Valdiuia.
Hurt of lauyshenes
of the tonge.
The calamitie and
death of Fogeda-
Maladies and
famen.
The prosperous
vyage of Ancisus.
A kyng of Cuba
baptised by the
name of
Commendator.
Ancisus
73
A maruelous
historic howe God
wrought mirades
by the simple fayth
of a maryner.
124
The feconde Decade.
Be not rashe in
iudgemcnt
Zetnes.
A chapel builded
to the picture of
the virgin Mary
God respecteth
the infancie of
faithe for zeles
sake
One Religion
turned into an
other, holdeth styl
many thinges of
the ^rst.
A strange fantasie.
The effect of
godly zeale.
A miracle in the
tyme of the
battaylc
The virgin Mary,
is present at the
battayle.
74
A maruelus
experience of
fayth
Muche lykc vnto
this, is redde iii.
Keg. xviii.
the kynges Lieuetenaunt in his warres ageynfl other princes his bortherers. This mans fortune was foo good,
that all thynges profpered well that he tooke in hande. And albeit that he were not lemed, yet was he a
vertuous and well meanynge man accordynge to his knowleage, and dyd rehgioufly honoure the blefled virgin,
bearynge euer about with hym her picture fayre paynted vpon paper and fowd in his apparell nere vnto his brelle :
Signifyinge vnto the kyng, that this holynes was the caufe of al his victories : perfuadynge hym to doo the lyke,
and to cafl away all his Za/ies which were none other then the fymilitudes of euyll fpirites, molle cruell enemyes
and deuourers of owre fowles: And to take vnto hym the holy virgin and moother of god to bee his patroneffe
if he defyred all his affayres afwell in warre as in peace to fucceed profperoufly. Alfo that the blefled virgyn
woolde at noo tyme fayle hym, but bee euer redy to helpe him and his, if they woolde with deuoute hartes caule
vppon her name. The maryner had foone perfuaded the naked" nation: And there vppon gaue the kynge (who
demaunded the fame) his pycture of the virgin, to whom he buylded and dedicate a chapell and an altare, euer
after contemnynge and reiectynge his Zemes. Of thefe Ztmes made of goflampine cotton to the fimilitudes of
fprytes walkynge in the nyght which they oftentymes fee, and fpeake with them familierly, wee haue fpoken
fufficiently in the nynth booke of the fyrfte Decade. Furthermore, accordynge to the inflitution of this maryner,
when the foonne draweth towarde the faule, this kynge Commendator with all his famely bothe men and women,
reforte daylye to the fayde chapell of the virgin Marie, where kneelyng on theyr knees and reuerently bowyng
downe theyr heades, holdynge theyr handes ioyned togyther, they falute th[e]image of the virgin with thefe
woordes : Aue Maria, Aue Maria. For fewe of them can rehearfe any more woordes of this prayer. At
Ancifus his beinge there, they tooke hym and his felowes by the handes, and ledde them to this chapell with
reioyfmge, fayinge that they woolde fhewe theym maruelous thynges. When they were entered, they poynted
with theyr fyngers to the Image of the virgin al to befet and hanged abowte with ouches and iewels and many
earthen pottes, fylled fum with fundry meates, and fume with water, rownde aboute all the tabernacle. For
thefe thynges they offer to the image in the fleede of facrifice, accordyng to theyr owlde fuperflicion towarde
theyr Zemes. Beinge demaunded why they dyd thus, they anfwered, leafle the image fhulde lacke meate if
perhaps it (huld be a hungerd. For they mofl. certenly beleue that images may hunger, and that they doo eate
and drynke. But what ayde and helpe they confefle that they haue had of the godly poure of this image, that
is of the bleffed virgin, it is a thynge woorthy to be harde, and mofl affuredly to bee taken for a truthe. For
by the report of owre men, there is fuch feruent godly loue and zeale in thefe fimple men toward the holy virgin,
that to them beinge in the daungers of warre ageynfl theyr enemies, they doo in maner (yf I may foo terme it)
compel her to defcende from heauen to helpe them in theyr neceflities : For fuch is the goodnes of god, that
he hath lefte vnto men in maner a pryce wherby wee may purchafe hym with his holy angels, and fayntes, that
is to wytte, bumyng loue, charitie and zeale. Howe therfore can the blefled virgin at any time be abfent from
them which cal for her helpe with pure faith and feruent loue? Commendator him felfe, with al his noble men
and gentelmen, doo teflifie with one voyce, that in a fought battayle in the which this maryner was capitayne,
bearyng with hym this picture of the virgin Marie, the Zemes of theyr enemies turned their backes and trembeled
in the prefence of the virgins Image and in the fyght of them all. For euery of them brynge theyr Zemes to the
battayle, hopynge by theyr helpe to obteyne the victorie. Ye they fay further, that duryng the tyme of the
battayle, they fawe not only an Image, but a liuely woman clothed in fayre and whyte apparel, aydynge them
ageinfl theyr enemies: whiche thynge alfo the enemyes them felues acknowleaged, confeflynge that on the
contrarye parte fhee appeared to them, fhakynge a fepter in her hande with threatenynge countenaunce, whiche
caufed theyr hartes to fliake and faynt for feare. But after that this maryner departed from them, beinge taken
into a fliyppe of certeyne Chriflians paflynge by thofe coafles, Commendator declared that he with all his
fubiectes, continually obferued his inflitucions : In foo muche that beinge at contention with another prince,
which of theyr Zetnes were mofl,e holy and of greatefle poure, the matter grewe to fuche extremitie that they
tryed it with hande (Irokes : And that in all thefe attemptes, the blefled virgin neuer fayled hym, but was euer
prefente in the brunte of the battayle, and gaue hym eafye victorie with a fmaule poure of men, ageynfl. a mayne
armye of his enemies. Beinge demaunded with what woordes they cryed vppon the virgin Mary when they
affayled theyr enemies, they anfwered that they had lemed noo other woordes of the mariners doctrine, but
Sanfla Maria adittua nos, Sanfla Maria adiuua nos : That is, holy Mary helpe vs, holy Marye helpe vs : And
this alfo in the Spanyfflie tonge. For he had lefte thefe woordes in the mouthes of all men. Whyle they
murthered and deflroyed them felues thus on bothe fydes, they fell to entreatie of peace and agreed to trye the
matter, not hande to hande by combatte of certeyne chofen for bothe parties as the maner was amonge the
Romaynes and dyuers other nations in the owlde tyme, or by any flyght or policie, but that twoo younge men
fliulde bee chofen, for eche partie one, Avith theyr handes bounde fafl, behynde them in the playne fielde, bothe
parties beinge fwome to acknowleage that Zemes to bee the better, which fyrfl loofed the bandes of the younge
man whiche floode bounde for the tryall of his religion. Thus diuidinge them felues, and placeinge the
fayde younge men before them in the fyght of them al, with theyr handes fafl. bounde by theyr enemyes, the
The feconde Decade.
125
contrary parte cauled fyrft. on theyr Zemes (that is, the deuyll to whofe fimilitude theyr Images are made) who
immediatly appered in his lykenes aboute the younge man that floode bounde in the defence of Sathans
kyngedome.
But as foone as Commendator with his coompanye cryed Sanfla Maria adiuua tios, SanBa Maria adiuua
nos, forthwith there appeared a fayre virgin clothed in whyte, at whofe prefence the deuell vanquiffhed immediatly.
But the virgin hauinge a longe rod in her hande, and putting the fame on the bandes of the younge man that
floode for Commendator, his handes were loofed immediatly in the fyght of them all, and his bandes founde
about the handes of hym that floode for the other partie,^ in fomuch that they them felues fownde hym dowble
bounde. But for all this, were not the enemies fatiffyed : querelinge that this thynge was doone by fum flyght
or diuife of man, and not by the poure of the better Zemes. And there vppon requyred for th[e]aduoydynge
of all fufpection, that there myght bee eyght graue and fage men appoynted, for eche fyde foure, whiche Ihulde
bynde the men in the fyght of theim all, and alfo gyue iudgemente whether the thynge were doone withowte
crafte or gyle. Oh pure fimplicitie and conflant fayth : Oh golden and bleffed confidence. Commendator and
his famiUers, doubted not to graunte theyr enemies theyr requefle with lyke faythe wherwith the difeafed woman
obteyned healthe of the fluxe of her bludde, and wherby Peter feared not to walke on the fea at the fyght of
his mafler Chrifle. Thefe younge men therfore were bounde in the prefence of thefe eight graue men, and
were placed within theyr lyfles in the fyght of bothe parties. Thus vppon a figne gyuen, when they cauled
vppon theyr Zemes, there appered in the fyght of them all, a deuyll with a longe tayle, a wyde mouthe, greate
teeth, and homes, refemblyng the fimilitude of the Image which the kyng being enemye to Commendator,
honoured for his Ze7nes. As this deuyl attempted to loofe the bandes of his cliente, the bleffed virgin was
immediatly prefente as before at the caule of Commendator and his fubiectes, and with her rodde loofed the
bandes of her fuppliant, which were ageyne lykewyfe founde fafl tyed aboute the handes of hym that floode for
the contrarye parte. The enemies therefore of Commendator, beinge flryken with greate feare and amafed by
reafon of this greate miracle, confeffed that the Zemes of the virgin was better then their Zemes. For the better
profe wherof, thefe pagans beinge bortherers to Commendator, which had euer before byn at continuall warre
and enmitie with hym, when they had knowleage that Ancifus was arryued in thofe coafl.es, they fente ambafa-
doures vnto hym, to defyre hym to fend them preefles of whom they might bee baptifed : Where vppon he fent
them twoo which hee had with hym there at that prefent. They baptifed in one day a hundreth and thirtie of
th[e]inhabitantes, fumtyme enemyes to Commendator, but now his frendes and ioyned with him in aliance. All
fuche as came to bee baptifed, gaue the preefles of theyr owne liberalitie, eyther a cocke or a henne. But no
capons : for they can not yet fkyl how to came theyr cocke chykens to make them capons. Alfo certeyne
failed fyffhes, and newe fyne cakes made of theyr breade : likewife certeyne foules franked and made fatte.
When the preefles reforted to the fhippes, fyxe of thefe newe baptyfed men accoompanied theym laden with
vitailes, wherwith they ledde a ioyfull Eafler. For on the Sunday two dayes before faynte Lazarus day, they
departed from Dariena, and touched at that tyme, onely to the cape or angle of Cuba nere vnto the Eafte fyde
of Hifpaniola. At the requefle of Commendator, Ancifus lefte with hym one of his coompanie, to th[e]intente
too teache hym and his fubiectes wyth other his bortherers, the falutacion of the angell whiche we caule the Aue
Maria. For they thinke them felues to be foo much the more beloued of the bleffed virgin, as they can
reherfe the more woordes of that prayer. Thus Ancifus takinge his leaue of kynge Commendator, directed his
courfe to Hifpaniola, from whiche he was not farre. Shortely after, he tooke his viage to Spayne, and came to
Valladoleto to the kynge, to whom he made greuous complaint of the infolencie of Vafchus Nunnez, in fo muche
that by his procuremente, the Kynge gaue fentence ageynfle hym. Thus muche haue I thowght good (mofle
holy father) wherof to aduertyfe yo^vr holynes as concemyng the religion of thefe nations, not only as I haue
byn inftmcted of Ancifus (wyth whom I was dayly conuerfante in the court and vfed hym familiarlye) but alfo
as I was enformed of dyuers other men of greate autoritie, to th[e]intente that yowre excellencie may v:i ler-
flande howe docible this kynde of men is, and wyth what facilitie they may bee allured to embrafe owr
religion. But this can not bee doone foodenlye. Yet we haue greate caufe to hope that in fhorte tyme they
wilbe all drawen by litle and litle to the euangelicall lawe of Chrifle, to the great encreafe of his flocke. But
let vs nowe returne to the meffengers or procuratours as concerniynge the affayres of Dariena.
The deuil
appeareth in his
lykenes
An other miracle.
Math. 14.
The deuyl
appereth agein.
The virgin Mary
ouercommeth the
deuylL
Infidels conuerted
by miracle, and
baptised.
75
The preestes
rewarde.
A ue Maria.
Ancisus vyage to
Spain
Ancisus
cijinplayneth of
V ischus.
The haruest Is
great, but the
labourers are fewe.
x«l
126
The feconde Decade.
C The seventh booke of the seconde decade
Of the fiippofed continente.
From Dariena to
Hispaniola viii.
dayes saylyng.
The procuratours
of Dariena, are
honorably
receaued at the
courte.
Their complexion
is altered
Of whom the
autour had
information
76
The greate master
of the kynges ships
Petrus arias is
elected gouemour
of Dariena,
Th[c] oracion of
the byshop. of
Burges in the
defence of Petrus
The warres of
Aphrica.
Rom Dariena to Hifpaniola is eyghte dayes failinge and funitymes leffe with a profperous
vvynde. Yet Qiiiccdus and Colmmaris the procuratours of Dariena, by reafon of tempefles
and contrary wyndes, could fcarfely faile it in a hundrethe dayes. When they had
taryed a fewe dayes in Hifpaniola, and had declared the caufe of the comminge to the
admirall and the other gouernours, they tooke fhippinge in two marchante fhippes beinge
redye fumyffhed, which were alfo accuflomed to faile too and froo betwene Spayne and the
Ilande of Hifpaniola. They departed from Dariena (as we fayde before) the fourthe day
of the calendes of nouember in the yeare of Chrifl. 151 2, .and came not to the courte before the calendes of
May in the yeare folowinge beinge the yeare of Chrifle. 15 13. At th[e]yr commynge to the courte, Johannes
Fonfeca (to whom at the begynnynge the charge of thefe affayres was committed, whom alfo for hys faithful
feruice towarde the kinge, yowre holynes created generall commiflarie in the warres ageynfle the moores)
receaued them honorably, as men comminge from the newe world, from naked nations, and landes vnknowen
to other menne.
C By the prefermente therefore of the byfihope of Burges, Quicedus and Colmmaris were brought before
the king, and declared theyr legacie in his prefence. Suche newes and prefentes as they brought, were
delectable to the kinge and his noble men, for the newnes and ftraungnes therof. They alfo fuiomed with me
often tymes. Theyr countenaunces doo declare the intemperatenes of the ayer and region of Dariena. For
they are yelowe lyke vnto them that haue the yelowe gaundies : And alfo fwolne. But they afcrybe the caufe
hereof, to the hunger which they fufleyned in tyme pafl. I haue byn aduertifed of th[e]affayres of this newe
woorlde, not onely by thefe procuratours of Dariena, and Ancifus, and Zamudius, but alfo by conference with
Baccia the lawier, who ranne ouer a greate parte of thofe coaft.es. Likewyfe by relation of Vincentius Annez
the patrone of the fliippes, and Alfonfus Nignus, both being men of greate experience and wel trauayled in
thofe parties, befide many other, of whom wee haue made mention in other places. For there came neuer any
from thenfe to the court, but tooke greate pleafure to certifie mee of al thynges eyther by woorde of mouth or by
wrytynge. Of many thynges therfore which I lemed of them, I haue gathered fuche as to my Judgement feeme
niofte worthy to fatiffie them that take delyte in hyftories. But let vs nowe declare what folowed after the
comminge of the procuratours of Dariena. Therfore, before theyr arryuall there was a rumoure fpreade in the
courte, that the chiefe gouernoures and Lieuetenauntes Nicuefa and Fogeda, alfo Johannes De la Coffa (a man of
fuch reputacion that by the kinges letters patentes he was named the greate maft.er of the kynges fhyppes) were
all peryfhed by mifchaunce : And that thofe fewe which yet remayned alyue in Darima, were at contencion and
difcorde amonge them felues : So that they neyther endeuoured theyr diligence to allure thofe fmiple nations to
owre faythe, nor yet had regarde to fearche the natures of thofe Regions. In confideration wherof, the kynge
was determyned to fende a newe capitayne thyther whiche fliulde reftore and fet all thynges in good order, and
put them owte of autoritie whiche hadde vfurped th[e]empire of thofe prouinces withowte the kynges fpeciall
commaundement. To this office, was one Petrus Arias affigned, a man of greate prowes and a citifen oi Segouia.
But when the procuratours of Dariena had publiflied in the courte howe greate a matter it was, and of what
moment, many laboured erneftly to the kyng, to take the office owte of his handes. But the byffhop of Burges
beinge the kinges chiefe chaplayne, and one of the commiffioners appoynted by hym in thefe matters, beinge
aduertifed hereof, came immediatly to the kynge, and fpake to hym in this eflfect May it pleafe yowre hyghnes
to vnderftand (mofle catholyke Prince) that wheras Petrus Arias a man of vaUente corage and greate feruice,
hath offered hym felfe to aduenture his lyfe in yowre maieflies affayres, vnder vncerteyue hope of gayne and
mofte certeyne perels, yet that notwithflandynge fum other haue ambicioufly mahced his feHcitie and preferment
labouringe for th[e]office whereto he is elected : It maye pleafe yowre grace herein foo to fhewe hym yowr fauour
and permit hym to enioye his fayde office, as yowre maieftie doo knowe hym to bee a woorthy and meete man
for the fame, hauyng in tyme pafle had greate experience of his prowefle and valiantneffe, afwell in behauinge
hym felfe as orderinge his fouldiers, as yowr hyghnes may the better confyder if it fhal pleafe yowe to caule to
remembrance his doinges in the warres of Aphrica, where he fhewed hym felfe bothe a wyfe Capitayne, and
valient fouldier. As conceminge his maners and vfages other wayes, they are not vnknowen to yowre maieflie,
vnder whofe wynge he hath of a chylde byn browght vp in the courte, and euer founde faythfuU towarde yowre
hyghnefle. Wherfore, to declare my opinion vnder yowre graces fauour (whom it hath pleafed to appojTit me a
The fecotide Decade.
127
commiffioner in thefe affayres) I think it were vngodly that he fliuld bee put from his office at the fute of any
other, efpecially beinge thereto moued by ambition and couetoufnes : who perchaunce woold proue them felues
to be the fame men in the office if they fhuld obteyne it, as they nowe ffiewe them felues in the ambitious
defirynge of the fame. When the byfffioppe hade fayde thefe woordes, the kynge confirmed the election of
Pdrus Arias in more ample maner then before : wyllynge the byfhoppe to appoynt hym a thoufande and twoo
hundreth fouldiers at his charges, makynge hym a warrante to th[e]officers of his efcheker to delyuer hym
money in prefle for the fame purpofe. Fetnis Arias therfore beinge thus put in office and authoryfed by the
kynges letters patentes vnder his brode feale, chofe a greate number of his fouldiers in the court, and foo departed
frome Valladokto aboute the calendes of October in the yeare 1513 : And fayled fyrft. to Ciuile beinge a verye
ryche citie and well replenyfhed with people : where by the kinges magiftrates he was fumyfhed with men and
vytayles and other neceffaries perteynynge to foo greate a matter. For the king hath in this citie erected a
houfe feruinge only for th[ejaffayres of the Ocean, to the which al they that goo or coome from the newe landes
and Ilandes, reforte to gyue accomptes afwell what they cary thyther as what they brynge from thenfe, that the
kynge may bee truly anfwered of his cuRome of the fyfte part bothe of golde and other thynges as wee haue
fayde before. This houfe, they caule the houfe of the Contractes of hidi. Petrus Arias founde in Ciuile
aboue twoo thoufand younge men which made great fute to goo with hym : lykewyfe noo fmall number of
couetous owlde men : of the whiche, many offered them felues to goo with him of theyr owne charges withowt
the kynges flipende. But lefle the fhippes fliulde bee peflered with to great a multitude, or leafl. vytayles (hulde
fayle them, the libertie of free paffage was reflraynt. It was alfo decreed that noo llranger might pafle withowt
the kynges licence. Wherfore I doo not a lyttle maruaile at Aloifius Cadamujlus a Venetian and wryter of the
Portugales vyages, that he was not a fliamed to wryte thus of the Spanyardes nauigations : we went : we fawe :
we dyd. Wheras he neuer went, nor any Venetian fawe. But he floule certeyne annotacions owte of the three
firfl bookes of my fyrfl Decade wrytten to Cardinal Afcanius and Arcimboldus, fuppofmge that I woolde neuer
haue publyfffied the fame. It myght alfo happen that he came by the copie therof at the hande of fum
ambafadoure of Venice. For I haue graunted the copie to many of them, and was not daungerous to forbyd
them to communicate the fame to other. Howe fo euer it bee, this honefle man Aloifius Cadamujlus feared
not to chalenge vnto hym the frute of an other mans laboure. Of the inuentions of the Portugales (which furely
• are woonderfull) whether he haue wrytten that whiche he hath feene (as he fayth) or lykewife bereaued other
men of the iufte commendations of theyr trauayles, I wyll not iudge, but am content to let hym lyue after his
maner. Emonge the company of thefe fouldiers, there were none embarked but fuche as were licenced by the
kynge, except a fewe Italians, Genues, who by frendfliippe and fute were admitted for the Admirals fake
younge Coloims, fonne and heyre to Chrijlophorus Colonus the fyril fynder of thofe landes. Petrus Arias
therfore tooke fhippyng in the ryuer Betis (nowe cauled Guadalqueuir) runnyng by the citie of Ciuile, aboute the
beginnynge of the yeare of Chrifle. 15 14. But he loofed anker in an euyll houre. For fuche a tempefle folowed
fhortly after his departure, that it rent in pieces two of his ffiippes, and foo tofled the other that they were
enforced to heaue ouer boorde parte of theyr vytayles to lyghten them. All fuch as efcaped, fayled backe
ageyne to the coafl.es of Spayne : where, beinge newely furnyffied and refreffied, by the kynges officers, they
went forwarde on theyr viage. The mafl,er pylot of the gouernoures fhyppe, was lohaimes Vefputiiis a Florentine,
the neuie of Americus Vefputius, who left hym as it were by difcente of inheritance, th[e]experience of the
mariners facultie, and knowleage of the fea, carde and compaffe. But wee were aduertifed of late by certeyne
which came from Hifpaniola, that they had pafled the Ocean with more profperous wynde. For this marchaunt
fliyppe commynge from Hifpaniola founde them landinge at certeyne Ilandes nere there aboute. But in the
meane tyme whyle my importunate caulers on, Galeaceus Butrigarius and Johannes Curfius, men ftudious by al
meanes to gratifie yowre holynes, ceafed not to put me in rememberance that they had one in a redines to depart
into Italy, and taryed onely to cary with hym vnto yowre holynes thefe my iajiQ Nereides althowgh rudely decked,
leafle I (hulde beftow muche tyme in vayne, I haue let pafle many thynges, and wyll reherfe onely fuch as feeme
in my iudgement mofle woorthye memory, althowgh fumwhat difordered as occafion hath ferued. So it is
therfore that this Petrus Arias hath a wyfe named Helifabeth a Boadilla, beinge niefe by the broothers fyde to
the marques of Boadilla, which rendered the citie of Segouia to Fernando and Helifabeth princes of Spayne at
fuch tyme as the Portugales inuaded the kingdome of Caflile : by reafon wherof they were encoraged fyrfte
to refyfle, and then with open warre to aflayle and expulfe the Portugales for the greate trefure which kynge
Henry brother to queene Helifabeth hadde gathered togyther there. This marquefle whyle fliee lyued, dyd euer
ffiewe a manly and floute mynde, bothe in peace and warre, fo that by her counfayle manye noble thynges were
browght to good effecte in Caflile ; vnto this noble woman, the wyfe of Petrus Arias was niefe by her brothers
fyde. Shee folowyng the magnanimitie of her aunt, perceauinge her hufbande nowe furnyffiyng hym felfe to
depart to the vnknowen coaftes of the newe woorlde, and thofe large tractes of lande and fea, fpake thefe wordes
vnto hym. My mofle deare and welbeloued hufbande, we owght not nowe to forget that from owre younge
Petrus Arias
Lieuctenante of
Dariena.
Petnis Anus hatli
a thousand and
twoo hundreth
men appoynted at
the kynges
charges.
A house in Ciuile
appointed to the
affayres of India.
Perularia.
77
Many prefer
them selues to go
of theyr owne
charges.
Aloisius
Cadamustiis is
reproued.
The Portugales
inuentions.
The nauigatlon of
Petnis Arias.
A shipwrackc
A merit'us
Vespittius.
A notable exeraple
of a valient woman.
Kynge Henry.
The wyfe of
Petnis Arias
128
The feconde Decade.
yeares we haue byn ioyned togyther with the yoke of holy matrimonie to th[e]intente that wee (hulde foo lyne
togyther and not a funder durynge the tyme of owre naturall lyfe. Wherefore for my parte to declare my affection
herein, yowe fliall vnderflande, that whyther fo euer yowre fatal deflenye fhall dryue yowe, eyther by the furious
wanes of the greate Ocean, or by the manyfoulde and horrible daungers of the lande, I wyll furely beare yowe
78 coompany. There can no perell chaunce to me fo terrible, nor any kynde of death fo cruell, that fhal not bee
much eafyer for me to abyde, then to Hue fo farre feperate from yowe. It were muche better for me to dye, and
eyther to bee cafl. into the fea to bee deuoured of the fyffhes, or on the lande to the Canibales, then with
continuall mournynge and bewaylinge, to lyue in deathe and dye lyuinge, whyle I confume in lookyng rather
for my hufbandes letters then for hym felfe. This is my full determinacion, not rafhely nor prefentely excogitate,
nor conceaued by the lyght phantafie of womans brayne, but with longe deliberation and good aduifement.
Nowe therfore choofe to whether of thefe twoo yowe wyll afiente : Eyther to thrufle yowre fwoorde in my throte,
or to graunte me my requefle. As for the chyldren which god hath giuen vs as pledges of owr infeperable loue,
(for they had foure fonnes and as many dowghters) (hal not flay me a moment. Let vs leaue vnto them fuche
gooddes and poffeffions as haue byn left vs by owre parentes and frendes wherby they may lyue amonge the
woorfhipful of theyr order. For other thynges I take no care. When this noble matrone of manly vertue had
fyniflhed thefe woordes, her hufbande feinge the conflant mynde of his wyfe, and her in a redynes to doo
accordynge to her woordes, had no hart to denye her louinge peticion : but embrafmge her in his armes, com-
mended her intente and confented to her requeft,e. Shee folowed hym therfore as dyd Ipficratea her Mithridates
with her heare hangeinge loofe aboute her fhulders. For fliee loueth her hufbande as dyd Halicarnaffea of Carta,
hers beinge deade, and as dyd Arteniifia her Maufolus: We haue alfo had aduertifement fence their departure
that fhe (being browght vp as it were amonge foft fethers) hath with no lefle ftoute corage fufl.eyned the roringes
and rages of the Ocean, then dyd eyther her hufband or any of the maryners brought vp euen amonge the
fourges of the fea. But to haue fayde thus much hereof, this fhal fuffice. Let vs nowe fpeake of other thynges
no lefTe woorthy memorie. Therfore, whereas in the fyrfle Decade we haue made mencion of Vinceiitius Annez
Pinzonus, ye fhal vnderflande that he accoompanyed Chrijlofhorus Colonus the Admirall in his fjrrfl vyage, and
afterwarde made an other vyage of his owne charges with onely one fhyppe. Ageyne, the fyrfle yeare after the
departinge of the Capitaynes Nicuefa and Fogeda, he ran ouer thofe coaftes of Hifpaniola, and fearched all the
fouthe fyde of Cuba from the Eafle to the wefte, and fayled rownde about that Ilande which to that day for the
greate length thereof, was thowght to haue bin part of the continent or firme land, althowgh fume other fay
that they dyd the lyke. Vincentius Annez therfore, knowyng nowe by experience that Cuba was an Ilande, fayled
on further, and found other landes wefl.ward from Cuba, but fuch as the Admirall had fyrft touched. Wherfore,
beinge in maner encompafed with this newe lande, tuminge his courfe towarde the lefte hande, and rafmg the
coafles of that lande by the Eafl, ouerpaflinge alfo the mouthes of the goulfes of Beragua, Vraba, and Cuchi-
bachoa, he arryued at the Region which in the fyrfl. Decade we cauled Paria and Os Draconis : And entered
into the greate goulfe of freffhe water, which Colonus difcouered, beinge replenifhed with great abundance of
fyffhe, and famous by reafon of the multitude of Ilandes lyinge in the fame, beinge diflant Eaft.warde from Curiana
aboute a hundreth and thirtie myles, in the which tract are the Regions of Cumana and Manacapana, whiche
alfo in the fyxte booke of the fyrfl. Decade we fayde to bee Regions of the large prouince of Paria, where many
affirme to bee the gretefte plentie of the befte pearles, and not in Curiana. The kinges of thefe regions (whom
they caul Chiacones, as they of Hifpaniola caule theym Cacici) beinge certified of the comminge of owre men,
fente certeyne fpyes to enquire what newe nation was arryued in theyr coafles, what they browght, and what
they woolde haue : and in the meane tyme fumyffhed a number of theyr Canoas (whiche they caule Chichos)
with men armed after their maner. For they were not a lyde afloniffhed to beholde owre fhippes with the fayles
fpreade, wheras they vfe no fayles, nor can vfe but fmaule ons if they woolde, by reafon of the narownes of theyr
canoas. Swarmynge therfore aboute the fhippe with theyr canoas (which we may well caule Morwxyla, bycaufe
they are made of one hole tree,) they feared not to fhute at owr men beinge yet within their fhips and keepinge
theym felues vnder the hatches as fafely as yf they had byn defended with flone waules. But when owre men
had fhotte of certeyne pieces of ordinance ageynfl theym they were foo difcomfited with the noyfe and flawghter
therof that they droue them felues to flight. Beinge thus difparcled, owr men chafed them with the fhippe bote,
tooke many, and flewe many. When the kynges harde the noyfe of the gunnes, and were certyfied of the lofTe
of their men, they fent ambafadours to Vincentius Agnes to entreate of peace, fearinge the fpoyle of theyr goodes
and deflruction of theyr people, if owre men fhulde coomme alande in theyr wrathe and furye. They defyred
peace therfore, as could bee coniectured by their fignes and poyntinges. For owre men vnderfloode not one
woorde of theyr language. And for the better proofe that they defired peace, they prefented owre men with three
thoufand of thofeweights of gold that theSpanyardes caule CaJlellanumAureum, which they commonly caule Pefum.
Alfo a greate barell of woodde full of mofte excellente mafculine firankenfence, weighing about two thoufande
and fyxe hundreth poundes weight after eight ounces to the pounde : Whereby they knewe that that lande
The thyrde
n.iuigation of
Vincentius
Pinzonus.
Cuba.
Beragua.
Vraba.
Cucftibacoa.
Paria.
Os DraconU
Curiana.
Cnmana.
Matlacapatia.
Plentie of Pearles.
Mofioxyla.
The Barbarians
assayle owre men
beinge in theyr
shyppe-s.
The vse of gunnes.
79
Great abundance
of gold and
frankensence.
Olibanitm,
The feconde Decade.
\2,C^
browght furthe greate plentie of frankenfence. For there is noo entercourfe of marchaundies betwene th[e]inhabi-
tantes of Paria and the fabeans beinge foo farre difl,ante,wheras alfo the[y] of Paria knowe nothynge withowte
theyr owne coafles. With the golde and frankenfence whiche the[y] prefented to owre men, they gaue them alfo a
greate multitude of theyr peacockes, bothe cockes and hennes, deade and alyue, afwell to fatiffie theyr prefent
neceffitie, as alfo to cary with theyra into Spayne for encreafe. Lykewyfe certeyne carpettes, coouerlettes, table
clothes and hanginges made of goifampine filke fynelye wrought after a flraunge diuife with plefante and variable
colours, hauing golden belles and fuche other fpangles and pendauntes as the Italians caule Sonaglios, and the
Spanyardes Cafcaueles, hanging at the purfles therof They gaue theym furthermore fpeakinge popingiais of
fundry colours as many as they woolde afke. For in Paria, there is no leffe plentie of popingiais, then with vs
of dooues or fparous. Th[e]inhabitantes of thefe Regions both men and women are appareled with veflures made
of goffampine cotton, the men to the knees, and the women too the calfe of the legge. The faffhion of theyr
apparell, is fymple and playne muche like vnto the Turkes. But the mens, is double and quilted like that
whiche the Turkes vfe in the warres. The princes oi Paria, are rulers but for one yeare : But their autoritie is noo
leffe emonge the people both in peace and warre, then is th[e]autoritie of other kynges in thofe Regions.
Theyr villages are buylded in coompaffe, along by the bankes of all that greate goulfe. Fyue of theyr princes
came to owre men wyth theyr prefentes, whofe names I thowght worthy to bee put in this hiftorie in remembe-
rance of foo notable a thinge Chiaconus Chiatcaccha, (that is the prince of Chiauaccha, for they caule princes or
kinge? Chiaconos) Chiaconus Pintiguanus, Chiaconus Chamailaba, Chiaconus Polomus, and Chiaconus Potto. The
goulfe beinge fyrfte founde of the admirall Colonus, they caule, Baia Natiuitatis, bycaufe he entered into the
fame in the day of the natiuitie of Chrifte : But at that tyme he only paffed by it withowte anye further fearching,
and Baia in the Spanyffhe tong, fignifieth a goulfe. When Vincentius had thus made a league with thefe Princes,
folowinge his appoynted courfe, he founde many regions towarde the Eafl, defolate by reafon of diuers fluddes
and ouerflowynges of waters : alfo many llandynge pooles in dyuers places, and thofe of excedynge largenes.
He ceafed not to folowe this tracte vntyll he came to the poynte or cape of that mofle longe lande. This
poynte femethe as though it woolde inuade the monte Atlas in Aphrica. For it profpectethe towarde that parte of
Aphrike, whiche the portugales caule Caput Bonx Sperantice. The poyntes or capes of the mount Atlas, are
rough and faluage nere vnto the fea. The cape of Bona Speranza, gatherethe thirtie and foure degrees of the
Southe pole, cauled the pole antartike : But that poynte, onely feuen degrees. I fuppofe this lande to bee that,
whiche I fynde in owlde wryters of Cofmographie to bee cauled the greate Hand Atlantike, withowt any further
declaringe eyther of the fytuation, or of the nature therof.
C The eight booke of the seconde decade
Of the fuppofed continente.
I Hen lohan the king of portugale lyued which was prediceflbure to hym that nowe reigneth,
there arofe a great contention betwene the Callilians and Portugales as concerninge the
dominion of thefe newe founde landes. The Portugales, bycaufe they were the firfle that durfl
attempte to fearche the Ocean fea fence the memorie of man, affirmed that all the nauigations
of the Ocean, owght to perteyne to theym onely. The Caflilians argued on the contrarie
parte, that what fo euer god by the miniflration of nature hath created on the earth, was at
the begynnynge common emong men : And that it is therfore lawful! to euery man to poffefe
fuche landes as are voyd of Chriftian inhabitours. Whyle the matter was thus vncerteynly debated, bothe
parties agreed that the controuerfie fhulde bee decerned by the byfftiope of Rome, and plighted faithe to ftande
to his arbitrimente. The kyngedome of Caflile was at that tyme gouemed by that great Queene Helifabeth with
her hufbande : for the roialme of Caflile was her dowerye. Shee alfo and the kynge of Portugale, were cofyn
germaynes of two fyflers : by reafon wherof the diffention was more eafely pacified. By th[e]a(rent therfore of
both parties, Alexander the byflhop [of] Rome, the. vi. of that name, by th[e]autoritie of his leaden bull, drewe a
right line from the North to the South a hundreth leaques weftwarde withowte the paralelles of thofe Ilandes
whiche are cauled Caput Viride or Cabouerde, Within the compafe of this lyne (althowgh foomme denye it)
faulethe the poynte of this lande wherof we haue fpoken, which they caule Caput SanBi Augujlini, otherwyfe
cauled Promontorium SanHi Augujlini, that is, faynt Auguflines cape or poynte. And therfore it is not lawful
for the Caftilians to fallen foote in the beginnynge of that lande. Vincentius Antiez therfore, departed from
thenfe, beinge aduertifed of th[e]inhabitantes, that on the other fyde of the hyghe mountaynes towarde the
£d£N. N 129
Sabea, is a contrcy
in Arabic, which
bringeth forth
frankensence
Paria.
Peacockes which
wee caule Turkye
cockes.
Carpets and
couerlettes fynely
wrought.
Popyngayes.
Th[e]appareII of
the inhabitants
of paria
Rulers for one
yeare.
The greate goulfe
of Paria.
Baia Natiuitatis
the gret goulfe of
Paria.
Vincentius maketh
a league with v.
princes, of Paria.
Motint Atlas in
aphrike.
The great Hand
atlantike
Contention
betwene the
Castiiians and
Portugales for the
newe landes
80
The bysshop of
Rome diuideth
the land
Cabouerde loktf-
decade i. lib. iii
130
The feconde Decade.
The golden region
of Ciamba.
The Hand of S.
lohannes
Fyue byshoppcs
of the IIand[s]
made by the
bysshop of Rome.
The Canibales of
the Hand of
Sancta Crux.
81
Beragua and
Vraba.
The ryuers of
Vraba.
South, lyinge before his eyes, there was a Region cauled Ciamba, which browght foorth greate plentie of golde.
Of certeyne captiues whiche he tooke in the goulfe of Paria (which certenly perteyneth to the dominion of
Caftile) he browght fume with hym to Hifpaniola, and lefte them with the younge Admirall to lerne owre
language. But he hym felfe, repayred to the courte to make erneft. fute to the kynge that by his fauoure, he
myght bee gouemour of the Hand of SanBi loliannis (otherwyfe cauled Burkhena, beinge diflante from
Hifpaniola onely. xxv. leaques) bycaufe he was the fyrfl fynder of golde in that Ilande. Before Vincentius
made fute for this office, one Don Chriflopher a Portugale, the foone of the countie of Camigna, was gouernoure
of the Ilande: whom the Canibales of the other Ilandes fie we, with all the Chriflian men that were in the fame,
excepte the byfhop and his familiers, which fledde and fliyfted for them felues, forfakynge the church and all
the ornamentes thereof. For yowre holynes hath confecrated fyue byffhoppes in thefe Ilandes at the requeft
of the mod catholyke kynge. In Sanilo Dominico being the chiefe citie of Hifpaniola, Garfia de Padilla, a
reguler fryer of the order of faynt Fraunces, is byffhop. In the towne of Conception, doctor Petrus Xuarez of
Deza: And in the Ilande of faynte lohn or Burichena, Alfoiifus Manfus a Ucenciate, beinge bothe obferuantes
of th[e]inflitucion of faynt Peter. The fourth, is fryer Bamarde of Mefa, a man of noble parentage, borne in
Toledo, a preacher, and byffhop of the Ilande of Cuba. The fyfte is lohannes Cabedus, a fryer preacher, whom
yowre holynes annoynted myniller of Chrifl, to teache the Chriftian faithe amonge the inhabitantes of Dariena.
The Canibales Ihall fhortely repent them, and the bludde of owre men fhalbe reuenged : And that the fooner,
bycaufe that (hortly after they had committed this abhominable flaughter of owre men, they came ageyne from
theyr owne Ilande of SanHa Crux (otherwyfe cauled Ay Ay) to the Ilande of SanHi lohannis. and flewe a kynge
whiche was a frende to owre men, and eate hym and all his famely, vtterly fubuertinge his vyllage, vppon this
occafion that violatinge the lawe of hoflage, he had llayne feuen Canibales whiche were lefte with hym by
compofition to make certeyne canoas, bicaufe the Hand of San^i Johannis beareth greater trees and apter for
that purpofe, then doth the Ilande of San6li Crux the chiefe habitacion of the Canibales. Thefe Canibales yet
remaynynge in the Ilande, certeine of owre men fayling from Hifpaniola, chaunced vppon them. The thynge
being vnderftode by th[e]interpretoures, owre men quarelynge with theym and caulynge them to accompte for
that mifcheuous deede, they immediatly directed theyr bowes and venemous arrowes ageynfl. them, and with
cruell countenaunces threatened them to bee quyet, leafl it fhulde repent them of theyr commyng thyther.
Owre men fearynge theyr venemous arrowes (for they were not prepared to fyght) gaue them fignes of peace.
Being demaunded why they deflroyed the vyllage, and where the kynge was with his famelye, they anfwered
that they rafed the vyllage and cutte the kynge with his famelie in peeces and eate them in the reuenge of theyr
feuen workemen : And that they had made faggottes of theyr bones to cary theim to the wyues and chyldren of
theyr flayne woorkemen, in wytneffe that the bodyes of theyr hufbandes and parentes lay not vnreuenged : and
therewith fhewed the faggottes of bones to owre men : who beinge allonyfhed at theyr fiercenes and crueltie,
were enforced to diffimble the matter and houlde theyr peace, quarelynge noo further with them at that tyme.
Thefe and fuche other thynges doo dayly chaunce, the which I doo let paffe lead I fhulde offende the eares of
yowr holynes with fuche bluddy narrations. Thus haue wee fufficiently digrefled from the regions of Beragua
and Vraba beinge the chiefefle foundations of owre purpofe. Wee wyll nowe therefore entreate fumewhat of
the largenes and depthe of the ryuers of Vraba : Alfo declare bothe what they and the landes whiche they
runne through doo brynge foorth ; lykewife of the greatnes of the lande from the Eafle to the Weft, and of the
bredth therof from the Southe to the North, and what theyr opinion and hope is of thynges yet vnknowen in
the fame. Wee wyll therfore beginne at the newe names wherwith the Spanyardes haue named thefe prouiuces
fence they were vnder the dominions of the Chriftians.
€[ The nynth booke of the seconde Decade,
Of the fuppofed Continent.
Beragua, cauled
Castella aurifera,
and Vraba,
Andaluzia noua.
Sum caule Peru,
Noua Castilia.
Beragua and
Vraba, regions of
Paria.
The frutefuhies
of Vraba
Eragua therfore, they cauled Caflella Aurea, that is golden CaRile : And Vraba they named
Andaluzia Noua, that is, newe Andalufia. And lyke as of many Ilandes which they fubdued,
they choofe Hifpaniola for the chiefe place of theyr habitacion, foo in the large tract of Faria,
they appoynted theyr colonic or bydyng place in the t\voo regions Vraba and Beragua, that
all fuche as attempte any vyages in thofe coaftes, may reforte to them as to fafe portes to bee
refrefhed when they are wery or dryuen to necefTitie. All owre feedes, and plantes, do nowe
marueloufly encreafe in Vraba. Lykewyfe blades, fettes, flippes, grades, fuger canes, and
The feconde Decade.
131
fuche other as are brought from other places to thofe regions, as alfo beafl.es and foules as we haue fayde before.,
O maruelous frutefulnes. Twentie dayes after the feede is fowne, they gather rype cucumers, and fuch lyke,
But colwortes, beetes, Letufe, Borage are rype within the fpace of ten dayes. Gourdes, melones, and pom-
pones, within the fpace of xxviii. dayes. Dariena hathe many natiue trees and frutes of dyuers kyndes with
fundry taft.es, and holfome for the vfe of men : of the which I haue thowght it good to defcrybe certeyne of the
beft.. They nooryfihe a tree which they caule Guaiana, that beareth a frute much refemblynge the kynde of
citrons which are commonly cauled limones, of tafl.e fumwhat fharpe myxt with fwetenes. They haue alfo
abundance of nuttes of pynetrees, and great plentie of date trees, whiche beare frutes bygger then the dates
that are knowen to vs : but they are not apte to bee eaten for theyr to much fowernes. Wylde and baren date
trees, growe of them felues in fundry places, the branches wherof they vfe for biefommes, and eate alfo the
buddes of the fame. Guarauana, being higher and bygger then the orange tree, bringeth furth a great frute
as bygge as pome citrons.
Ther is an other tree much lyke to a chefl.nut tree whofe frute is lyke to the bygger fort of fygs, beinge
holfome and of plefant tafl.e. Mameis, is an other tree that bringeth foorthe frute as bygge as an orange, in
tafle nothynge inferioure to the befl.e kyndes of melones. Guananala, Ijeareth a frute leffe then any of the
other, but of fweete fauoure lyke fpice, and of delectable taft.e. Horns, is an other tree whofe frute bothe in
fliape and tafte, is much lyke to prunes, but fumwhat bygger. They are furely perfuaded that this is the
Myrobalane tree. Thefe growe foo abundantely in Hifpaniola, that the hogges are fedde with the frute therof
as with maft.e amonge vs. The hogges lyke this kynde of feadynge foo well, that when thefe frutes wax rype,
the fwyneherdes can by no meanes keepe them owte of the wooddes of thefe trees : by reafon wherof, a greate
multytude of them are becoome wylde. They alfo affirme, that in Hifpariiola, fwynes flefflie is of much better
tafl.e and more holfome then mutton. For it is not to bee doubted, but that dyuers kyndes of meates do
engender fundry tafl.es and qualities in fuche as are noryfhed therwith. The mofte puiffaunte prince Ferdi-
nandus, declared that he had eaten of an other frute browght from thofe landes, beinge full of fcales with keyes
much lyke a pine apple in forme and coloure, but in tendernes equal to melopepones, and in tafte excedyng all
garden frutes. For it is noo tre, but an herbe much lyke vnto an archichoke, or Acantho. The kynge hym
felfe, gaue the cheefeft commendation to this. I haue eaten none of thefe frutes. For of a great number
which they browght from thenfe, only one remayned vncorrupted, the other being putrified by reafon of the
longe vyage. All fuche as haue eaten of theym newely gathered in theyr natyue foyle, doo marueloufly com-
mende theyr fwetenes and pleafaunt tafte. They dygge alfo owte of the ground certeyne rootes growynge of
theim felues, whiche they caule Batatas, much lyke vnto the nauie rootes of Mylayne, or the greate puffes or
mulheroms of the earth. Howe foo euer they bee dreffed, eyther fiyed or fodde, they gyue place to noo fuch
kynde of meate in pleafant tendernes. The fkyn is fumwhat towgher then eyther of nauies or muffheroms, and
of earthy coloure : But the inner meate therof, is verye whyte. Thefe are nooryffhed in gardens, as we fayde
of lucca in the fyrfte Decade. They are alfo eaten rawe, and haue the tafte of rawe cheftnuttes, but are
fumwhat fweeter. Wee haue fpoken fufficiently of trees, herbes, and frutes. We wyll nowe therefore entreate
of thynges fencitiue. The laundes and defolate paftures of thefe regions, are inhabited and deuoured of wild
and terrible beaftes, as Lions, Tygers, and fuch other monfters as we nowe knowe, and haue byn defcrybed of
owlde autoures in tyme paft. But there is efpecially one beaft engendered here, in which nature hath
endeuoured to fliewe her cunnyng. This beafte is as bygge as an oxe, armed with a longe fnoute lyke an
Elephant, and yet no Elephant Of the colour of an oxe and yet noo oxe. With the houfe of a horfe, and
yet noo horfe. With eares alfo much lyke vnto an Elephant, but not foo open nor foo much hangyng downe :
yet much wyder then the eares of any other beafte. Of the beaft which beareth her whelpes about with her in
her feconde belly as in a purfe (beinge knowen to none of the owlde wryters) I haue fpoken in the fyrft Decade
which I doubte not to haue coome to the handes of yowre holynes. Let vs nowe therfore declare what refteth
of the fluddes and ryuers of Vraba. The ryuer of Dariena fauleth into the goulfe of Vraba with a narowe
Chanel, fcarily able to beare the canoas or lyghters of that prouince, and runneth by the vyllage where they
chofe theyr dwellynge place. But the ryuer in the comer of the goulfe which we fayde that Vafchus paffed by,
they found to bee. xxiiii. furlonges in bredth (which they caule a league) and of exceadynge depthe, as of twoo
hundreth cubettes, faulynge into the goulfe by dyuers mouthes. They fay that this ryuer fauleth into the goulfe
of Vraba, lyke as the ryuer IJler (otherwyfe cauled Danubius, and Danowe) fauleth into the fea Pontike, and
Mlus into the fea of Egypte : wherfore they named it Grandis, that is great : whiche alfo they afRrme to nooryihe
many and great Crocodyles, as the owld vnyters teftifie of Nilus, and efpecially as I haue lerned by experience,
hauinge fayled vp and downe the ryuer of Niliis when I was fent ambafadoure to the Soldane of Alcayr at the
commaundement of the mofte catholyke Kynge. What I may therfore gather owte of the wrytynges of fo many
lemed autours as concerninge the ryuer of Nilus, I knowe not. For they fay that nature hath gyuen two
riuers of that name to water the lande, whether they wyll them to fprynge owte of the mountaynes of the moone
The_ frutefulnes of
Dariena.
Dyuers holsomy
frutes of trees.
Guaiana,
Pine trees.
Date trees.
Guarauana
Mameis.
Guananala.
Houos.
Miroialani.
Hogges fed with
mirobalanes
Swynes fiesshe of
better tast and
more holsum then
mutton.
82
Frutes putrifyed
on the sea.
Bofatas.
Lions and Tygers.
A straunge beast.
The ryuers of
Vraba.
The ryuer of
Darien fauleth
into the goulfe of
Vraba.
A league ts xxiiii.
furlonges
Dan-uhius.
Grandis or Rio
grandis.
A crocodile is
much lyke an
ente, but of
excedyng bignes.
The autoure of
this booke was in
Egipt
132
The feconde Decade.
The riuer Nilus
in Egypte
Monies Luna.
The Portugales
nauigacions.
The ryiier Senega,
another ch.-inneU
of the ryuer of
Nilus.
Crocodiles.
The thyrde and
fourth Nilus.
Delagat ios.
83
The ryuers
springe owt of the
mountaynes.
Crocodiles
engendred on
other ryuers
besyde Nilus in
Egypte.
Byrdes and foules.
Popingayes.
A philosophical
discourse as
cunceming
th[e]original of
springes and
ryuers.
The breadth of
the lande at
Vraba, from the
North Ocean to
the South sea.
A ryuer of
marueloiis
byggenes lolte the
first decade the
ix. boke.
The great ryuer
Maragnonus. liber.
iv. decade, i.
MariatainbaL
Camamonis,
Paricora.
Paradice.
Loke. VI, boke
fyrst decade.
The sea.
The land enclosed
with two seas.
or the foonne, or owte of the toppes of the rowgh mountaines of Ethiopia: Affirming one of the fame to faule
into the goulfe of Egypte toward the Northe, and the other into the South Ocean fea. What fhall wee faye in
this place? Of that Nilus in Egypte, there is noo doubte. The Portugales alfo whiche fayle by the coaftes of
the Ethiopians cauled Nigritce, and by the kyngedome of Mclinda paffinge vnder the Equinoctial! IjTie, amonge
theyr maruelous inuentions haue founde an other towarde the South, and erneftly affirme the fame to bee alfo
deriued from the mountaynes of the moone : And that it is an other chanell of Nilus, bycaufe it bryngeth foorth
Crocodyles, whereas it hathe not byn reade before tyme that any other ryuer nooryfflied Crocodyles fauinge
onely Nilus. This ryuer, the Portugales caule Senega. It runneth throwgh the Region of the Nigrifas, beinge
very fmtefull towarde the north fhore • but on the fouthe fyde fandie and rowghe. Crocodiles are alfo engendred
herein. What Ihall wee then fay of this thyrde : ye I may wel fay the fourth. For I fuppofe them alfo to bee
Crocodiles which Colonus with his coompany founde armed \vith fcales as harde as (helles in the ryuer cauled
Delagartos wherof wee haue made mention before. Shall wee fay that thefe ryuers alfo of Darien and Vraba,
haue theyr originall frome the mountaynes of the moone, wheras they fprynge owte of the nexte mountaynes,
and can by noo meanes haue the fame originall with Nilus in Egypte, or that in Nigrita, or els that in the
kyngedome of Melinda, from whenfe foo euer they are deryued. Whereas thefe other (as we haue fayde) fpringe
owt of the next mountaines whiche deuyde an other fouthe fea with noo greate diftaunce from the North Ocean.
Wherfore it appeareth by experience of fuch as liaue trauayled the worlde in owre time, that other waters befyde
the ryuer of Nilus in Egypte, maye lykewyfe brynge foorth Crocodiles. In the maryffhes alfo and fennes of the
Regions of Dariena, are founde greate plentie of Phefauntes and peacockes, (but not of variable coloures) with
many other kyndes of byrdes and foules vnlyke vnto owres, as well apte to bee eaten, as alfo to delite the eares
of menne with pleafaunt noyfe. But owre Spanyardes, bycaufe they are ignorant in foulynge, take but fewe.
Alfo innumerable popingayes of fundry kindes are found chattering in the groues of thofe fenny places. Of
thefe there are fume equall to Capons in byggenes, and fume as lyttle as fparowes. But of the diuerfitie of
popingayes, we haue fpoken fufficientely in the fyrfl Decade. For in the rafe of this large lande, Colonus hym
felfe browght and fent to the courte a greate number of euery kynde, the which it was lawfuU for all the people
to beholde, and are yet dayly browght in lyke maner. There remayneth yet one thynge mofle woorthy to bee
put in hyftorye ; The which I had rather to haue chaunced into the handes of Cicero or Liuie, then into myne.
For the thynge is foo marueylous in my eflimation, that I fynde my wytte more entangeled in the defcription
hereof, then is fayde of the henne when (hee feeth her younge chekyn inwrapped in towe or flaxe. The breadth
of that lande from the North Ocean to the fouth fea is only fyxe dayes ioumey by relation of th[e]inhabitantes.
The multitude therfore and greatnes of the ryuers on the one fide and on the other fyde the narowenes of the
lande, brynge me into fuche doubte howe it can coome to paffe, that in foo little a fpace of three dayes ioumey,
meafurynge from the hygh toppes of thofe mountaynes, I doo not vnderflande howe foo many and foo great ryuers,
may haue recourfe into this north fea. For it is to bee thought that as many doo flowe towarde th[e]inhabitantes
of the fouthe. Thefe ryuers of Vraba are but fmaule, in comparifon of many other in thofe coaftes. For the
Spanyardes fay, that in the tyme of Colonus, they founde and paffed by an other ryuer after this, whofe goulfe
faulynge into the fea, they affirme to bee lyttle lefle then a hundreth myles in the fyrfte coaftes of Paria, as wee
haue fayde elfewhere. For they faye that it fauleth from the toppes of hyghe mountaynes with foo fwyfte and
furious a courfe, that by the violence and greatnes therof, it dryueth backe the fea althowgh it bee rowghe and
enforced with a contrary wynde. They all affirme lykewyfe, that in all the large tracte therof, they felt noo
fower or falte water, but that all the water was freffhe, fweete, and apte to bee dronke. Th[e]inhabitantes caule
this ryuer Maragtwnum: And the regions adiacent to the fame, Mariatambal, Camamorus, and Paricora.
Befyde thofe ryuers whiche I haue named before, as Darien, Grandis, Dabaiba, Beragua, Sanfli Mathei, Boius
gatti, Delagartos, and Gaira, they which of late haue fearched thofe coaftes, haue founde many other.
Dehberatinge therefore with my felfe, from whenfe thefe mountaynes beinge foo narowe and nere vnto the fea on
bothe fydes, haue fuch great holowe caues or dennes of fuche capacitie, and from whenfe they are fylled to caft
foorth fuch abundance of water, hereof alfo afkynge them the opinions of the inhabitantes, they affirme them to
bee of dyuers iudgementes herein : Alleagynge fyrft the greatnes of the mountaynes to bee the caufe, whiche
they fay to bee very hygh, which thynge alfo Colonus the firft fynder therof affirmeth to bee trewe : Adding there
vnto that the Paradife of pleafure is in the toppes of thofe mountaines whiche appeare from the goulfe of Paria
and Os Draconis, as he is fully perfuaded. They agree therfore that there is greate caues within thefe
mountaynes : but it refteth to confyder from whenfe they are fylled. If therefore all the ryuers of frefflie waters
by th[e]oppinion of manye, do foo flowe owte of the fea as dryuen and compelled throwghe the paffages or pores
of the earth by the ponderous weyght of the fea it felfe, as wee fee them breake furth of the fprynges and directe
their courfe to the fea ageyne, then the thynge is leflfe to bee marueyled at here then in other places. For wee
haue not redde that in any other place twoo fuch feas haue enuironed any lande with foo narowe lymittes.
For it hath on the right fyde, the great Ocean where the fonne goeth downe on the lefte hande : And an other
•3a
The feconde Decade.
133
on the other fyde where the fonne ryfeth, nothynge inferioure to the fyrfl in greatenes, for they fuppofe it to bee
myxte and ioyned as all one with the fea of Eafl. India.
This lande therefore being burdened with fo great a weight on the one fyde and on the other (yf this
opinion bee of anye value) is enforced to fwalowe vp fuch deuoured waters, and ageyne to cafl foorth the fame
in open fpringes and llreames. But if wee fhall denye that the earth draweth humours of the fea, and agree
that all fountaynes or fprynges are engendered of the conuerfion or tumynge of ayer into water diflilling within
the holowe places of the montaynes (as the mofl part thinke) we wyll gyue place rather to th[e]autoritie of
them whiche flycke to thofe reafons, then that owre fenfe is fatifiyed of the full truth therof. Yet doo I not
repugne that in fume caues of mountaynes, water is turned into ayer. For I my felfe haue feene, howe in the
caues of manye mountaynes in Spayne, in maner (howers of rayne doo faule continually: And that 'he water
gathered by this meanes, doth fend furth certeyne ryuers by the fydes of the mountaynes, wherwith al fuche
trees as are planted on the fliepe or foote of the mountaynes, as vines, Oliue trees, and fuche other, are watered.
And this efpecially in one place : As the ryght honorable Lodouike the Cardinall of Aragonie mode obfequious
to yowre holynes, and twoo other byfhoppes of Italy, wherof the one is Siluius Pandonus, and the other an
Archebyffliop (whofe name and tytle I doo not remember) can beare me wytnes. For when wee were togyther
at Granata, lately delyuered from the dominion of the Moores, and walked for owre paflyme to certeine
pleafaunte hylles (by the whiche there ranne a fayre ryuer) Whyle Cardinall Lodouike occupied hym felfe in
fhutynge at byrdes whiche were in the buflies nere vnto the ryuer, I and the other twoo byffhops determined to
clime the mountaynes to fearche th[e]originall and fpringe of the ryuer: for wee were not farre from the toppes
thereof. Folowynge therefore the courfe of the ryuer, wee founde a greate caue in which was a continuall faule
of water as it had byn a fhoure of rayne : the water wherof, faulyng into a trenche made with mans hand,
encreafeth to a ryuer, and runneth downe by the fydes of the mountaynes. The lyke is alfo feene in this
famous towne of Valladokto (where we nowe fuiome) in a certeyne greene clofe, not part, a furlonge diftant from
the waules of the towne. I graunte therfore that in certeyne places by conuerfion of the ayrie dewe into water
within the caues of fuche mountaynes, many fprynges and ryuers are engendred. But I fuppofe that nature was
not foUicitate to brynge furthe fuche greate fluds by this fo fmaule induflry. Twoo reafons therfore, do found
belle to my iudgement : whereof the one is, the often faule of rayne : The other, the continuall autumne or
fprynge tyme which is in thofe regions beinge foo nere vnto the Equinoctial that the common people can
perceaue no difference betwene the length of the day and the night throwgh owt al the yeare whereas thefe two
feafons are more apte to engender abundance of rayne then eyther extreme wynter or feruent fummer An
other reafon in effect much lyke vnto the fyrfl, is this : If the fea bee full of pores, and that by the pores therof
beinge opened by the Southe windes, wee fhal confent that vapours are lyfted vp wherof the watery cloudes are
engendred, this lande mufl needes bee moyfled with moo fhoures then anye other, yf it bee as narowe as they
faye, and enuironed with twoo mayne feas collaterally beatinge on the fame. Howe fo euer it be : I can not
but gyue credit to the report of fuch worthy men as haue recourfe to thofe regions : And can noo leffe then
declare the fame albeit it may feeme incredible to fume ignorant perfons not knowynge the poure of nature to
whome Plinie was perfuaded that nothynge was impoffible. Wee haue therfore thought it good to make this
difcourfe by the way of argument, leafl on the one fyde, men of good lernyng and iudgement, and on the other
fyde, fuche as are fludious to fynde occafions of quarelynge in other mens wrytynges, fhulde iudge vs to bee fo
vndefcreete lyghtly to gyue creditte to euery tale not beinge confonant to reafon. But of the force and greate
violence of thofe freffhe waters, which repulfmge the fea make fo greate a goulfe (as wee haue fayde) I thinke the
caufe therof to bee the greate multitude of fluddes and ryuers, whiche beinge gathered togither, make fo great a
poole ; and not one ryuer as they fuppofe. And for as muche as the mountaynes are excedynge hyghe and
lliepe, I thinke the violence of the faule of the waters to be of fuch force, that this conflicte betwene the waters,
is caufed by th[e]impulfion of the poole that the falte water can not enter into the goulfe. But here perhappes
fume wyll marueyle at me why I ftiulde marueyle foo muche hereat, fpeakynge vnto me fcornefully after this maner.
Why dothe he foo marueyle at the greate ryuers of thefe Regions? Hathe not Italye his Eridanus, named the
kynge of ryuers of the owlde wryters ? Haue not other regions alfo the lyke ? as wee reede of Tanais, Ganges,
and Danubius, which are fayde foo to ouercoome the fea, that frefhe water may be drawne fortie myles within
the fame. Thefe menne I woolde fatiffie with this anfwere. The famous ryuer of Padtts, in Italye (whiche
they nowe caule Po, and was of the Greekes cauled Eridanus) hath the greate mountaynes cauled Alpes
diuidinge Fraunce, Germanie, and Pannonie from Italye, lyinge at the backe therof as it were bulwarges full
of moyfture : And with a longe tracte receauinge Ticiimm with innumerable other great ryuers, fauleth into the
fea Adriatike. The lyke is alfo to bee vnderllode of the other. But thefe ryuers (as owre men were enformed
by the kynges) faul into the Ocean fea with larger and fuller chanels nere hand. And fume there are which
affirme this lande to bee very large in other places althowgh it bee but narowe here. There commeth alfo to
my remembrance an other caufe: the whiche althowgh it bee of no greate force, yet doo I entende to wryte it.
N 3 133
84
Conu[e]rsion of
ayer into water in
the caues of
mountaynes.
Showers of rayne
in the caues of
montaynes
The often fal of
rayne and
continuall sprynge
time.
The EquinoctialL
The pores of the
sea and the South
wynd.
Nothinee
impossible to the
poure of na[t]urc.
The cause of the
greatnes and force
of the goulfe.
Hygh and stiepe
hylles
85
The fludde
Eridanus.
Tanais.
Ganges.
Damtbitis.
Padns.
Alpes.
Ticinum.
The sea Adriatikr,
sume caule the
goulfe of Venes
An other reason
134
The feconde Decade.
Theryuer
Alpheus.
Areikusa
Longe caues in
the mountaynes.
The length and
forme of the IlamL
Cap. S. Augusti.
Eyght tymes
bygger then Italy
besyde that part
whiche the
portugales
possesse. Italy
IS in length a
thousand and two
hundreth myles,
and in breadth
foure hundreth
and ten.
Gardes of the sea.
The carde of
Americus
Vcsputius.
The carde of
Colonus.
The carde of
lohannes de la
Cossa.
86
The carde of
Andreas moralis.
The maner of
measuring the
cardes.
Loke decade i.
liber. iiL
The Hand of
Cabouerde.
Maragnomtm
Os Draconis
A league.
Cwhibacoa.
Caramairi,
Carthago,
The Hand f ortis.
Vraha.
Beragua,
Perhappes therfore the length of the lande reachyng far from the Eafte to the wefle, if it bee narowe, may bee
a helpe hereunto. For as wee reade that the ryuer Alpheus paffethe through the holowe places vnder the fea
from the citie of Elis in Peloponefo, and breaketh foorth at the fountayne or fprynge Arethufa in the Hand of
Sicilia, fo is it poffible that thefe mountaynes may haue fuche longe caues perteynynge vnto theim, that they
may be the receptacles of the water paffing through the landes beinge farre diftante : And that the fame waters
commynge by foo longe a tracte, may in the way bee greately encreafed by the conuerfion of ayer into water,
as wee haue fayde. Thus muche haue I fpoken freely, permittinge bothe to them whiche doo frendely
enterprete other mens doinges, and alfo to the malicious fcomers, to take the thynge euen as them lyfteth.
For hetherto I can make no further declaration hereof But when the truth flialbe better knowen, I wyl do my
diligence to commit the fame to wryting. Nowe therefore, forafmuche as we haue fpoken thus muche of the
breadth of this land, we entend to defcribe the length and forme of the fame.
II The tenth booke of the seconde Decade,
Of the fuppofed Continent.
Hat lande reacheth foorth into the fea euen as doth Italy, althowgh not like the legge of a man
as it doth. But I nowe compare a Pigmean or a dwarfe to a giant. For that part therof
which the Spaniardes haue ouer runne from the fayde Eafle poynt which reacheth towarde
the fea Atlantike (the ende not beinge yet founde towarde the Wefte) is more then eyght
tymes longer then Italye. And by what reafon I am moued to lay eyght tymes, yowre
holynes (hall vnderflande. From the tyme therefore that I fyrfle determined to obeye their
requefl.es who wylled me fyrfle in yowre name to wryte thefe thynges in the laten tonge, I
dyd my endeuoure that all thinges myght coome foorth with dewe tryall and experience. ^Vherupon I repayred
to the byfhoppe of Burges beinge the chiefe refuge of this nauigation. As wee were therfore fecretly togyther in
one chamber, we had many inflrumentes perteynynge to thefe affayres as globes and manye of thofe mappes
which are commonly cauled the (hipmans cardes, or cardes of the fea. Of the which, one was drawen by the
Portugales, wherunto Ameriais Vefputitis is fayde to haue put to his hande, beinge a man moft.e experte in this
facultie and a Florentyne borne : who alfo vnder the flipende of the Portugales, hadde fayled towarde the fouth
pole many degrees beyond the Equinoctiall. In this carde we founde the fyrfl. front of this land to bee brooder
then the kynges of Vraba had perfuaded owre men of theyr mountaynes. To an other, Colonus the Admiral
whyle he yet lyued and fearched thofe places had gyuen the beginnynge with his owne handes : Wherunto
Bartholotneus Colotius his brother and Lieuetenaunt had addid his iudgement, for he alfo, had fayled aboute
thofe coaftes. Of the Spanyardes lykewyfe, as many as thought them felues to haue any knowleage what
perteyned to meafure the lande and the fea, drewe certeyne cardes in parchement as concernyng thefe nauiga-
tions. Of all other, they moft. efleeme them which loltannes de la Coffa the coompanion of Fogeda (whom wee
fayde to bee flayne of the people of Caramairi in the hauen Carthago,) and an other expert pylot cauled
Andreas Moralis, had fet foorth. And this afwell for the greate experience which they bothe hadde (to whom
thefe tractes were as wel knowen as the chambers of theyr owne houfes) as alfo that they were thought to bee
cunninger in that parte of Cofmographie which teacheth the defcription and meafuringe of the fea. Conferringe
therefore all thefe cardes togyther, in euery of the whiche was drawen a lyne expreflinge, not the myles, but
leagues after the maner of the Spanyardes, we tooke owre compafes and beganne to meafure the fea coafles
after this order. From that poynt or fronte which we fayde to bee included within the lyne perteynynge to the
Portugales iurifdiction, beinge drawen by the paralelles of the Ilandes of Cabouerde, but a hundreth leagues
further towarde the wefle (which they haue nowe alfo fearched on euery fyde) we founde three hundreth leagues
to the enterance of the ryuer Maragnonum : And from thenfe to Os Draconis, feuen hundreth leagues : but
fumwhat leffe in the defcription of fume : For they doo not agree in al poyntes exquifitely. The Spanyardes
wyll that a league conteyne foure myles by fea and but three by lande. From Os Draconis, to the cape or
poynt of Ciichibacoa, which beinge paffed, there is a goulfe on the lefte hande, we meafured three hundrethe
leagues in one carde, and much thereabout in an other. From this poynt of Ciichibacoa, to the region of
Caramairi in which is the hauen Carthago (which fum caule Carthagaia) we found about a hundreth and
feuentie leagues. From Caramairi to the Hande Fortis, fiftie leagues. From thenfe to the goulfes of Vraba
amonge the which is the vyllage cauled SanHa Maria Antiqua where the Spanyardes haye apoynted theyr
habitacion, only. xx.xiii. leagues. From the ryuer of Vraba in the prouince oi Dariena to the ryuer oi Beragua
The feconde Decade.
135
where Nicuefa hadde intended to haue faftened his foote if god hadde not otherwyfe decreed, we meafured a
hundreth and thirtie leagues. Frome Beragua to that ryuer whiche wee fayde of Colonus to bee cauled SanHi
Matthei, in the which alfo Nicuefa loofinge his carauell, wandered in greate calamities, we found e in owre cardes,
onely a hundreth and fortie leagues : Yet many other which of late tyme haue coome from thefe partes, haue
defcrybed many moo leagues in this tracte from the ryuer of SanHi Matthei: In which alfo, they place dyuers
ryuers, as Aburema with the Ilande cauled Scutum Cateba lyinge before it, whofe kynges name is Fades combujia.
Lykewife an other ryuer cauled Zobraba : after that, Vri4a : and then Duraba in the which gold is founde.
Furthermore, many goodly hauens, as Cerabaro and Hiebra, foo cauled of th[e]inhabitantes. And thus if yowre
holynes wyll conferre thefe numbers togyther, yowe fliall fynde in this accompte, a thoufand fiue hundreth
twentie and fyue leagues, whiche amounte to fyue thoufande and feuen hundreth myles from the poynt of San6li
Mattliei, which they caule Sinutn perditorum : that is, the goulfe of the loRe men. But we may not leaue here.
For after this, one AJlur Ouetaifes, otherwyfe named lohannes Dias de Solis, borne in Nebriffa (which bringeth
foorth many lemed men) faylinge frome this ryuer towarde the wefle, ouer ranne manye coafles and leagues :
But the myddefle of that fhore, bendethe towarde the North : And it is therfore directly placed in order with
the other. Yet may we gather by a diameter or ryght lyne, about three hundreth leagues. Hereby maye yowe
gather what is the length of this lande. But of the breadth, perhappes wee fhall hereafter haue further know-
leage. Let vs nowe fpeake fumwhat of the varietie of the degrees of the eleuation of the pole flarres. This
lande therfore, althowgh it reache foorth from the Eafl. into the Wefle, yet is it crooked and hathe the poynt
bendynge fo toward the fouth, that it lofeth the fight of the North pole, and is extended beyonde the Equi-
noctial lyne feuen degrees towarde the South pole. But the poynt herof, perteyneth to the iurifdiction of the
Portugales as we haue fayde. Leauinge this poynt and faylinge toward Paria the north (larre is feene ageyne,
and is fo much the more lyfted vp, in howe much the region enclyneth more towarde the Wefle. The Span-
yardes therfore, haue dyuers degrees of eleuations, vntyl they come to Dariena beinge their chiefs flation and
dwellynge place in thofe landes. For they haue forfaken Beragua, where they found the North pole eleuate.
viii. degrees But from henfe the lande doth foo muche bende towarde the North, that it is there in maner
equall with the degrees of the flrayghtes of Hercules pyllers : efpecially yf wee meafure certeyne landes founde
by them towarde the Northe fyde of Hifpaniola. Emonge the which, there is an Ilande, about three hundreth
and. XXV. leagues from Hifpaniola, as they fay whiche haue fearched the fame, named Boiuca or Agnaneo, in the
which is a continual fprynge of runnynge water of fuch mamelous vertue, that the water therof beinge dronk,
perhappes with fume dyete, maketh owld men younge ageyne. And here mud I make proteflacion to yowre
holynes, not to thynke this to bee fayde lyghtly or rafhely. For they haue foo fpredde this rumour for a truth
throwghowt all the courte, that not onely all the people, but alfo many of them whom wifedome or fortune hath
diuided from the common fort, thinke it to be true. But if yowe fhal afke my opinion herein, I \vyl anfwere
that I wyll not attribute fo greate poure to nature : but that god hath noo lefTe referued this prerogatiue to hym
felfe, then to fearche the hartes of men, or to gyue fubflance to priuation, (that is) beinge to noo beinge :
Excepte we fhall beleue the fable of Colchis of Efon renouate, to bee as trewe as the wrytinges of Sibylla
Erythrea. Albeit perhappes the fcoles of phifitians and naturall philofophers wyll not muche flycke to affirme
that by th[e]ufe of certeyne fecreate medecines and dyete, the accidentes of age (as they caule them) may be
longe hydden and deferred, which they wyll to bee vnderfloode, by the renouacion of age. And to haue fayde
thus much of the length and breadthe of thefe Regions, and of the rowghe and hugious mountaynes with theyr
watery caues, alfo of the dyuers degrees of that lande, I thinke it fufficienL But I thowght it not good to let
paffe what chaunced to thefe miferable men amonge theyr generall calamities. I remember that when I was a
chylde, mee thowght my bowelles grated and that my fpirites were maruelouflye troubeled for verye pitie, when
I readde in the poet Virgyl howe Achemenides was lefte of Vlyffes vpon the fea bankes amonge the giantes cauled
Cyclopes where for the fpace of many dayes from the departinge of Vlyffes vntyll the commynge of Eneas he
eate none other meate but only berryes and hawes. But owre vnfortunate Spanyardes whiche folowed Nicuefa
to inhabite Beragua, woolde haue eflemed hawes and berryes for greate deUcates. What fhulde I heare fpeake
of the heade of an affe bowght for a greate price, and of fuch other extremities as men haue fuffered in townes
befeaged ? After that Nicuefa hadde determyned to leaue Beragua for the barrennes of the foyle, he attempted
to fearche Portum Bellum, and then the coafles of the poynt cauled Marmor, if he myght there fynde a place
more fortunate to inhabite. In this meane tyme, fo greuous famen oppreffed his fouldiers, that they neyther
abfleyned from eatinge of mangie dogges which they had with them afwell for theyr defence as for huntynge
(for in the warre ageynfl the naked people, dogges floode them in greate lleade) nor yet fumtymes from the
flayne inhabitantes. For they founde not there any frutefull trees or plentie of foules as in Dariena, but a
barren grounde and not meete to bee inhabited. Here certeyne of the fouldiers made a bargein with one of
theyr felowes for the price of a leane dogge, who alfo was almofle deade for hunger: They gaue the owner of
the dogge many of thofe pieces of golde which they caule Pefos or golden Caflellans. Thus agreinge of the
R. SaJlcfi
MatOicl
R. Abureina
Scutum Cateba
R. Zobroba,
Vrida.
Duraba.
Cerabaro.
Hiebra.
Note.
R. d- los. perdidos
The nauigation of
lohannes Dias.
The eleuation of
the pole.
The iurisdiction
of the Portugales.
Paria.
Dariena.
Beragua.
Hercules pyllers.
87
The Ilande
Boiuca or
Agnaneo.
A water of
marueious vertue.
The renouation
of age.
The accidentes of
age may bee
hydden.
Achemetiides.
Vlysses.
Eneas.
Extreme hunger.
This was at the
siege of
hterusalem.
Partus Bellus
M armor.
Mangy dogs eaten.
A mangy dog
dere sold.
136
The feconde Decade.
Broth of a mangy
dogs skynne.
Toades eaten
A deade man
eaten.
price, they fleid the dogge to bee eaten, and cafte his mangie (kynne with the bones of the heade hangynge
therto, amonge the buflies. The day folowynge, a certeyne footeman of theyr company, chaunced to fynde the
(kynne beinge nowe full of maggottes and flynkynge. He brought it home with hym, fodde it, and eate it
Many reforted to hym with theyr dyfthes for the brothe of the fodde (kynne, proferinge hym for euerye
dyffhefull a piece of golde. An other founde twoo toades and fodde them which a ficke man bought of hym
for twoo fyne fhertes curioufly wrought of lynen intermyxt with golde. Certeyn other wanderinge abowte to
feeke for vytayles, founde in a patheway in the myddeft. of a fyelde, a deade man of th[e]inhabitantes whiche
had byn flayne of his owne coompanye and was nowe rotten and flynkynge. They drewe hym a fyde,
difmemberde hym fecreatly, rofled hym and eate hym, therewith affwagynge theyr hunger as yf they had byn
fedde with pheafauntes. One alfo, which departinge from his companions in the nyght feafon, went a fyfhyng
amonge the reedes of the maryffhes, lyued only with flyme or mudde for the fpace of certeyne dayes, vntyll at
the lengthe creepinge and almofte deade, he founde the way to his felowes. And thus thefe miferable men of
Beragua vexed with thefe and fuche other a[f]flictions, were browgh[t]e from the number of feuen hundreth
threfcore and ten fouldiers, fcarfely to fortie, beinge nowe alfo added to the coompany of them in Dariena.
Fewe were flayne of th[e]inhabitantes. But the refydewe confumed by famen, breathed owt theyr wery
fowles, openynge a waye to the newe landes for fuch as fhal coome after them, appeafinge the fury of the
barbarous nations, with the price of theyr bludde. Confyderinge therfore after thefe (lormes, with what eafe
other men fhall ouerrunne and inhabite thefe landes, in refpecte to the calamities that thefe men haue fuffered,
they (hall feeme to goo to bryde feafles where all thynges are redy prepared ageynll their commjiige. But
where Petrus Arias arryued with the kynges nauie and newe fupply of men, to this houre I knowe no
certentie. A\Tiat fhall chaunce herafter I wyll make diligente inquifition if I (hall vnderftande this to bee
acceptable to yowre holynes. Thus I byd yowe hartely farewell : from the courte of the moode Catholyke
kynge, the daye beefore the nones of December, in the yeare of Chrifte, M. D. XIIII.
88
Note
Petrus Arias
whom the
Spanyardes caule
Pediarias.
«16
137
C THE FYRST BOOKE OF THE THYRDE DECADE,
TO THE BYSSHOPPE OF ROME LEO THE TENTH.
Was determyned (mofle holye father) to haue clofed vp the gates
to this newe worlde, fuppofinge that I had wandered farre
enowgh in the coafles therof, while in the meane time newe
letters were brought me frome thenfe, which caufed me ageyne
to take my penne in hande. For I receaued letters not only
from certeyne of myne acquaintaunce there, but alfo frome
Vafchus Nunnez whome we ikyde by the confidence of his
owne poure with his confetherates, to haue vfurped the gouer-
naunce of Dariena after the reiecting of Nicuefa and Andfus,
Lieuetenantes. By his letter wrytten after his warlyke maner,
wee vnderlland that he hath paffed ouer the mountaynes, diuid-
yng the Ocean knowen to vs, from the other mayne fea on the
fouth fyde of this lande hetherto vnknowen. His epiflell is
greater then that cauled Capreenfis de Seiano. But wee haue
gathered out of that and other, onely suche thynges as we thowght
mofle woorthy to bee noted. Vafchus foo behaued hym felfe
in thefe affayres, that he dyd not onely pacific the kynges
difpleafure conceaued ageynfl hym, but alfo made hym fo fauorable and gracious good lorde towarde hym, that
he rewarded him and his coompanions with many honorable gyftes and priuileges for theyr attemptes. Wherfore
I defyre yowre holynes to inclyne yowre attentiue eares, and to confyder with a ioyfuU mynde what they haue
browght to paffe in thefe great enterpryfes. For this valiante nation (the Spanyardes I meane) haue not onely
with greate paynes and innumerable dangers fubdued to the Chriflian empire, infinite hundredes and legions,
but alfo myriades of men. Vafchus Nunnez therfore, whether it were that he was impacient of Idlenes (for a
valiente mynde can not refl in one place or bee vnoccupyed) or leafle any other fhulde preuent hym in foo great
a matter (fufpecting the newe gouemour Petrus Arias) or being moued by both thefe caufes, and efpecially for that
the kynge had taken difpleafure with hym for fuch thynges as he had doone before, toke th[e]aduenture vppon
hym with a fewe men to brynge that to paffe which the fonne of kjTige Comogrus thought could hardly haue
byn doone with the ayde of a thoufande men, -whexoi Fetrus Arias was appoynted capitayne for the fame purpofe.
Affembl)Tige therfore certeyne of the owlde fouldiers of Dariaia, and many of thofe whiche came lately from
Hifpaniola, allured by the fame of greater plentie of golde, he gathered an armye of a hundreth fourefcore and
tenne men. Thus beinge fumyffhed and redie to take his vyage by fea, whyle the wynde ferued hym, he
departed frome Dariena with one brygantine and tenne of theyr boates whiche they caule Canoas as wee haue
fayde. Fyril therfore arr)ruynge in the dominion of Careta kynge of Coiha and frende to the Chriflians, and
leauynge his fhyppe and boates there, he made his deuout prayers to almyghtie god, and therwith went forwarde
on his ioumey by lande toward the mountaynes. Here he fyril entered into the region of kynge Poncha, who
fledde at his commyng as he had doone before. But Vafchus fent meffengers to hym by the conduct of
certeyne of Careta his men, promyfmge hym frendfliip and defence ageynfl his enemies, with many other
benefites. Poncha thus entyfed with the fayre fpeache and frendely profers bothe of owre men and of the
Caretans, came to owr men gladly and wyllyngely makynge a league of frendfhippe with them. Vafchus
enterteyned hym very frendely, and perfuaded him neuer therafter to (lande in feare. Thus they ioyned handes,
embrafed, and gaue greate gyftes the one to the other to knytte vp the knotte of continuall amitie. Poncha
gaue Vafchus a hundreth and ten poundes weyght of golde, of that pounde which the Spanyardes caule Pefum.
He had no greater plentie of golde at this tyme, by reafon he was fpoyled the yeare before as we haue fayde.
Vafchus to recompence one benefyte with an other, gaue hym certeyne of owre thynges, as counterfet rynges,
Chriflal (tones, copper cheynes and brafelettes, haukes belles, lokynge glaffes, and fuche other fyne fluffe.
Thefe thynges they fet much by and greately edeeme. For fuche thynges as are flraunge, are euery where
counted precious. He gaue alfo to Poncha certeyne axes to fell trees : which he accepted as a princely gyfte.
Vaschus Nunnez,
gouernor of
Dariena.
The newe south
Ocean.
Commendation of
the Spanyardes.
A valient mynd
can not bee ydle.
A desperate
aduenture
Vaschus his viage
toward the golden
mountaynes.
Careta kynge of
Coiba
Kyng Poncha
89
A hundreth and x.
poundes weyght
of goide.
Strange thinges
are counted
precious.
138
The thyrde Decade.
Lacke of ircn
A stone in the
steede of Iren-
Supcrfiuities
hyiider hbertic.
Carpenters.
Brydges.
The region of
Quarequa.
Kinge Quarequa
is dryuen to
flyght
Hargabu«es.
Crossebowes
vL C [six hundred]
Barbarians are
slaine
Vnnatural lechery.
90
The vse of dogges
in the warre
agenst the naked
Barbarians.
Naturaul hatred
of vnnatural stnne.
Palatini.
I wolde all men
were of this
opinion.
The haruest is
great and the
woorkemen but
fewe.
Warrelykc people.
The hygher the
coulder.
bycaufe they lacke Iren and all other metals except golde : by reafon wherof they are enforced with greate
laboure to cut theyr trees to buylde theyr houfes, and efpecially to make theyr boates holowe withowte inftru-
mentes of Iren, with certeyne Iharpe (lones whiche they fynde in the ryuers. Thus Vqfchus leauynge all
thynges in fafetie behynde hym, marched forwarde with his armye towarde the mountaynes, by the conducte of
certeyne guydes and labourers which Foncha had gyuen hym, as well to leade hym the way, as alfo to cary his
baggages and open the flraightes through the defolate places and craggy rockes full of the dennes of wylde
beaftes. For there is feldoome entercourfe or byinge and fellynge betwene thefe naked people, bycaufe they
Hand in neede of fewe thynges and haue not the vfe of money. But yf at any tyme they exercife any bartering
they doo it but nere hande, exchangynge golde for houfliolde (luffe with theyr confines whiche fumewhat efleeme
the fame for omamente when it is wrought. Other fuperfluities they vtterly contemne, as hynderances of theyr
fweete Ubertie, forafmuch as they are gyuen only to play and Idelnes. And for this caufe, the high \vayes
which lye betwene theyr regions are not much worne with many iomeys. Yet haue theyr fcoutes certeyne
priuie markes whereby they knowe the waye the one to inuade the others dominions, and fpoyle and infefle
them felues on bothe fydes with mutual incurfions priuilie in the nyght feafon. By the helpe therfore of theyr
guydes and labourers, with owre carpenters, he paffed ouer the horrible mountaynes and many greate ryuers
lyinge in the way, ouer the which he made brydges eyther with pyles or trunkes of trees. And here doo I let
paffe manye thynges whiche they fuffered for lacke of neceffaries, beinge alfo in maner ouercome with extreme
laboure, leafle I fliulde bee tedious in reherfmge thynges of fmaule value. But I haue thought it good not to
omitte fuche doinges as he had with the kynges by the waye. Therefore or euer he came to the toppes of the
hygh mountaynes, he entered into a Region cauled Quarequa, and mette with the kynge thereof cauled by the
fame name, with a greate bande of men armed after theyr maner, as with bowes and arrowes, longe and brode
two handed fwordes made of wodde, longe flaues hardened at the endes with fyer, dartes alfo and flynges. He
came proudely and cruelly ageynfl owre men, and fent meffengers to them to byd theym flande and procede
no further: demaundynge whyther they went and what they hadde to doo there. Herewith he came foorth
and fliewed hym felfe beinge appareled with al his nobilitie : but the other were all naked. Then approchinge
towarde owre men, he thretened them with a lions countenance to depart from thenfe except they woolde bee
flayne euery mothers fonne. When owre men denyed that they woolde goo backe, he aflayled them fiercely.
But the battayle was fone fynyffhed. For as foone as they harde the noyfe of the hargabufies, they beleued
that owre menne caryed thunder and lyghtenynge about with them. Many alfo beinge flayne and fore
wounded with quarels of croffebowes, they turned their backes and fledde. Owre men folowynge them in the
chafe, hewed them in piefes as the butchers doo flefflie in the fhamwelles, from one an arme, from an other a
legge, from hym a buttocke, from an other a fliulder, and from fume the necke from the bodye at one
ftroke. Thus, fyxe hundreth of them with theyr kynge, were flayne lyke brute beaftes. Vafchus founde the
houfe of this kynge infected with moft abhominable and vnnaturall lechery. For he founde the kynges brother
and many other younge men in womens apparell, fmoth and effeminately decked, which by the report of fuch
as dwelte abowte hym, he abufed with prepofterous venus. Of thefe abowte the number of fortie, he com-
maunded to bee gyuen for a pray to his dogges. For (as we haue fayd) the Spaniardes vfe [t]he helpe of
dogges in their warres ageynft the naked people whom they inuade as fiercely and rauenyngely as yf they were
wylde boares or hartes. In foo muche that owre Spanyardes haue founde theyr dogges noo leffe faythful to them
in all daungiours and enterpryfes, then dyd the Colophonians or Caftabalenfes which inftituted hole armies of
dogges foo made to ferae in the warres, that beinge accuftomed to place them in the fore froonte of the
battayles, they neuer flirunke or gaue backe. AVhen the people had harde of the feuere punyffhement which
owr men had executed vppon that fylthy kynde of men, they reforted to theim as it had byn to Hercules for
refuge, by violence bryngyng with them al fuch as they knewe to bee infected with that peftilence, fpettynge
in theyr faces and cryinge owte to o\vre men to take reuenge of them and rydde them owte of the worlde from
amonge men as contagious beaftes. This ftinkynge abhomination hadde not yet entered amonge the people,
but was exercifed onely by the noble men and gentelmen. But the people lyftinge vp theyr handes and eyes
toward heauen, gaue tokens that god was greuoufly offended with fuch vyle deedes. Affirmynge this to bee the
caufe of theyr foo many thunderinges, lyghtnynge, and tempeftes wherwith they are foo often troubeled : And
of the ouerflowinge of waters which drowne theyr fets and frutes, whereof famenne and dyuers difeafes infue,
as they fimplye and faythfully beleue, althowgh they knowe none other god then the foonne, whom onely they
honoure, thinkynge that it dooth bothe gyue and take awaye as it is pleafed or offended. Yet are they very
docible, and eafye to bee allured to owre cuftomes and religion, if they had any teachers. In theyr language
there is nothynge vnpleafaunte to the eare or harde to bee pronounced, but that all theyr woordes may bee
wrytten with latin letters as wee fayde of th[e]inhabitantes of Hifpaniola. It is a warlyke nation, and hath byn
euer hetherto moleftous to theyr bortherers. But the region is not fortunate with fratful ground or plentie of
gold. Yet is it full of greate barren mountaynes beinge fumewhat colde by reafon of theyr heyght And
138
The thyrde Decade.
139
therfore the noble men and gentelmen are apparelled. But the common people lyue content onely with the
benefytes of nature. There is a region not part, two dayes ioumey diflant from Quarequa^ in which they founde
only blacke Moores : and thofe excedynge fierce and cruell. They fuppofe that in tyme pafte certeyne blacke
mores fayled thether owt of Aethiopia to robbe : and that by ftiippewracke or fume other chaunce, they were
dryuen to thofe mountaynes. Th[e]inhabitantes of Quarequa lyue in continuall warre and debate with thefe
blacke men. Here Vafclms leauinge in Quarequa many of his fouldiers (which by reafon they were not yet
accuftomed to fuch trauayles and hunger, fell into dyuei;s difeafes) tooke with hym certeyne guydes of the
Quarequatans to conduct hym to the toppes of the mountaynes. From the palaice of kynge Poncha, to the
profpect of the other fouth fea, is only fyxe dayes iomey: the which neuertheleffe by reafon of many hynder-
ances and chaunces, and efpecially for lacke of vytayles, he coulde accomplyfhe in noo leffe then. xxv. dayes.
But at the length, the feuenth daye of the calendes of October, he behelde with woonderinge eyes the toppes
of the hygh mountaynes (hewed vnto hym by the guydes of Quarequa, from the whiche he myght fee the other
fea foo longe looked for, and neuer feene before of any man commynge owte of owre worlde. Approchinge
therefore to the toppes of the mountaynes, he commaunded his armye to (ley, and went him felfe alone to the
toppe, as it were to take the fyr(l po(reffion therof. Where, faulynge prodrate vppon the grounde, and rayfinge
h)rm felfe ageyne vpon his knees as is the maner of the Chriftians to pray, lyftynge vppe his eyes and handes
towarde heauen, and directinge his face towarde the newe founde fouth fea, he poored foorth his humble and
deuout prayers before almyghtie God as a fpirituall facrifice with thankes gyuing, that it had pleafed his diuine
maieftie to referue vnto that day the victorie and praife of fo greate a thynge vnto hym, beinge a man but of
fmaule witte and knowleage, of lyttle experience and bafe parentage. When he had thus made his prayers after
his warlike maner he beckened with his hande to his coompanions to coome to hym, (hewynge them the greate
mayne lea heretofore vnknowen to th[e]inhabitantes of Europe, Aphrike, and Afia. Here ageyne he fell to
his prayers as before : defyringe almyghtie God and the blefled virgin to fauour his beginninges, and to gyue
hym good fucceCTe to fubdue thofe landes to the glorie of his holy name and encreafe of his trewe religion. All
his coompanions dyd lykewyfe, and prayfed god with loude voyces for ioye. Then Vafchus, with no lelTe manlye
corage then Hanniball of Carthage fhewed his fouldiers Italye and the promontories of the Alpes, exhorted his
men to lyft vp their hartes, and to behoulde the lande euen nowe vnder theyr feete, and the fea before theyr
eyes, whiche fhulde bee vnto them a full and iu(l rewarde of theyr great laboures and trauayles nowe ouerpaffed.
When he had fayde thefe woordes, he commaunded them to raife certeine heapes of (lones in the fleede of alters
for a token of poflfeffion. Then defcendynge from the toppes of the mountaynes, leafl. fuch as might come after
hym (hulde argue hym of lyinge or faKhod, he wrote the kynge of Caftelles name here and there on the barkes
of the trees bothe on the ryght hande and on the lefte : and rayfed heapes of (lones all the way that he went,
vntyll he came to the region of the nexte kynge towarde the fouth whofe name was Chiapes. This kynge came
foorthe ageynde hym with a greate multitude of men : threateninge and forbyddynge him not onely to palTe
through his dominions, but alfo to goo no further. Herevppon, Vafchus fet his battayle in array, and exhorted
his men (beinge nowe but fewe) fiercely to affayle theyr enemies, and to edeeme theym noo better then dogges
meate as they fhulde bee (hortly. Placeinge therfore the hargabufiers and maflies in the forefroonte, they faluted
kynge Chiapes and his men with fuch a larome, that when they hard the noyfe of the gunnes, fawe the flames of
fyer, and fmelte the fauour of brymdone (for the wynde blewe towarde them) they droue them felues to flyght
with fuche feare leade thunderboultes and lyghtnynges folowed theim, that manye fell downe to the grounde :
whom owre men purfuinge, fyrd keepinge theyr order, and after breakyng theyr array, flewe but fewe and tooke
many captiue. For they determined to vfe no extremitie, but to pacific thofe Regions as quietlye as they myght.
Enteringe therfore into the palaice of kynge Chiapes, Vafchus commaunded many of the captiues to bee loofed :
wyllynge them to fearch owte theyr kynge, and to exhorte hym to coome thyther : And that in foo doinge, he
woolde bee his frende and profer hym peace, befyde many other benefites. But if he refufed to coome, it (hulde
turne to the dedruction of hym and his, and vtter fubuerfion of his contrey. And that they myght the more
a(ruredly do this meffage to Chiapes he fent with them certe)me of the guydes whiche came with hym from
Quarequa.
Thus Chiapes beinge perfuaded afwel by the Quareqans who coulde coniecture to what ende the matter
woolde coome by th[e]experience whiche they had feene in them felues and theyr kynge, as alfo by the reafons
of his owne men to whome Vafchus hadde made foo frendely promyfes in his behalfe, came foorthe of the caues
in the whiche he lurked, and fubmytted hym felfe to Vafchus, who accepted hym frendelye. They ioyned
lundes, embrafed the one the other, made a perpetuall league of frendelhippe, and gaue greate rewardes on bothe
fydes. Chiapes gaue Vafchus foure hundreth poundes weyght of wrought goulde of thofe poundes whiche they
caule Pefos: And Vafchus recompenfed hym ageyne with certeyne of owre thynges. Thus beinge made
freendes, they remayned togyther a fewe dayes vntyll Vafchus fouldiers were coome which he lefte behynde hym
in Quarequa. Then caulinge vnto h3Tn the guydes and labourers which came with hym from thenfe he
A region of black
moores
Diseases of change
of ayer and dyet.
The south sea.
Vaschus IS coome
to the syght of the
newe south sea.
Prayer.
God myseth the
poore from the
dungehyl
91
Hanniball of
Carthage.
Vaschits taketh
possession of the
mountaynes
Kynge Chiapes.
A battayle.
Chiapes is dr>-uen
to flyght.
Vaschus sendeth
for king Chiapes.
Chiapes
submitteth
hymselfe to
Vaschus.
iiii. C [four
hundred] pounds
weyght of wrought
gold
I
I40
The thyrde Decade.
Vaschus addicteth
the newe land
and sea, to the
dominion of
Castile.
Kynge Coquera
is dryuen to flyght.
Vaschus vseth
both gentelnes
and ngour.
92
vi. C. [six
hundred] and
I. [fifty] poundes
weygnt of wrought
gold
A goulfe of
threescore myles.
Saynt Michaels
goulfe
rewarded them liberallye and difmiffed tlieym with thankes. Shortly after, by the conduct of Chiapes hym felfe,
and certeyne of his men, departinge from the toppes of the mountaynes, he came in the fpace of foure dayes to
the bankes of the newe fea : where affemblynge al his men togyther with the kynges fcribes and notaries, they
addicted al that maine fea with all the landes adiacent there vnto to the dominion and Empire of Caflile. Here
he left part of his fouldiers with Chiapes that he myght th[e]efelier fearche thofe coades. And takyng with hym
nyne of theyr lyghters made of one hole tree (which they caule Cukhas as th[e]inhabitantes of Jlifpaniola caul
them Canoas) and alfo a bande of fourefcore men with certeine of Chiapes men, he pafled ouer a greate ryuer and
came to the region of a certeyne kynge whofe name was Coquera. He attempted to refyfle owre men as dyd
the other, and with lyke fucceffe : for he was ouercoome and put to flyght. But Vafchus who entended to
Wynne hym with gentelnes, fente certeyne Chiapeans to him to declare the greate poure of owre menne : howe
inuincible they were : howe mercifull to fuch as fubmit them felues, alfo cniell and feuere to fuch as obflinatly
withftande them. Promyfmge hym furthermore, that by the frendfhippe of owre men, he myght bee well affured
by th[e]exemple of other, not onely to lyue in peace and quietness hym felfe, but alfo to bee reuenged of
th[e]iniuries of his enemies. Wylling hym in conclufion foo to weigh the matter, that if he refufed this gentelnes
profered vnto hym by foo greate a victourer, he fhulde or it were longe, leme by feelynge to repent him to late
of that perel which he myght haue auoyded by hearing. Coquera with thefe woordes and exemples, fhaken
with great feare, came gladly with the meffengers, bryngyng with him fyxe hundreth and. 1. [fifty] Pefos of wrought
gold, which he gaue vnto owre men. Vafchus rewarded hym lykewife as we fayd before oiPoncha. Coquera beinge
thus pacified, they returned to the palaice of Chiapes. Where, vifitinge theyr companions, and reflynge there a
whyle, Vafchus determyned to fearch the nexte greate goulfe, the which, from the furthefl reachynge therof into
the lande of theyr countreys, from the enteraunce of the mayne fea, they faye to bee threefcore myles. This
they named faynt Michaels goulfe, which they fay to bee full of inhabited Ilandes and hugious rockes. Enteringe
therefore into the nyne boates or Cukhas wherwith he pafled ouer the ryuer before, hauinge alfo with hym the
fame coompanye of fourefcore hole men, he wente forwarde on his purpofe, although he were greatly difluaded
by Chiapes, who emellly defyred hym not to attempt that vyage at that tyme, affirming the goulfe to be foo
tempeflious and flormy three moonethes in the yeare, that the fea was there by noo meanes nauigable : And
that he had feene many Cukhas deuoured of whirlepoles euen beefore his eyes. But inuincible Vafchus,
impaciente of idlenes, and voyde of all feare in goddes caufe, aunfwered that god and his holy fayntes
woolde profper his enterpryfes in this cafe, forafmuche as the matter touched God and the defence of the
Chriflian religion, for the maynetenaunce wherof it fhulde bee neceflarie to haue great abundance of ryches and
treafure as the fynewes of war ageynfte the enemies of the faythe. Thus vfinge alfo th[e]office both of an
oratoure and preacher, and hauinge perfuaded his coompanyons, he lanched from the lande. But Chiapes, leafl
Vafchus fhulde any thynge doubt of his faythfulnes towarde hym, profered himfelfe to goo with hym whither foo
euer he went : And wolde by noo meanes aflent that Vafchus fliulde depart from his palaice, but that he woolde
brynge hym on the waye and take part of his fortune. Therfore as foone as they were nowe entered into the
maine fea, fuch fourges and conflictes of water arofe ageynll them that they were at theyr wyttes endes whither
to turne them or where to refte. Thus beinge tofied and amafed with feare, the one loked on the other with
pale and vncherefull couiitenaunces. But efpecially Chiapes and his coompany, who had before tyme with theyr
eyes feene th[e]experience of thofe ieoperdies, were greatly difcomforted. Yet (as god woolde) they efcaped all,
and landed at the nexte Ilande : Where makynge fafle theyr boates, they refled there that nyght. Here tJie
water foo encreafed, that it almofl ouerflowed the Hand. They fay alfo that that fouth fea doth foo in maner
boyle and fwelle, that when it is at the hygheft it doth couer many greate rockes, which at the faule therof, are
feene farre aboue the water. But on the contrary parte, all fuche as inhabite the North fea, affirme with one
voyce, that hit fcarfely rifeth at any tyme a cubet aboue the bankes as they alfo confeffe which inhabite the
Ilande of Hifpaniola and other Ilandes fituate in the fame. The Ilande therfore beinge nowe drye by the faule
of the water, they reforted to theyr boates which they founde all ouenvhelmed and full of fande, and fume fore
brufed, with great ryftes, and almofl lofl by reafon theyr cables were broken. Such as were brufed, they tyed
fafl. with theyr gyrdels, with flippes of the barkes of trees, and with tough and longe llalkes of certein herbes of
the fea. Hopping the ryftes or chynkes with grafle accordynge to the prefente neceflitie. Thus were they enforced
to retume backe ageyne lyke vnto men that came frome ftiippewracke, beinge almofl confumed with hunger,
bycaufe theyr vytayles were vtterly deflroyed by tempefle. Th[e]inhabitantes declared that there is harde all
the yeare horrible rorynge of the fea amonge thofe Ilandes as often as it ryfethe or fauleth. But this mofl
efpecially in thofe three monethes in the which it is mofle boyfl.[r]ious as Chiapes towlde Vafchus before:
Meanynge (as they coulde coniecture by his woordes) October, Nouember, and December : for he fignified the
prefent moone and the twoo moones folowynge, countynge the moonethes by the moones, whereas it was nowe
October. Here therefore refreffhynge hym felfe and his fouldiers a whyle, and paflynge by one vnprofitable
kynge, he came to an other whofe name was Twnaccus, after the name of the region, beinge fituate on that fyde
The manly corage
and godly zeale
of Vaschus
Ryches are the
synewes of warre
The faythfulnes of
kynge Chiapes.
A tempest on the
sea.
The increasing of
the South sea.
The Northe
Ocean.
Hard shyft in
necessitic.
The Region
T'umacca.
93
The thyrde Decade.
141
of the goulfe. This Tumacms came foorth ageynfte owre men as dyd the other, and with lyke fortune. For
he was ouercoome, dryuen to flyght, and many of his men flayne. He hym felfe was alfo fore wounded, but
yet efcaped. Vafchus fent certeyne meffengers of the Chiapeans to hym to retume, and not to bee afrayde.
But he could be nothyng moued nether by promyffes nor threateninges. Yet when the meffengers were inflant,
and ceaffed not to threaten death to him and his famely, with the vtter defolation of his kyngedome if he
perfifled in that obflinacie, at the length, he fent his foonne with them : whom Vafchus honorably enterteyninge,
apparelinge hym gorgioufly and gyuing hym many gyftes, fent hym to his father, wyllynge hym to perfuade
hym of the puiflaunce, munificence, liberalitie, humanitie, and clemencie of owre men. Tuviaccus beinge
mooued by this gentelnes declared toward his fonne, came with him the thyrde day, brjTigynge nothynge with
hym at that tyme. But after that he knewe that o^^tc men defyred goulde and pearles, he fent for fyxe
hundreth and. xiiii. Pefos of golde, and two hundreth and fortie of the biggefl and fayrefl. perles befyde a great
number of the fmauleft forte. Owre men marueyled at the byggenes and fayrenes of thefe perles although they
were not perfectely whyte bycaufe they take theym not owte of the fea mufculs excepte they f3T:fl rod them,
that they may th[e]efelyer open them felfe, and alfo that the fyffhe maye haue the better tafle, whiche they
efleeme for a delicate and princely dyffhe, and fet more thereby then by the perles them felues. Of thefe
thynges I was enformed of one Arbolantius beinge one of Vafchtcs coompanions whom he fent to the kyng
with manye perles and certeyne of thofe fea mufculs. But when Tumaccus fawe that owre men foo greatly
regarded the bewtie of the perles, he commaunded certeyne of his men to prepare them felues to goo a
fyffhynge for perles. Who departinge, came ageyne within foure dayes, bringynge with them twelue pounde
weight of orient perles after eight ounces to the pounde. Thus reioyfinge on bothe parties, they embrafed and
made a league of continuall frendefhippe. Tumaccus thought him felfe happie that he had prefented owre men
with fuch thankeful gyftes and was admitted to theyr frendfhippe : and owre men thinkynge them felues happie
and bleffed that they had founde fuche tokens of great ryches, fwalowed downe theyr fpettle for thyrile. At
all thefe doinges, kynge Chiapes was prefent as a wytnes and coompanion. He alfo reioyfed not a lyttle, afwell
that by his conductinge he fawe that owre men (hulde be fatiffied of theyr defyre, as alfo that by this meanes
he had declared to the next kynge his bortherer and enemie, what frendes he had of owre men, by whofe ayde
he myght lyue in quyetnes and bee reuenged of his aduerfarie if neede (hulde foo requyre. For (as wee haue
fayde) thefe naked kynges infefle theim felues with greuous warres onely for ambition and defyre to rule.
Vafchus bofleth in his epiflell, that he lemed certeyne maruelous fecreates of Tumaccus hym felfe as concemynge
the greate ryches of this lande : wherof (as he fayth) he woold vtter nothyng at this prefente, for afmuche as
Tumaccus toulde it him in his eare. But he was enformed of bothe the kynges, that there is an Ilande in that
goulfe, greater then any of the other, hauing in it but onely one kynge, and hym of foo great poure, that at
fuche tymes of the yeare as the fea is caulme, he inuadethe theyr dominions with a greate nauie of Culchas,
fpoyling and caryinge a way for a praye, all that he meeteth. This Iland is diftant from thefe coaft.es, onely
tsventie myles : Soo that the promontories or poyntes therof rechyng into the fea, may bee feene from the hylles
of this Continent. In the fea nere about this Ilande, fea mufculs are engendred of fuch quantitie, that many
of them are as brode as buckelers. In thefe are perles founde (beinge the hartes of thofe (hell fyffhes) often
tymes as bygge as beanes, fumtymes bygger then olyues and fuch as fumptuous Cleopatra myght haue defyred.
Althoughe this Ilande bee foo nere to the fhore of this firme lande, yet is the begynnyng therof in the mayne
fea without the mouth of the goulfe. Vafchus beinge ioyfull and mery with this rych communication, fantafinge
nowe in maner nothing but princes treafures, beganne to fpeake fierce and cruell woordes ageynft. the tyranne
of that Ilande, meanyng hereby too woonne the myndes of the other kynges, and bynde them to hym with a
nearer bonde of frende(hip. Yet therfore raylynge further on hym with fpytefull and opprobrious woordes, he
fwore great othes that he woolde furthwith inuade the Ilande, fpoylynge, dedroyinge, bumynge, drownynge,
and hangynge, fparinge neyther fwoorde nor fyre, vntyll he hadde reuenged theyr iniuries: And therwith
commaunded his Culchas to bee in a redynes. But the twoo kynges Chiapes and Tumaccus, exhorted hym
frendly to deferre this enterprife vntyll a more quiete feafon, bycaufe that fea was not nauigable withowte
greate daunger, beinge nowe the begynnynge of Nouember. Wherin the kynges feemed to faye trewe. For
as Vafchtcs hym felfe wryteth, great roryng of the fea was harde amonge the Ilandes of the goulfe by reafon of
the raginge and conflicte of the water. Great ryuers alfo defcending from the toppes of the mountaynes the
fame time of the yeare, and ouerflowyng theyr bankes, dryuyng downe with theyr vyolence greate rockes and
trees, make a marueylous noyfe. Lykewife the furie of the South and Northeaft wyndes, atfociate with thunder
and lyghtnynge at the fame feafon, dyd greatly molefte them. Whyle the wether was fayre they were vexed
in the night with could : and in the day time, the heate of the fonne troubled them : wherof it is noo maruaile,
forafmuche as they were neare vnto the Equinoctiall lyne, although they make noo mention of the eleuation of
the pole. For in fuch regions, in the nyght, the mone and other coulde pianettes : but in the daye, the foone
and other hotte pianettes, doo chiefely exercife theyr influence : Althowghe the antiquitie were of an other
Kynge Tumaccus
is driuen to flyght
Golde and perles.
Musculsof thesea.
Fysshyng for
perles.
xii pounde weyght
of perles.
The thyrst of
golde.
Ambition amonge
naked men.
This Ilande is
cauled Margaritea
Diues, or Ditcs.
A kynge of greate
poure.
Bigge perles.
Cleopatra, queene
of Egypt resolued
a pearle in vineger
and drunke it,
price. V. thousande
pounde of owr
mony.
The fiercenes of
Vaschus.
94
Great ryuers
faulyng from
mountaynes.
Thunder and
lyghtnynge in
Nouember.
CoMcin thenyghl
nere the
Equinoctial.
142
The thyrde Decade.
Habitable regions
vnder the
Equinoctiall lyne.
The natiuitations
[? nauigations] of
the Portingales
towarde the southe
pole.
Antipodes.
He raeaneth S.
Augustine and
I.ac tan tins.
The starres aboute
the southe pole.
Lac tea via.
A simylitude
declarynge
Antipodes,
The maner of
fysshynge for
perles.
Thre kindes of
perles.
95
Dyuers questions
as concemynge
perles
Petrus arias
Wanton and
superfluous
pleasures.
Cleopatra.
Asopus.
opinion, fuppofinge the Equinoctiall circle to bee vnhabitable and defolate by reafon of the heate of the foonne
hauinge his courfe perpendiculerly or directly ouer the fame : except a fewe of the contrary opinion, whofe
affertions the Portugales haue at thefe dayes by experience proued to bee trewe. For they faile yearely to
th[e]inhabitantes of the fouth pole, being in maner Antipodes to the people cauled Hyperborei vnder the North
pole, and exercife marchaundies with them. And here haue I named Antipodes, forafmuch as I am not
ignorant that there hath byn men of Angular witte and great lernyng, which haue denyed that there is Antipodes:
that is, fuch as walke feete to feete. But it is mod certeyne, that it is not gyuen to anye one man to knowe all
thynges. For euen they alfo were men; whofe propertie is to erre and bee deceaued in many thynges.
Neuertheleffe, the Portugales of owre tyme haue fayled to the fyue and fyftie degree of the fouth pole : Where,
coompafinge abowte the poynt thereof, they myght fee throughowte al the heauen about the fame, certeyne
fhynynge whyte cloudes here and there amonge the flarres, lyke vnto theym whiche are feene in the tracte of
heauen cauled Ladea via, that is, the mylke whyte waye. They fay, there is noo notable flarre neare about
that pole lyke vnto this of owres which the common people thynke to bee the pole it felfe (cauled of the
Italians Tramontana, and of the Spanyardes Nortes) but that the fame fauleth benethe the Ocean. When the
fonne defcendeth from the myddefle of the exiltree of the woorlde frome vs, it ryfethe to them, as a payre of
balances whofe weyght inclynynge from the equall poyfe in the myddeft towarde eyther of the fydes, caufeth
the one ende to ryfe as much as the other fauleth. When therefore it is autumne with vs, it is fprynge tyme
with them : And fumnier with vs when it is wynter with them. But it fuffifeth to haue fayde thus much of
flrange matters. Let vs now therfore retume to the hiflorie and to owre men.
C The seconde booke of the thyrde Decade.
Afchus by th[e]aduice of kynge Chiapes and Tumacciis, determyned to deferre his vyage to the
fayde Ilande vntyll the nexte fprynge or fummer, at which tyme Chiapes offered hym felfe to
accoompany owre men and ayde them therin all that he myght. In this meane tyme Vafchns
had knowleage that thefe kynges had nettes and fyffhynge places in certeyne llations of that
fea nere vnto the fliore, where they were accuftomed to fyfhe for fea mufculs in the which
perles are engendred: And that for this purpofe they had certeyne dyuers or fyflhers
exercifed frome theyr youthe in fwymmynge vnder the water. But they doo this onely at
certeyne tymes when the fea is calme, that they may th[e]efelyer coome to the place where thefe (hell fylhes
are woonte to lye. For the bygger that they are, foo much ly they the deaper and nerer to the bottome. But
the leffer, as it were dowghters to the other, are nerer the bryme of the water. Lykewyfe the leafte of all, as it
were their niefes, are yet nearer to the fuperficiall parte therof Too them of the byggelle forte whiche lye
lowefte, the fyfihers defcende the depthe of three mens heyght, and fumtyme foure. But to the doughters or niefes
as their fucceffion, they defcend onelye to the mydde thygh. Sumtymes alfo, after that the fea hathe byn
difquyeted with vehemente tempefl.es, they fynde a greate multytude of thefe fyffhes on the fandes, beyng dryuen
to the fhore by the vyolence of the water. The perles of thefe whiche are founde on the fande, are but lytle.
The fiflhe it felfe, is more pleafaunte in eatynge then are owre oyflers as owre men report. But perhappes
hunger the fweete faufe of all meates, caufed owre men foo too thynke. Whether perles bee the hartes of fea
mufculs (as Arifl.otell fuppofed) or the byrthe or fpaune of there intrals (as Plinye thought) Or whether they
cleaue contynually to the rockes, or wander by coompanies in the fea by the guydinge of th[e]eldefle : Whether
euerye fyffhe brynge foorthe one perle or more, at one byrthe or at dyuers : Alfo whether theye bee fyled frome
the rockes wherunto theye cleaue, or maye bee eafylye pulled awaye, or otherwyfe faule of by them felues when
theye are coomme to there full grouth : Lykewyfe whether perles bee harde within the (helle or fofte, owre men
haue as yet noo certayne experyence. But I trufl.e or it bee longe, too knowe the truth hereof For owre men
are euen nowe in hande with the matter. Alfo, as foone as I fhall bee aduertyfed of the arryuall oi Petrus Arias
the capytayne of owre men, I wyll defyre hym by my letters to make diligent fearche for thefe thynges, and
certifye me therof in all poyntes. I knowe that he wyll not bee flacke or omytte any thynge herein. For he is
my verye frende : and one that taketh greate pleafure in confyderynge the woorkes of nature. And furelye it
feemeth vnto me vndecente, that wee flioulde with, fylence ouerflyppe fo greate a thynge whiche afwell in the
owlde tyme as in owre dayes, hathe, and yet doothe, drawe bothe men and women to emmoderate defyre of
fuperfluous pleafure. Spayne therefore fhalbe able hereafter with perles to fatiffie the gredye appetite of fuche
as in wanton pleafures are lyke vnto Cleopatra and Afopus So that frome henfforth we (hal neyther enuye nor
The thyrde Decade.
143
reuerence the nyfe frutefulnes of Stoidum, or Taprobana, or the redde fea. But lette vs nowe retume to owre
purpofe. Vqfchus therfore determined with the fyfihers of Chiapes to proue what myght bee doone in his fyfhe
pooles or flations of fea mufcules. Chiapes to (hewe hym felfe obediente to Vajchus his requefte, although the
fea were boyfl[r]yous, coommaunded thirtye of his fyfrtiers to prepare them felfes and to reforte to the fyffhinge
places. Vqfchus fente onelye fyxe of his men with them to beeholde them frome the fea bankes, but not to
coommitte them felues to the daunger of the fea. The fyffhynge place was diftante frome the palayce of Chiapes
aboute tenne myles. They durfle not aduenture to dyue to the bottome by reafon of the furye of the fea. Yet
of the mufcules whiche lye hyghefl, and of fuche as were dryuen to the fhore by the vyolence of the water, theye
broughte fyxe greate farthels in the fpace of a fewe dayes. The perles of thefe were but lyttle, aboute the bygnes
of fmaule fytches: yet verye fayre and bewtyfuU, by reafon theye were taken newely owte of the fyfflie, beinge
yet rawe. And that they (hulde not bee reproued of lyinge as concerninge the bignes of thefe fea mufculs, they
fente many of them into Spayne to the kynge with the perles, the fyffhe beynge taken owte. Wee thinke verily
that there maye in noo place bygger bee founde. Thefe (helle fyfflies therfore beynge thus founde here in foo
manye places in that fea, and gold in maner in euery houfe, doo argue the ryche treafurye of nature too bee hyd
in thofe coaftes, forafmuche as fuche greate ryches haue byn founde as it were in the lytle fynger of a giantes
hande. What then maye wee thynke of the hole hande of the gyante (for hetherto theye haue onely bynne in
hande with the confynes of Vrabd) when theye (hall haue thorowly fearched all the coafles and fecreates of the
inner partes of all that large lande. But Vafchus contented with thefe fygnes and ioyfull of his good fucceffe in
thefe enterprifes, determined by an other waye to returne to his felowes in Dariena, where alfo, they haue golde
mynes aboute tenne myles from the village. He gaue therfore kyng Chiapes leaue to depart, and to folowe
hym noo further: Confailyng hym to continue faythfull to the chriflian kynge his lorde and maiden Thus
embrafmge the one the other, and ioyninge handes, Chiapes departed, with teares declaring the good mynde
which he bore to owre men. Vafchus leauing his ficke men with Chiapes, went forward on his ioumey with the
refydue, hauinge alfo with him for guydes three of Chiapes maryners. He conueyghed his armye ouer a greate
ryuer into the dominion of a certeine kynge cauled Teaocha : who beinge aduertifed of the coommyng of owre
men, of whofe famous actes he had harde muche before, was verye gladde therof and enterteyned them
honorably : So that for a token of his frendely affection towarde them, he gaue Vafchtis twentie poundes weyght
of wrought golde after eyght ounces to the pounde : Alfo twoo hundreth bigge perles : but not fayre, by reafon
they were taken owt of the mufculs after they had byn fodden. After they had ioyned handes, Vafchus
recompenfed hym with certeyne of owre thynges. Lykewife rewardynge his guydes the feruantes of Chiapes, he
difmiffed them with commendations to theyr lord. Kyng Teaocha at the departure of owr men from his palaice,
dyd not onely appoint them guydes to conduct them in the way, but alfo gaue them certeyne flaues in the
(leede of beaftes to cary theyr vytayles, bycaufe they fhulde paife throwgh many defertes, baren and rowgh
mountaynes and terrible wooddes full of tygers and Lions. He fent alfo one of his fonnes with thefe flaues,
ladynge them with failed and dryed fyfhe, and breade of thofe regions, made of the rootes of Maizium and Iticca.
He alfo commaunded his fonne not to depart from owr men vntyl he were licenced by Vafchus. By theyr
conductinge therfore, Vafchus came to the dominion of an other kyng whofe name was Pacra, a cruell tyranne,
fearefuU to the other kynges his bortherers, and of greater poure then any of them. This tyran, whether it
were that his giltie confcience for his mifcheuous actes, put him in feare that owre menne woolde reuenge the
fame, or that he thought hym felfe inferior to refift. them, fled at theyr commynge. Vafchus wryteth that in thefe
regions in the mooneth of Nouember he was fore afflicted with greate heate and intoUerable thirfl, by reafon
that fyde of the mountaynes hath lyttle water : In foo muche that they were in daunger to haue periflhed but
that certeyne of th[e]inhabitants fhewed them of a fprynge which was in the fecreate place of a woodde, whither
Vafchus with all fpeade fent twoo quycke and ftronge younge men of his coompanions with theyr gourdes and
fuche water veffelles as Teaocha his men browghte with them. Of th[e]inhabitantes, there durfl. none depart
from there coompany bycaufe the wylde beafles doo foone inuade naked men. For in thofe mountaynes, and
efpecially in the wooddes neare vnto the fpringe, they faye that they are fumtymes taken owte of there houfes in
the nyght, excepte they take good heede that the doores bee well fparde. It fhall not bee frome my purpofe
here to declare a particular chaunce before I enter any further in this matter. Theye faye therfore that the
lafle yeare the regyon of Dariena was noo leffe infefled and trowbeled with a fierfe tyger, then was Calidonia in
tyme pafle with a wylde bore, and Nemea with a horrible lyon. For they affyrme that for the fpace of fyxe hole
moonethes there pafled not one nyghte withowte fumme hurte doone : foo that it kylled nyghtlye eyther a
buUocke, a mare, a dogge, or a hogge, fumtimes euen in the highe wayes of the village. For owre men haue
nowe greate heardes of cattayle in thofe regions. They fay alfo that when this tyger had whelpes, noo man
myght fafelye goo furthe of his doores, bycaufe fhee fpared not men if fhee mette fyrfle with them. But at the
lengeth, necefTitye enforced them to inuente a policye howe they myght bee reuenged of fuche bludflied.
Searchynge therfore dilygently her footefleppes, and folowynge the pathe wherbye fhee was accuflomed in the
Stoidum.
Taprobana.
The fysshing place
of king Chiapes.
Golde in maner in
euery house.
The ryche
treasurye of
nature.
The golde mynes
of Dariena.
96
Kynge Teaocha
enterteyneth
Vaschus frendelye.
Twentye pounde
weightofwroughte
golde.
Desertes full of
wylde beastes.
Dryed fysshe
Kynge Pacra
a tyranne.
Create heate in
the monethe of
Nouember.
Hurte by wylde
beastes.
A tyger.
Calydonia is 3
foreste in
Scotlande.
Nemea is a wodde
in Greece.
Tigers whelpes.
Tliusthe Egiptians
take Crocodiles.
144
The thyrde Decade.
The dogge tyger
taken.
The roo'nge of
the tyger.
Tigers flesh eaten.
97
The bitche tyger.
Tigers wbelpes.
A straunge thynge.
Kynge Pacra
Naturall hatred
of vyce.
Foure kinges
deuoured of
dogges.
The vse of dogges
in warre ageinst
naked men.
The Canybalesarc
experte archers.
Swoordes of
wooddc.
Fiftie pounde
weyght of golde.
98
nyght feafon to wander owte of her denne to feeke her praye, theye made a greate trenfhe or pytte in her walke,
coueringe the fame with hurdels whervppon they cafle parte of the earthe and difperfed the refydue. The
dogge tyger chaunfed fyrfle into this pitfaul, and fel vppon the poyntes of iharpe flakes and fuche other ingens
as were of purpofe fyxed in the bottome of the trenfhe. Beynge thus wounded, he rored foo terrybly, that it
grated the bowels of fuche as harde hym, and the wooddes and montaynes neare aboute, rebounded the noyfe
of the horryble crye. When they perceaued that he was layde fafte, they reforted to the trenfhe and flewe hym
with flones, dartes, and pykes. With his teethe and clawes, he broke the dartes into a thoufande chyppes-
Beynge yet deade, he was fearefuU to all fuche as behelde hym : what then thinke you he woolde haue doone
beynge alyue and loofe. One lohatines Ledifma of Ciuile, a nere frynde to Vafchus and one of his coompanyons
of his trauayles, toulde me that he hym felfe dyd eate of the flefhe of that tiger: and that it was nothinge inferyor
to biefe in goodnes. Beynge demaunded howe they knewe hit to bee a tyger forafmuche as none of them had euer
feene a tyger, they anfwered that they knewe hit by the fpottes, fiercenes, agilitye, and fuche other markes and
token wherby the anciente writers haue defcribed the tiger. For fum of them, had before tyme feene other
fpotted wilde beaftes, as lybardes and panthers. The dogge tiger beynge thus kylled, theye foloivynge the
trafe of his fleppes towarde the mountaines, came to the denne where the bytche remayned with her twoo
younge fuckynge whelpes. But (hee was not in the denne at there coommynge. Theye fyrfle caryed awaye
the whelpes with them. But afterwarde fearynge leafle they fhulde dye bycaufe theye were very younge,
entendynge when they were bygger to fende them into Spayne, they put cheynes of yren aboute there neckes,
and caryed them agayne to there denne : whither retumynge within a fewe dayes after, they founde the denne
emptye and the cheynes not remoued frome there place. Theye fuppofe that the damme in her furye tore
them in pyeces and caryed them awaye, lefle anye fhulde haue the fruition of them. For theye playnely
affirme that it was not poffible that they fhulde bee loofed frome the chaynes alyue. The fkynne of the deade
tyger fluffed with drye herbes and flrawe, they fente to Hifpaniola to the admyrall and other of the chiefe
rulers frome whome the newe landes receyue there lawes and fuccoure. It fhall at this tyme fuffyce to haue
written thus much of the tygers, as I haue lemed by the reporte of them whiche bothe fufleyned domage by
there rauenynge, and alfo handeled the fkynne of that whiche was flayne. Let vs nowe therfore retume to
kynge Pacra frome whome wee haue digreffed. When Vafchus had entred into the houfes forfaken of Pacra,
he fente meffengiers to reconcyle hym as he had doone the other kinges. At the firfl he refufed to coomme.
But after threatenynges, he came with three other kynges in his coompanye. Vafchus writethe that he neuer
fawe a more monflrous and deformed creature : And that nature hath onely gyuen hym humane fhape, and
otherwyfe to bee worfe then a brute beafle, with maners accordynge to the linyamentes of his bodye. He
abufed with mofle abhominable lechery the doughters of foure kynges his bortherers frome whome hee had
taken them by vyolence. Of tlie fylthye behauoure of Pacra, of his crueltye and iniuryes doone by hym, many
of the other kynges made greuous coomplayntes to Vafchus as vnto a hygh ludge and iufle reuenger : Mofle
humblye befechyng hym to fee fuche thynges punyfflied, forafmuche as theye tooke hym for a man fente of god
for that purpofe. Herevppon Vafchus afwell to wynne their good wylles, as alfo too fhewe an exemple of
terroure to fuche as vfed lyke faffhions, coommaunded that this monflrous beafle with the other three kynges
whiche were fubiecte to hym and of lyke conditions, fhulde bee geuen for a praye to his feyghtinge dogges, and
their tome carkefes to bee burned. Of thefe dogges whiche theye vfe in the warres, theye tell maruelous thynges.
For theye faye that theye runne vppon th[e]inhabitantes armed after there maner, with noo leffe fiercenes then
if theye were hartes or wylde bores, if the Spaniardes doo but onely poynte towarde them with their fyngers :
In foo muche that oftentymes they haue had no neede too dryue their enemyes too flyght with fwoordes or
arrowes : But haue doone the fame onely with dogges placed in the forefronte of their battayle, and lettynge
them flyppe with their watche woorde and priuye token. Wheruppon the barbaryans flryken with feare by
reafon of the cruell countenaunces of the maflies, with their defperate bouldenes and vnaccuflomed houlynge
and barkynge, haue difparcled at the fyrfle onfette and broke their arraye. Yet it chaunfeth otherwyfe when
theye haue anye confhcte agaynfl the Canibales and the people of Caramairi. For thefe are fyerfer, and more
warrelyke men; Alfo fo experte arche[r]s, that theye can mofle certenlye dyrect their venemous arrowes againfl
the dogges with fuche celeritye as if theye were thunderboltes : By reafon wherof, they fumtymes kyl many of them.
Th[e]inhabytantes of thefe montaynes, doo not keepe warre with bowes and arrowes : But vfe onelye Machanis,
that is certayne longe and broude fwordes made of woodde : Alfo flynges, longe pykes and dartes hardened at the
endes with fyere. AVhyle kynge Pacra yet lyued, noo man coulde knowe of hym neyther by fayre meanes nor
by foule, where he had the golde whiche was founde in his houfe. For owre men founde in his iewel houfe fyftye
poundes weyght of golde. Beynge therfore demaunded where he had it, he anfwered that they whiche gathered
the fame in thofe montaynes in his fathers dayes, were all deade : And that fenfe he was a chylde, he neuer
efleemed golde more then floones. More then this, theye coulde not gette of hym. By this feuere punyihment
executed vppon Pacra, Vafchus concyled vnto hym the myndes of all the other kynges of that prouynce. And
»44
The thyrde Decade.
145
by this meanes it came too paffe, that when he fente for the fycke men whiche he lefte behynde hym with kynge
Chiapes, an other kynge whiche was in the mydde waye (whofe name was Bononiatnd) enterteyned them
gentellye, and gaue them. xx. pounde weyght of pure wrought golde, befyde great plentye of vyttayles. And
not this onely, but alfo accoompanyed them hym felfe vntyll he had brought them fafely frome his palaice into
the domynyon oiPacra: Where takyngc echc of them by the ryghte handes, he delyuered them to Vafchus hym
felfe, as a faythefull pledge commytted too his charge, and therewith fpake to Vafchus in this effecte. Moofle
myghtye and valyaunte vyctourer, beholde I here delyuer vnto yowe, yowre coompanions in fuche plight as I
receaued them : wiffliynge that I had byn afwell able to gyue them healthe, as they were hertely welcoome to
fuche pore enterteynement as I was able to fhewe them. For the fauoure and gentelneffe whiche I haue founde
bothe in yowe and them, he fhall rewarde yowe whiche fendeth thunderynge and lyglitelyng to the deflruction
of myfcheuous men, and of his clemencye giueth vnto good men plentie of lucca and Maizium in dewe feafon.
As he fpake thefe woordes, he lyfted vppe his handes and eyes towarde the foonne whome they honoure for god.
Then he fpake further to Vafchus, fayinge : In that yowe haue deftroyed and flaine owre vyolent and proude
enemies, yowe haue browght peace and quyetneffe to vs and owre famelyes, and bounde vs for euer to loue and
obeye yowe. Yowe haue foo ouercoome and tamed wylde monflers, that wee thynke yowe to bee fente from
heauen for the punyfliement of euyll men and defence of innocentes, that vnder the protection of yowre myghtye
fwoorde, wee maye hereafter leade owre lyues withowte feare, and with more quietneffe gyue thankes to the
giuer of all good thinges for his mercie fhewed vnto vs in this behalfe. When th[e]interpretoure had toulde
Vafchus that kyng Bononiama had fayde thefe woordes, and fuche lyke, Vafchus rendered hym lyke thankes for
his humanitye declared towarde owre men, and rewarded hym as he had doone other in whome he founde lyke
gentilneffe. Vafchus wryteth that he lerned manye thynges of this kynge as concemynge the greate rycheffe of
thefe regions : But that he woolde at this prefent fpeake nothynge therof : And reherfethe the fame as thynges
lyke to haue good fucceffe. What this implicate Hiperbole, or aduauncement meaneth, I doo not well
vnderftande. But he playnely feemeth hereby to promyffe many greate thynges. And furely it is to be thought
that accordynge to his hope, great riches maye bee looked for. For they came in maner into none of
th[e]inhabytauntes houfes, but that they found in them, eyther brefteplates or curettes of golde, or elles golden
ouches, iewels, or garlandes to weare aboute there heades, neckes, or armes. I coniecture therfore thus by a
fymilitude of owre houfes : If amonge vs any man of great poure were moued with the defyre to haue great plentye
of Iron, and woolde enter into Italye with a mayne force as dyd the Gothes in tjone pafle, what abundaunce of
Iron fhoulde he haue in their houfes : where as he (hulde fynde in one place a friyngpan, in an other a chauldron,
here a tryuet, and there a fpytte, and thefe in maner in euery pore mannes houfe, with fuche other innumerable :
Whereby any man maye coniecture that Iren is plentifully engendred in fuche regions where they haue foo
greate vfe therof. Owre men alfo perceaued that th[e]inhabytantes of thefe regions do no more efleeme golde
then we do Iren : nor yet foo muche after they fawe to what vfe Iren ferued vs. Thus muche haue I thoughte
good to write too yowre holyneffe of fuche thynges as I haue gathered owte of the letters of Vafchus Nunnez,
and learned by woorde of mouthe of fuch as were his companyons in thefe affayres. As wee receyue them, fo
wee gyue them vnto yowe. Tyme which reueleth all fecretes, (hall hereafter mynyfler larger argument of
wrytynge. Theye coulde at this tyme doo no greate thynge in fearchynge the golde mynes, forafmuche as of a
hundreth fourefcore and tenne men whiche Vafchus broughte with hym from Dariena, there remayned onely
threefcore and ten, or at the mofl fourefcore, whofe ayde he nowe vfed in thefe daungerous aduentures, leauynge
euer the crafed men behynd hym in the kynges houfes all the waye that he went. But they moofle efpecially fell
into fundrye difeafes, whiche came lately from Hifpaniola. For they were not able to abyde fuche calamities
as to l)rue onely contented with the breade of thofe regions, and wylde herbes without falte, drinkinge none
other then ryuer water, and that oftentimes eyther lackinge or vnwholfome, where as before their flomakes had
byn vfed to good meates. But the owlde fouldiours of Dariena, were hardened to abyde all forowes, and
exceadynge tollerable of labour, heate, hunger, and watchynge : In fo muche that merilye they make their boofle
that they haue obferued a longer and fharper lent then euer yowre holineffe inioyned. For they faye that for the
fpace of foure hole yeares, they eate none other then herbes and frutes, excepte nowe and then perhappes fyflie,
and verye feldoome flefhe : yea, and that fumtime for lacke of al thefe, they haue not abhorred from mangye
dogges and fylthy toades as wee haue fayde before. The owlde fouldiers of Dariena, I caule thofe whiche
fyrfte folowed the capytaynes Nicuefa and Fogeda to inhabyte the lande, of the whiche nowe fewe were lyuynge.
But lette vs nowe omytte thefe thynges, and retoume to Vafchus the victourer of the montaynes.
Kynge
liononiama, frendc
to the christians.
Wroughte golde.
The oration of
kynge Bononiama
The sparke of the
la we of nature, is
the lawe written
in the hartes of
men.
Hiperbole.
Great plenty of
golde.
A symilitude for
the profe of
plentye of golde.
Iren more
estemed then
golde.
99
Chaunge of dyet
is daungerous.
Owlde souldlers.
A longe lent
Edek.
>4f
146
The thyrde Decade.
Comogriis.
Two poore kynges.
Descries.
Kynge Buchebuea
submyttelh him
seLfe
Vessels of golde.
Kynge Chiorisus
sendeth Vaschus
XXX. dysshes of
pure golde.
100
Axes of Iren more
estemed then any
gold
Superfluous and
effemynate
plesures
An exemple of the
lyfe of owre fyrst
pa rentes.
€1 The thyrde booke of the thyrde Decade.
I Hen Vafchus had remained thirtye dayes in the palayce of kynge Pacra, concilynge vnto hym
the rayndes of th[e]inhabitantes and prouidinge thynges neceflarye for his coompanions, he
departed frome thenfe by the conducte of certayne of kynge Teaocha his men, and aame too
the banke of the ryuer Coinognts, wherof the region and king therof, are named by the fame
name. He founde the fydes of thefe montaynes fo rude and baren, that there was nothinge
apte to bee eaten, but wilde rootes and certayne vnpleafante frutes of trees. Two kynges
beinge neare of bludde, inhabyted this infortunate region, whiche Vafchus ouerpafled with al
fpeede for feare of hunger. One of thefe poore kinges was named Coiochtis, and the other Ciuriza. He tooke them
bothe with hym to guyde hym in the waye, and difmyffed Teaocha his men with vytayles and rewardes. Thus
for the fpace of three dayes, he wandered throughe many deferte wooddes, craggye mountaynes, and muddy
maryffhes full of fuche quamyres that men are oftentymes fwalowed vp in them if they looke not the more warelye
to their fiete. Alfo through places not frequented with reforte of men, and fuche as nature had not yet opened
to their vfe, forafmuche as th[e]inhabitantes haue feldoome entercourfe betwene them, but onely by fundrye
incurtions, the one to fpoyle and deflroye the other : Beynge otherwife contented to lyue onely after the lawe of
nature, withowte worldly toyle for fuperfluous pleafures. Thus enteringe at the lengthe into the territorye of
another kynge whofe name was Buchebuea, they founde all thynges voyde and in filence: For the kynge and his
fubiectes, were all fledde to the wooddes. When Vafchus fente meffengers to fetche hym, he dyd not onely at
the fyrfle fubmytte hym felfe, but alfo promyffe his ayde with all that he myghte make : Protellynge furthermore,
that he fledde not for feare that owre men woolde doo hym any iniurie, but that he hyd hym felfe for verye fliame
and griefe of mynde, for that he was not able to receyue them honorablye accordynge vnto their dignitye, bycaufe
his flora of vitayles was confumed. Yet in a token of obedience and frendefhyppe, he fent owre men many
veffelles of golde, defyring them to accepte them as the gifte of a frind whofe good will wanted not in greater
thynges if his abilytye were greater. By whiche woordes the poore man feemed tq infmuate that he had byn
robbed and otherwife cruelly handled of his bortherers. By reafon wherof, owre men were enforced to departe
from thenfe more hungerly then theye came. As theye wente forwarde therfore, they efpyed certeine naked
men coomminge downe from a hylle towarde them. Vafchus coommauuded his armye to flaye, and fente his
interpretours to them to knowe what they wold haue. Then one of them to whom the other feemed to gyue
reuerence, fpake in this effect. Owre lorde and kinge Chiorifus, greeteth yowe well : Wyllynge vs to declare
that he hath harde of yowre puiflaunce and vertue wherby yowe haue fubdued euell men and reuenged
the wronges doone to innocentes. For the whiche yowre noble factes and iuftyce, as he doothe honour
yowre fame, foo woolde he thinke him felfe mofte happye if he myght receiue yowe into his palaice.
But, forafmuche as his fortune hath byn fo euell (as he imputeth it) that beynge owte of yowTe waye, yowe
haue ouerpaffed hym, he hath fent yowe this golde in token of his good wyll and fryndlhyppe towarde
yowe. And with thefe woordes he deliuered to Vafchus thirty diffhes of pure golde. Addynge here-
unto, that when fo euer it (hulde pleafe him to take the paynes to coomme to their kynge, he fhulde receyue
greater gyftes. He declared further, that a kynge whyche was their bortherer and mortall enemye, was very
ryche in golde : And that in fubduynge of hym they fhulde bothe obteine greate rycheffe, and alfo delyuer them
from daylye vexations : whiche thinge myght eafilye be doone by their helpe bycaufe they knewe the countrey.
Vafchus put them in good coomforte, and gaue them for rewarde certayne Iren axes whiche they more
efleemed then greate heapes of golde. For they haue lyttell neede of golde, hauynge not th[e]ufe of pefliferous
money. But he that maye get but one axe or hatchet, thynketh hym felfe rycher then euer was Craffus. For
euen thefe naked men doo perceyue that an axe is necelfarye for a thoufande vfes : And confefle that golde is
defyred onely for certayne vaine and effeminate pleafures, as a thyng whiche the lyfe of man maye lacke with-
owte any inconuenience. For owre glutteny and fuperfluous fumptuoufneffe hath not yet corrupted them : By
reafon wherof they take it for noo fhame to lacke cobardes of plate, where as the pride and wantonnes of owre
tyme dooeth in maner impute it to vs for ignominye to bee withowte that, wherof by nature we haue no neede.
But their contentation with the benefytes of nature doothe playnly declare that men may leade a free and happy
life withowt tables, table clothes, carpettes, napkyns, and towels, with fuche other innumerable wherof they
haue no vfe, excepte perhappes the kynges furnithe their tables with a fewe golden veffels. But the common
people dryue awaye hunger with a pyece of their breade in the one hande, and a piece of broylde fyflie or
146
The thyrde Decade.
147
fumme kynde of fruite in the other hande. For they eate flefhe but feldome. When their fingers are imbrued
with any ounctuous meates, they wype them eyther on the foules of their feete, or on their thyghes, ye and
fumtymes on the (kynnes of their priuye members in the fleede of a nappekynne. And for this caufe doo they
often tymes wafhe them felues in the ryuers. Owre men therfore wente forwarde laden with golde, but fore
afflicted with hunger. Thus they came at the length to the dominion of kynge Pocchorrofa who fledde at their
coommynge. Here for the fpace of thirtye dayes they fylled their emptye bellies with breade of the rootes of
Maizium. In the meane tyme Vafchiis fente for Pocchorrofa : who beynge allured with promiffes and fayre
woordes, came and fubmytted hym felfe brynginge with hym for a prefent. xv. poundes weighte of wrought
golde, and a fewe flaues. Vafchus rewarded hym as he had doone other before. When he was mynded to
depart, he was aduertifed that he fhulde paffe through the dominion of a certayne kynge whofe name was
Tumanama. This is hee whome the foonne of kynge Comogrus declared to bee of foo great poure and fearefull .
to all his bortherers, and with whom many of Comogrus familyers had byn captyue. But owre men nowe per-
ceiued that they meafured his poure by their owne. For their kinges are but gnattes compared to elephantes,
in refpecte to the poure and poUicye of owre men. Owre men were alfo enformed by fuche as dwelte neare
aboute Tumanama, that his region was not beyonde the montaynes as they fuppofed : Nor yet fo ryche in golde
as younge Comogrus had declared. Yet confulted they of his fubduyng : whiche they thoughte they myght
th[e]eaflyer brynge to paffe bycaufe Pocchorrofa was his mortall enemye, who mode gladly promyfed them his
aduice and ayde herein. Vafchus therfore, leauynge his fycke men in the vyllage of Pocchorrofa, tooke with
hym threfcore of his mode valiante fouldiers, and declared vnto them howe kynge Tumanama had oftentymes
fpoken proude and threatnyng woordes ageynlle them: Lykewife that it nowe floode them in hande of
neceffitye to paffe through his dominion : And that he thought is befle to fette vppon hym vnwares. The fouldiers
confented to his aduice, and exhorted him to gyue th[e]aduenture, promifmge that they woolde folowe hym
whether fo euer he wente. They determined therfore to go two dayes iomey in one daye, that Tumanama not
knowynge of their fooden commyng, myght haue no leafure to affemble an armye. The thynge came to paffe
euen as they had deuyfed. For in the fyrfle watche of the nyght, owre men with the Pocchorrofians, inuaded
the vyllage and palaice of Tumanama, where they tooke hym prifoner fufpectynge nothinge leffe. He had with
hym two younge men whiche he abufed vnnaturally ; Alfo fourfcore women which he had taken vyolently from
dyuers kynges. Lykewife a greate number of his gentelmen and fubiectes were taken flragelynge in other
vyllages neare aboute his palaice. For their houfes are not adherent togither as owres bee, bycaufe they are
oftentimes troubeled with vehement whirlewyndes by reafon of the fudden chaunges and motions of the ayre
caufed by the influence of tiie planetes in the equalitie of the daye and nyght beynge there in maner bothe of
one lengthe throughovvte all the yeare, forafmuche as they are neare vnto the Equinoctiall lyne as we haue fayde
before. Their houfes are made of trees, couered and after their maner thetched with the llalkes of certayne
towghe herbes. To the palayce of Tumanama, was onely one houfe adherent, and that euen as bygge as the
palayce it felfe. Eyther of thefe houfes were in length a hundreth and twentie pafes, and in bredth fyftie pafes
as owre men meafured them. In thefe two houfes the kynge was accuflomed to muller his men as often as he
prepared an armye. When Tumanama therfore, was thus taken captyue with all his Sardanapanicall famelye,
the Pocchorrofians bragged and threa.tened hym beynge nowe bounde, that he fliulde fhortly bee hanged. The
other kynges alfo his bortherers, reioyfed at his myffortune. Wherby owre men perceaued that Tumanama was
no leffe troublefome to his neighbours, then was Pacra to the kinges of the fouthe fyde of the montaynes.
Vafchus alfo the better to pleafe them, threatned hym greuoufly : But in deede entended no euell toward him.
He fpake therfore (harpely vnto hym with thefe woordes : Thou fhalte nowe fuffer punyfhment thou cruell
tyranne, for thy pryde and abhominations. Thou fhalte knowe of what poure the chriflians are whom thou hafle
foo contemned and threate[ne]d to drawe by the heare of their heades to the nexte ryuer and there to drowne them
as thou hafle often tymes made thy vaunte emonge thy naked flaues. But thou thy felfe fhalte fyrfle feele that
whiche thou hafle prepared for other: And herewith commaunded hym to bee taken vppe. Neuertheleffe
gyuynge a priuye tooken of pardon to them whiche layde handes on him. Thus vnhappye Tumanama, fearynge
and beleuynge that Vafchus had mente in emelle as he commaunded, fell proflrate at his feete and with teares
defyred pardon : Proteflynge that he neuer fpake any fuche woordes. But that perhappes his noble men in
their droonkenneffe had fo abufed their toonges whiche he coulde not rule. For their wynes although they bee
not made of grapes yet are they of force to make men droonken. He declared furthermore that the other
kynges his bortherers had of malice furmyfed fuche lyes of hym enuyinge his fortune bycaufe he was of greater
poure then they. Mofte humbly defyringe Vafchus that as he tooke hym to bee a iufte vyctourer, foo to gyue
no credytte vnto their vniufte and malycious complaintes. Addynge herevnto that if it woolde pleafe hym to
pardon hym not hauinge offended, he woolde bringe him great plentie of gold. Thus layinge his ryght hande
on his bread, he fwore by the fonne, that he euer loued and feared the chrydians fence he fyrde harde of their
fame and vjctor}'es: Efpecialiy when he harde faye that they had Machanas, that is, fwoordes (harper then
Plentye of gold
and scarcenessc
of meate.
King Pocchorrosa
submytteth
hymselfe.
XV. pounde
weyghte of
wroughte golde.
Kyng Tumanama
looke decad. ii.
lib. iiii.
A good policy e.
101
Kynge Tumanama
is taken prisoner.
The cause of
vehemente wyndes
nere the
Equinoctial.
Kynge Tumanama
his palaice.
Vaschus his
woordes to kynge
Tumanama.
Oderunt quent
ntetuunt.
Kyng Tumanama
his woordes.
148
The thyrde Decade.
Tumanama is
pardoned.
xxx. pounde
weyghte of
wroughte golde.
Ix. poundes
weyght of golde.
102
They abhorre
labour.
The coloure of the
golden earthe and
a tryall of the
same.
thearfe, and fuch as cutte in pieces ai thynges that coomme in their waye. Then directynge his eyes towarde
Vafchus who had his fwoorde in his hand, he fpake thus. Who (excepte he were owte of his wytte) dare lyfte
vppe his hande ageynfte this fwoorde of yowres wherwith yowe are able with one ilrooke to cleaue a. man from
the heade to the nauelL Lette no man therfore perfwade yowe (o mofle myghtye victourer) that euer fuche
woordes proceded owte of my mouthe. As Tumanama with trembeling fpake thefe woordes, therwith fwalow-
ynge downe the knot of deathe, Vafchus feemed by his teares to bee moued to companion: And fpeak}Tig to
hym with chearefull countenance coramaunded hym to bee loofed. This doone, he fente immediatly to his
palaice for. xxx. poundes weyght of pure gold artifycially wrought into fundry ouches whiche his wyues
and concubynes vfed to weare. Alfo the thyrde daye folowynge, his noble men and gentylmen fent
threfcore poundes weight of golde for their fyne and raunfumme. Tumanama beyng demaunded wher
they had that gold, anfwered that it was not gathered in his dominions But that it was brought his
aunceftours from the ryuer Comogrus toward the fouthe. But the Pocchorrofians and other his enemies, fayd
that he lyed: Affirmynge that his kingdome was ryche in golde. Tumanama on the contrary part, inflantly
protefled that he neuer knewe any golde myne in all his dominions. Yet denyed not but that there hath
fumtimes byn found certaine fmaule graines of golde, to the gatherynge wherof, he neuer had any regarde,
bycaufe they coulde not gette it without great and longe labour. Whyle thefe thynges were dooinge, the fycke
men whiche Vafchus had lefte in the village of Focchorrofa, came to hym the. viii. day of the Calendes of
January in the yeare of Chrifle. M. D. XIII. bringyng with them certayne labourers from the kynges of the
fouthe with fundrye inflrumentes to dygge the grounde and gather golde. Thus paflynge ouer the day of the
natiuitye of Chrifl without bodely labour, vppon fainte Steuens daye he brought certeyne myners to the fyde of
a hyll not farre dyRante from the palaice of Tumanama, where (as he faitli) he perceaued by the coloure of the
earth that it was lykely to brynge furthe golde. When they had dygged a pytte not pafl a hand breadth and a
halfe, and fyfted the earthe therof, they foimde certayne fmaule graynes of golde no bygger then lintell feedes,
amountynge to the weyght of twelue graynes as they prouyd with their balances of aflaye before a notarie and
wytnefle that the better credytte myghte bee gyuen therto. Wherby they argued that the rycheneffe of that lande
was agreable to the report of the bortherers, although Vafchus coulde by noo meanes caufe Tumanama to
confeffe the fame. They fuppofe that he nothynge efteemed fo fmaule a portion. But other faye that he
denyed his countrey to bee frutefuU of golde, leafle by reafon therof the defyre of golde, myght intyfe owre men
to inhabyte his kyngdome, as in deede the feely kynge was a prophet in foo thinkynge. For they chofe that
and the region of Focchorrofa to inhabyte, and determyned to buylde towTies in them bothe, if it (hulde fo pleafe
the kynge of Caflyle : Afwell that they myght bee baytinge places and vytailynge houfes for fuche as (hulde
iomey towarde the fouthe, as alfo that both the regions were frutfuU and of good grounde to beare frutes and
trees. Intendynge nowe therfore to departe from thenfe, he tried the earth by chaunce in an other place, where
the colour of the grounde with certayne fhyninge flones, feemed to bee a tooken of golde. Where caufynge a
fmaule pitte to bee dygged lyttell beneath th[e]upper crufle of the earthe, he founde fo muche golde as weyghed
that pyece of golde whiche the Spaniardes caule Caflcllanum aureum, and is commonly cauled Pefus, but not in
one grayne. Reioyfynge at thefe tookens in hope of great riches, he badde Tumanama to be of good coomforte,
promyfynge hym that he woolde bee his frende and defender, foo that he troubeled not any of the kynges whiche
were frendes to the Chridians. He alfo perfwaded hym to gather plentye of golde. Summe faye that he ledde
awaye all Tumanama his women, and fpoyled him leafte he fhuld rebell. Yet he delyuered his foonne to
Vafchus to bee broughte vppe with owre men, to learne their language and relygyon, that he myght therafter the
better vfe his helpe afwell in all thynges that he fliulde haue to doo with owre men, as alfo more polytykely rule,
and obtayne the loue of his owne fubiectes. Vafchus at this tyme fell into a vehement feuer by reafon of excefle
of labour, immoderate watchyng, and hunger: In fomuche that departynge from thenfe, he was fayne too bee
borne uppon mennes backes in (hietes of goflampyne cotton. Lykewyfe alfo many of his fouldiers whiche were
foo weake that they coulde nother go nor flonde. To this purpofe they vfed the helpe of th[e]inhabytantes, who
(hewed them felues in al thynges wyllynge and obedyente. Alfo fumme of them whiche were fumwhat feeble
and not able to trauayle, although not greuoufly fycke, were ledde by the armes vntyll they came to the
domynion of kynge Commogrus a greate frende to the Chriflyans, of whom wee haue largely made mention
before. At Vafchus commynge thether, he founde that the owlde kynge was deade, and his foonne
(whome we fo prayfed for his wifedome) to raygne in his (leade: And that he was baptifed by the
name of Charles. The palayce of this Comogrus, is fituate at the foote of a (liepe hyll well cultured.
Hauynge towarde the fouthe a playne of twelue leages in breadth and veary frutefull. This playne, they
caule Zauana. Beyonde this, are the great and. hyghe montaynes whiche deuyde the two feas wherof we
haue fpoken before. Owte of the (lyepe hylles, fpryngeth the ryuer Comogrus, whiche runneth throwghe
the fayde playne to the hyghe montaynes, receauynge into his chanell by their valleys, all the other
ryuers, and fo fauleth into the fouth fea. It is diilante from Dariena, aboute threfcore and tenne leages
148
Tokens of great
plentie of golde.
Vaschus fauleth
sicka
Feeblenes of
hunger and
watoiinge.
Kyng- Comogrus
frendely to the
ChristLins.
The large and
fruteful plain of
Zauana.
The ryuer
Comogrus.
103
The thyrde Decade.
149
towarde the wefle. As owre men therfore came to thefe parties, kynge Comognts (otherwyfe cauled Charles by
his chriftian name) mette them ioyfully and entertayned them honorably, gyuynge them their fyll of pleafaunte
meates and drynkes. He gaue alfo to Vafchus, twenty pounde weyght of wrought golde. Vafchus recom-
penfed him with thinges which he efteemed muche more : As axes and fundry kyndes of carpenters tooles.
Alfo a fouldiours cloke, and a faire flierte wrought with needle woorke By thefe gyftes, Comogrus thought hym
felfe to bee halfe a god amonge his bortherers. Vafchus at his departynge from henfe, emeftly charged
Comogrus and the other kynges to remayne faithfuU and obedient to the chriftian king of Caflile, if they defyred
to lyue in peace and quietneffe : And that they fhulde hereafter more diligently applye them felues to the
gatheringe of golde to bee fente to the great chriftian Tiba (that is) kyng. Declaryng further, that by this
meanes they fhuld bothe gette them and their pofterity a patrone and defender ageinft their enemyes, and alfo
obtayne great abundaunce of owre thinges. Thefe affayres thus happely achiued, he wente forwarde on his
yyage to the palaice of kyng Poncha, where he founde foure younge men whiche were come from Dariena to
certify hym that there were certayne Ihyppes coomme from Hifpaniola laden wyth vyttayles and other
neceffaries. Wherfore takyng with him twentie of his mofte lufty fouldiers, he made hafte to Dariena with
longe iomeys : leauinge the refydue behynd him to folow at their leafure. He writeth that he came to Dariena
the. xiiii. Cal. of Fe. An. isr4. The date of his letter is: From Dariena, the. iiii. day of march. He writeth
in the fame letter, that he had many fore conflictes, and that he was yet neyther wounded, or lofte any of his
men in the battaile. And therfore in al his large letter, there is not one leafe without thankes geuynge to
almyghty god for his delyuery and preferuation from fo many imminent perels. He attempted no enterprife or
tooke in hande any viage withowt th[e]inuocation of god and his holy faintes. Thus was Vafchus Balboa of a
vyolente Goliath, toumed into Helifeus: And from Anteus too Hercules the conquerour of monfters. Beynge
therefore thus toumed from a raffhe royfter to a polytyke and difcreate capitayne, he was iudged woorthy to
bee aduaunced to greate honoure. By reafon whereof, he was bothe receaued into the kynges fauour, and there-
vppon created the generall or Lieuetenaunt of the kynges army in thofe Regions. Thus much haue I gathered
bothe by the letters of certeyne my faythefull frendes beinge in Dariena, and alfo by woorde of mouth of fuche
as came lately frome thenfe. If yowre holynes defyre to knowe what I thynke herein, Suerly as by fuche
thynges as I haue feene, I beleue thefe thynges to bee trewe, euen fo th[e]order and agreinge of Vafchus and
his coompanions warrelyke letters, feeme to confirme the fame. The Spanyarde therfore fhall not neede
hereafter with vndermynynge the earth with intollerable laboure to breake the bones of owre mother, and enter
many myles into her bowels, and with innumerable daungers cut in funder hole, mountaynes to make a waye to
the courte of infemall Fluto, to brynge from thenfe wycked golde the feede of innumerable mifcheues, withowte
the whiche notwithflandynge we may nowe fcarfely leade a happy l)rfe fithe iniquitie hath fo preuayled and
made vs flaues to that wherof we are lords by nature: The Spanyarde (I fay) fhall not neede with fuch
trauayles and difficultie to dygge farre into the earth for gold, but ftial fynde it plentifully in maner in the vpper
craft of the earth, or in the fandes of ryuers dryed vppe by the heate of fommer, onely waffhynge the earth
foftely frome the fame : And fhall with lyke facilite gather plentie of pearles. Certenly the reuerent antiquitie
(by al the Cofmographers affent) obteyned not foo greate a benefyte of nature, nor yet afpired to the knowleage
hereof, bycaufe there came neuer man before owte of owre knowen worlde to thefe vnknowen nations : At the
leafte, with a poure of men, by force of armes, in maner of conqueft: wheras otherwyfe nothyng can be gotten here,
forafmuch as thefe nations are for the moft part feuere defenders of theyr patrimonies, and craell to ftraungers, in
no condition admittinge them otherwyfe then by conqueft : eflpecially the fierce Canibales or Caribes. For thefe
wylye hunters of men, gyue them felues to none other kynde of exercyfe but onely to manhuntynge and tyllage after
their maner. At the commynge therfore of owre men into theyr regions, they loke as fuerly to haue them faule into
their fnares as if they were hartes or wylde bores : and with no leffe confydence licke their lippes fecreately in
hope of their praye. If they gette the vpper hande, they eate them greedely : If they myftrafte them felues to bee
the weaker parte, they trufte to theyr feete, and flye fwyfter then the wynde. Ageyne, yf the matter bee tryed
on the water, afwell the women as men can dyue and ftvymme, as though they had byn euer brought vp and
fedde in the water. It is noo maraayle therefore yf the large tracte of thefe regions haue byn hytherto
vnknowen. But nowe fithe it hath pleafed God to difcouer the fame in owre tyme, it fhall becoome vs to fhewe
owre naturall loue to mankynde and dewtie to God, to endeuoure owre felues to brynge them to ciuilitie and
trewe religion, to th[e]increafe of Chriftes flocke, to the confufion of Infidels and the Deuyll theyr father who
delytethe in owre deftruction as he hathe doone frome the begynnynge. By the good fucceffe of thefe fyrft frutes,
owre hope is, that the Chriftian religion fhall ftreache foorth her armes very farre. Which thyng ftiulde the
fooner coome to pafle yf all menne to theyr poure (efpecially Chriftian Princes to whom it chiefely perteyneth)
wolde put theyr handes to the plowe of the lordes vineyarde. The harueft fuerly is greate, but the woorkemen
are but fewe. As we haue fayde at the begynnynge, yowre holynes ftiall hereafter nooryfhe many myriades of
broodes of chekins vnder yowre wynges. But let vs nowe retume to fpeake of Beragua beinge the wefte fyde
O 2 149
XX. pounde weyght
of wrought gold
Vaschus returneth
to Dariena.
The good fortune
of Vaschus.
Vaschus was
turned from
Goliath to Eliseus.
O flaterynge
fortune, look his
death in the booke
of the Ilande[s]
lately founde.
The earthe is owre
general mother.
The courte of
infemall Pluto.
There is a better
waye then this.
The Spanyardes
conquestes.
Manhunters
104
The fiersenessc of
the Canibales.
Owre duty to god,
and naturall loue
to mankynde.
Th[e]offyce of
Chrystian prynces
The haruest is
great, etc.
Beragua,
I50
The thyrde Decade.
Ntcueta,
The fourth
nauigation of
Colonus the
AdmiralL
From Spaine to
Hispaniola a
thousande and two
hundreth leagues
The florysshing
Ilande of
Guanassa.
Simple people.
A greate
marcbaimt.
105
The regyon of
Quiriquetana or
Ciamba.
Gentle people.
The regyons of
Taia and Maia.
Seuen kyndes of
date trees.
Wylde vines.
of Vraba, and fyrfl founde by Colonus the Admirall, then vnfortunately gouemed by Diego Ntcuefa, and nowe
lefte in maner defolate : with the other large regions of thofe prouinces brought from theyr wylde and beaflly
ludenes to ciuilitie and trewe religion.
H The fovrth booke of the thyrde Decade.
Was determyned (mofle holy father) to haue proceded no further herein, but that one fierye
fparke yet remaynynge in my mynde, woolde not fuffer me to ceafe. Wheras I haue therfore
declared howe Beragua was fyrfle fownde by Colonus, my thincke I (hulde commytte a
heynous cryme if I fhuld defraude the man of the due commendations of his trauayles, of his
cares and troubles, and fynally of the daungeours and perels, whiche he fufleyned in that
nauigation. Therfore in the yeare of Chriile. 1502. in the. vi. daye of the Ides of Maye, he
hoyfed vppe his layles and departed from the Ilandes of Gades with. iiii. (hyppes of fyftie or.
iiL fcore tunne a piece, with a hundreth threfcore and tenne men, and came with profperous wynde to the
Ilandes of Catmria within fine daies folowinge, from thenfe arryuinge the. xvi. day at the Ilande of Dominica
beinge the chiefe habitation of the Canibales, he fayled from Dominica to Hifpaniola in fyue other daies. Thus
within the fpace of the. xxvi. daies, mth profperous wynde and by the fwyfte faule of the Ocean from the Eafte
to the weft, he fayled from Spaine to Hifpaniola : Which courfe is counted of the mariners to bee no lefle then
a thoufande and twoo hundrethe leaques. He taryed but a whyle in Hifpaniola, whether it were wyllingly, or
that he were fo admoniffhed of the viceroye. Directing therfore his vyage from thenfe towarde the wefte,
leauyng the Ilandes of Cuba and Jamaica on his ryght hande towarde the northe, he wryteth that he chaunfed
vppon an Ilande more fouthewarde then la/naica, whiche th[e]inhabitantes caule Guanafjfa, fo floryffhinge and
frutefull that it myghte feeme an earthlye Paradyfe. Coaft}Tige alonge by the fhores of this Ilande, he mette
two of the Canoas or boates of thofe prouinces, whiche were dra^vne with two naked flaues ageynft the ftreame.
In thefe boates, was caryed a ruler of the Ilande with his wyfe and chyldren, all naked. The flaues feeynge
owre men a lande, made fignes to them with proude countenaunce in their maifters name, to Ilande owte of the
waye, and threatned them if they woolde not gyue place. Their fympelnes is fuche that they nother feared the
multitude or poure of owre men, or the greatnes and ftraungenes of owre Ihippes. They thought that owTe men
woolde haue honoured their maifter with like reuerence as they did. Owre men had intelligence at the length
that this ruler was a greate marchaunte whiche came to the marte from other coaftes of the Ilande. For they
exceryfe byinge and fellynge by exchaunge with their confinies. He had alfo with him good (loore of fuche ware
as they ftande in neede of or take pleafure in : as laton belles, rafers, knyues, and hatchettes made of a certeyne
fharpe yelowe bryght ftone, with handles of a ftronge kynd of woodde. AUb many other neceflary inftrumentes
with kychen ftuffe and veffelles for all neceflary vfes. Lykewife fheetes of goflampine cotton \vTOught of fundrye
colours. Owre men tooke hym pryfoner with all his famely. But Colonus commaunded hym to bee lofed fhortely
after, and the greateft, parte of his goodes to bee refl-ored to wynne his frj'ndefliippe. Beinge here inftructed of
a lande lyinge further towarde the fouthe, he tooke his vyage thether. Therfore lytle more then tenne myles
diftant from henfe, he founde a large lande whiche th[e]inhabitantes cauled Quiriquetana : But he named it
Ciamda. When he wente a lande and commaunded his chaplaine to faye mafle on the fea bankes, a great
confluence of the naked inhabitantes flocked thither fymplye and without feare, bringynge with them plenty of
meate and frefhe water, marueylynge at owre men as they had byn fumme ftraunge miracle. When they had
prefented their giftes, they went fumwhat backewarde and made lowe curtefy after their maner bowinge their
heades and bodyes reuerently. He recompenfed their gentylnes rewardinge them with other of owre thynges,
as counters, braflettes and garlandes of glaffe and counterfecte floones, lookyng glafles, nedelles, and pynnes,
with fuche other traflie, whiche feemed vnto them precious marchaundies. In this great tracte there are two
regions wherof the one is cauled Taia and the other Maia. He writeth that all that lande is very fayre and
holfome by reafon of the excellent temperatnefle of the ayer : And that it is inferiour to no lande in frutefull
ground beinge partely full of montaines, and partely large playnes : Alfo replenyflied with many goodly trees,
holfome herbes, and frutes, continuynge greene and floryfliynge all the hole yeare. It beareth alfo verye many
holy trees and pyne aple trees. Alfo. vii. kyndes of date trees wherof fumme are frutefull and fumme baren.
It bringeth furth lykewyfe of it felfe Pelgoras and wilde vynes laden with grapes euen in the wooddes emonge
other trees. He laythe furthermore that there is fuche abundaunce of other pleafaunte and profitable frutes,
that they pafle not of vynes. Of one of thofe kyndes of date trees, they make certeyne longe and brode
The thyrde Decade.
151
fwoordes and dartes. Thefe regyons beare alfo goflampyne trees here and there commonly in the wooddes.
Lykewife Mirobalanes of fundry kyndes, as thofe which the phifitians caule Emblkos and Chebulos, Maizium alfo.
Tucca, Ages, and Baitatas, lyke vnto thofe whiche we haue fayde before to bee founde in other regions in thefe
coafles. The fame nooryffheth alfo lyons, Tygers, Hartes, Roes, Goates, and dyuers other beafles. Lykewyfe
fundry kyndes of byrdes and foules : Emonge the whiche they keepe onely them to franke and feede, whiche
are in colour, bygnes, and tafle, muche lyke vnto owre pehennes. He faith that th[e]inhabitantes are of high
and goodly flature, well lymmed and proportioned both men and women : Couerynge their priuye partes with
fyne breeches of goffampine cotton wrought %vith dyuers colours. And that they may feeme the more cumlye
and bewtifull (as they take it) they paynte their bodyes redde and blacke with the iuce of certeyne apples whiche
they plante in their gardens for the fame purpofe. Summe of them paynte their hole bodies : fumme but parte :
and other fumme drawe the portitures, of herbes, floures, and knottes, euery one as feemeth befle to his owne
phantafye. Their language differeth vtterlye from theirs of the Ilandes nere aboute them. From thefe regions,
the waters of the fea ranne with as full courfe towarde the wefte, as if it had byn the faule of a fwyfte riuer.
Neuertheleffe he determined to fearche the Eafte partes of this lande, reuoluynge in his mynde that the regions
of Paria and Os Draconis with other coafles founde before toward the Eafte, fliulde bee neare theraboute as in
deede they were. Departyng therfore from the large region of Quiriquetana the. xiii. daye of the calendes of
September, when he had failed thirtie leaques, he founde a ryuer, without the mouth wherof he drewe freflie
water in the fea. Where alfo the Ihoore was fo cleane withowte rockes, that he founde grounde euery
where, where he myght aptely cafle anker. He writeth that the fwifte courfe of the Ocean was fo
vehement and contrarye, that in the fpace of fortye dayes he coulde fcarcelye fayle threfcore and tenne
leaques, and that with muche dififycultie with many fetches and coompafynges, fyndyng him felfe to bee
fumtimes repulfed and dryuen farre backe by the vyolente courfe of the fea when he woolde haue taken lande
towarde the euenynge, lealle perhappes wanderynge in vnknowen coafles in the darckeneffe of the nyght, he
myghte bee in daunger of (hypwracke : He writeth that in the fpace of eyght leaques, he found three great and
fayre ryuers vppon the banckes wherof, there grewe reedes bygger then a mannes thygh. In thefe ryuers was alfo
greate plentye of fyfhe and great tortoyfes : Lykewife in many places, multitudes of Crocodiles lyinge in the fande,
and yanyng to take the heate of the foonne : Befyde dyuers other kyndes of beafles whervnto he gaue no names.
He fayth alfo that the foyle of that lande is very diuers and variable : beyng fumwhere flonye and full of rough
and craggie promontories or poyntes reachynge into the fea. And in other places as frutfull as maye bee.
They haue alfo diuers kynges and rulers. In fumme places they caule a kynge Cacicus: in other places they
caule hym Quebi, and fumwhere Tiba. Suche as haue behaued them felues valiantly in the warres ageynfle
their enemies, and haue their faces full of fcarres, they caule Cnpras, and honour them as the antiquitie dyd the
goddes whiche they cauled Heroes, fuppofed to bee the foules of fuche men as in their lyfe tyme excelled in vertue
and noble actes. The common people, they caule Chiui: and a man, they caule Homem. When they faye in
their language, take man, they fay Hoppa home. After this, he came to an other ryuer apte to beare great
fhypppes : Before the mouthe wherof, leye foure fmaule Ilandes full of floriffhing and frutfull trees. Thefe
Ilandes he named Quatuor tempora. From henfe faylynge towarde the Eafle for the fpace of xiii. leaques flyll
ageinfle the vyolent courfe of the water, he founde twelue other fmaule Ilandes. In the whiche bycaufe he
founde a newe kynde of frutes muche Uke vnto owre lemondes, he cauled them Limonares. Wanderynge yet
further the fame waye for the fpace of xii. leaques, he founde a great hauen enteryng into the land after the
maner of a goulfe the fpace of three leaques, and in maner as brode, into the whiche fell a great ryuer. Here
was Nicuefa lofle aiterwarde when he foughte Beragua : By reafon wherof they cauled it Rio de los perdidos: that
is, the ryuer of the lofle men. Thus Colonus the Admirall yet further contynuynge his courfe ageynfle the furye
of the fea, founde manye hyghe montaynes and horrible valleys, with dyuers ryuers and hauens, from all the
whiche (as he faythe) proceaded fweete fauers greatly recreatynge and comfortynge nature. In fo muche that
in all this longe tracte there was not one of his men defeafed vntyll he came to a region whiche th[e]inhabitantes
caule Quicuri, in the whiche is the hauen cauled Cariai, named Mirobalanus by the admyrall bycaufe the
Mirobalane trees are natiue in the region therabout. In this hauen of Cariai, there came about two hundreth
of th[e]inhabitantes to the fea fyde with euerye of them three or foure dartes in their handes ; Yet of condition
gentell enoughe, and not refufyng flraungers. Their commyng was for none other purpofe then to knowe what
this newe nation mente, or what they broughte with them. When owre men had gjoien them fygnes of peace,
they came fwymmynge to the fhyppes and defyred to barter with them by exchaunge. The admyrall to allure
them to frendfhippe, gaue them many of owre thinges : But they refufed them, fufpectynge fumme difceate
thereby bycaufe he woolde not receyue theirs They wroughte all by fygnes : for one vnderfloode not a woorde
of the others language. Suche gyftes as were fente them, they lefte on the fhore and woolde take no part
therof. They are of fuche ciuilitye and humanytie, that they efleeme it more honorable to gyue then to take.
They fente owre men two younge women beinge vyrgines, of commendable fauour and goodly flature,
Mirobalajies
Byrdes and foules.
People of goodly
stature
They paynt theyr
bodyes
The swyfte course
of the sea from the
East to the West.
Paria.
Fresshe water in
the sea.
Fetches and
compasinges
106
Faire ryuers.
Great reedes
Great tortoyses.
Dyuers languages.
Qttatuor ietupora.
Twelue Ilandes
named Limonares
Rio de los
perdidos.
The region of
Quicun.
The hauen
of Cariai or
Mirobalanus
Ciuilc and
humane people
152
The thyrde Decade.
107
[Trees grow by
the sea] syde.
Trees growynge
in the sea after a
straunge sort.
PlinU.
A straunge kynde
of moonkeys.
A moonkeye
feyghteth with
A conflict betwenc
a monkey and a
wylde bore.
The bodyes of
kynges dryed and
resented
Ctraharo.
Cheynes of golde.
Plentie of golde.
Fine villages rych
in gold.
Crownes of beasts
claws
108
fygnifyinge vnto them that they myghte take them awaye with them if it were their pleafure. Thefe women
after the maner of their countrey, were couered from their ancles fumwhat aboue their priuye partes with a
certeyne clothe made of gofTampine cotton. But the men are al naked. The women vfe to cutte their heare;
But the men lette it growe on the hynder partes of their heades, and cutte it on the fore parte. Their longe
heare, they binde vppe with fyllettes, and winde it in fundry rowles as owre maydes are accullomed to
do. The virgins which were fente to the Admirall he decked in fayre apparell, and gaue them many
gyftes, and fente theym home ageyne. But lykewife all thefe rewardes and apparel they left vppon the fliore
bycaufe owre men had refufed their gyftes. Yet tooke he two men away with him (and thofe very ^vyllyngly)
that by lernyng the Spanyfhe tonge, he might afterwarde vfe them for interpretours. He confidered that
the trades of thefe coafles were not greately troubeled with vehement motions or ouerflowynges of the fea,
forafmuche as trees growe in the fea not farre frome the (hore, euen as they doo vppon the bankes of ryuers.
The which thynge alfo other doo affirme whiche haue latelyer fearched thof ; coafles, declaring that the fea
rifeth and fauleth but lyttle there aboute. He fayth furthermore, that in the profpecte of this lande, there are
trees engendred euen in the fea, which after that they are growen to any height, bende downe the toppes of
theyr branches into the grounde: which embrafing them caufeth other branches to fprynge owt of the fame, and
take roote in the earth, bringynge foorth trees in theyr kynde fucceffiuely as dyd the fyrfl roote from whenfe
they had theyr originall, as do alfo the fettes of vines when onely bothe the endes therof are put into the
grounde. Plinie in the twelfth booke of his natural hiflorie maketh mention of fuche trees, defcribynge them
to bee on the lande, but not in the fea. The Admirall wryteth alfo that the lyke beaftes are engendered in
the coafles of Cariai, as in other prouinces of thefe regions, and fuch as we haue fpoken of before. Yet that
there is one founde here in nature much differinge from the other. This beafle is of the byggenes of a greate
moonkeye, but with a tayle muche longer and bygger. It lyueth in the wooddes, and remoueth from tree to
tree in this maner. Hangynge by the tayle vppon the braunche of a tree, and gatheryng flrength by fwayinge
her bodye twyfe or thryfe too and fro, (he cafleth her felfe from branche to branche and fo from tree to tree as
though fhe flewe. An archer of owres hurt one of them. Who perceauinge her felfe to be wounded, leapte
downe from the tree, and fiercely fet on hym which gaue her the wounde, in fo muche that he was fayne to
defende hym felfe with his fwoorde. And thus by chaunce cuttyng of one of her armes, he tooke her, and with
muche a doo brought her to the (hips where within a whyle, fhee waxed tame. Whyle (hee was thus kepte
and bownde with cheynes, certeyne other of owr hunters hadde chafed a wylde bore owt of the maryfhes nere
vnto the fea fyde. For hunger and defyre of fleflie, caufed them to take double pleafure in huntynge. In
this meane tyme other which remayned in the fhippes, goinge a lande to recreate them felues, tooke this
moonkey with them. Who, as foone as fhee had efpied the bore, fet vp her bryflels and made towarde her.
The bore lykewyfe (hooke his bridels and whette his teethe. The moonkey furioudy inuaded the bore, wrap-
pynge her tayle about his body, and with her arme referued of her victourer, helde hym fo faft aboute the
throte, that he was fufifocate. Thefe people of Cariai, vfe to drye the deade bodyes of theyr princes vppon
hurdels, and fo referue them inuohied in the leaues of trees. As he went forwarde about twentie leagues from
Cariai, he founde a goulfe of fuch largenes that it conteyned. xii. leagues in compa(re. In the mouth of this
goulfe were foure lyttle Ilandes fo nere togyther, that they made a fafe hauen to enter into the goulfe. This
goulfe is the hauen which we fayde before to be cauled Cerabaro of th[e]inhabitantes. But they haue nowe
lemed that only the lande of the one fyde therof, lyinge on the ryght hande at the enterynge of the goulfe, is
cauled by that name. But that on the lefte fyde, is cauled Aburema. He faythe that all this goulfe is ful of
fruteful Ilandes wel replenyffhed with goodly trees : And the grounde of the fea to bee verye cleane withowt
rockes, and commodious to call anker; Lykewyfe the fea of the goulfe to haue greate abundance of fyffhe: and
the lande of both the fydes to bee inferior to none in frutfulnes. At his fyrd arryuynge, he efpyed two of
th[e]inhabitantes hauynge cheynes about theyr neckes, made of ouches (which they caule Guanines,) of bafe
golde artificially wrought in the formes of Eagles, and lions, with dyuers other beafles and foules. Of the two
Cariaians whiche he brought with hym from Cariai, he was enformed that the regions of Cerabaro and Aburema
were rych in golde: And that the people of Cariai haue all theyr golde frome thenfe for exchaunge of
other of theyr thynges. They towlde hym alfo, that in the fame regions there are fyue vyllages not
farre from the fea fyde, whofe inhabitantes apply them felues onely to the gathering of gold The names
of thefe vyllages are thefe: Chirara, Puren, Chitaza, lureche, Atamea. All the men of the prouince of
Cerabaro, go naked, and are paynted with dyuers coloures. They take great pleafure in wearynge gar
landes of floures, and crownes made of the clawes of Lions and Tygers. The women couer onely theyr
priuie partes with a fyllet of goflfampine cotton. Departinge from henfe and coaflynge (lyll by the fame (hore
for the fpace of xviii. leagues, he came to another ryuer, where he efpyed aboute three hundreth naked men in
a company. When they fawe the (hippes drawe neare the lande, they cryed owt aloude, with cruell
countenaunces fliakynge theyr woodden fwoordes and hurlynge dartes, takynge alfo water in theyr mouthes and
The thyrde Decade.
153
fpoutyng the fame ageynft. our men : wherby they feemed to infinuate that they woolde receaue no condition of
peace or haue owght to doo with them. Here he commaunded certeyne pieces of ordinaunce to be (hot of
toward them : Yet fo to ouerfhute them, that none myght be hurt therby. For he euer determyned to deale
quietly and peaceably with thefe newe nations. At the noyfe therfore of the gunnes and fyght of the fyer, they
fell downe to the grounde, and defyred peace. Thus enteringe into further frendfhippe, they exchaunged theyr
cheynes and ouches of golde for glaffes and haukes belles and fuch other marchandies. They vfe drummes or
tymbrels made of the fhelles of certeyne fea fyffhes, wherewith they encorage theym felues in the warres. In
this tract are thefe feuen ryuers, Acateba, Quareba, Zobroba, Aiaguitin, Vrida, Durriba, Beragua, in all the
whiche, golde is founde. They defende them felues ageynfle ra5Tie and heate with certeyne great leaues of trees
in the fleade of clokes. Departinge from henfe, he fearched the coaftes of Ebetere and Eitibigar, into the which
faule the goodly ryuers of Zohoran and Cubigar : And here ceafeth the plentie and frutefulnes of golde, in the
tracte of fiftie leagues or there about. From henfe onely three leagues didant, is the rocke whiche in the
vnfortunate difcourfe of Nicuefa we fayde was cauled of owre men Pignonem. But of th[e]inhabitantes the
Region is cauled Vibba. In this tracte alfo aboute fyxe leagues frome thenfe, is the hauen which Colonus cauled
Partus Bellus (wherof we haue fpokenbefore) in the region whiche th[e]inhabitantes caule Xaguaguara. This
region is very peopulous : but they go all naked. The kyng is paynted with blacke colours, but all the people
with redde. The kynge and feuen of his noble men, had euery of them a lyttle plate of golde hangynge at theyr
nofethrilles downe vnto theyr lyppes. And this they take for a cumly omamente. The menne inclofe theyr
priuie members in a fhell : And the women couer theyrs with a fyllet of goflampine cotton tyed about theyr
loynes. In theyr gardens they nooryfflie a frute muche lyke the nutte of a pine tree: the whiche (as we haue
fayde in an other place) groweth on a flirubbe muche lyke vnto an archichoke : But the frute is muche fofter,
and meate for a kynge. Alfo certeyne trees whiche beare gourdes, wherof we haue fpoken before. This tree,
they caule Hibuero. In thefe coafles they mette fumtymes with Crocodiles lyinge on the fandes, the whiche
when they fled, or tooke the water, they lefte a very fweete fauour behynde them fweeter then mufke or Cajloreum.
When I was fente ambafladour for the catholike king of Cadile to the Soltane of Babilon or Alcayer in Egipte,
th[e]inhabitantes nere vnto the ryuer of Nilus toulde me the like of their female Crocodiles. AfTyrmyng
furthermore that the fatte or fewette of them is equall in fweetnes with the pleafaunte gummes of Arabie. But
the Admirall was nowe at the length enforced of neceffytie to departe from henfe, afwell for that he was no longer
able to abyde the contrarye and vyolente courfe of the water, as alfo that his fhyppes were daily more and more
putrified and eaten throwgh with certeyne wormes whiche are engendred of the warmenes of the water in all
thofe tractes nere vnto the Equinoctial line. The Venetians caule thefe woormes Biffas. The fame are alfo
engendred in two hauens of the citie of Alexandria in Egipt, and deflroye the fhyppes if they lye longe at
anker. They are a cubet in length, and fumwhat more : not paffyng the quantitie of a fynger in bygneffe.
The Spanyflie mariner cauleth this peflilence Broma. Colonus therfore whom before the great monflers of the
fea coulde not feare, nowe fearyng this Broma, beynge alfo foore vexed with the contrary faule of the fea, directed
his courfe with the Ocean towarde the weft, and came firfl to the ryuer Hiebra, diftant onely two leaques from
the ryuer of Beragua, bycaufe that was commodious to harborowe great fhippes. This region is named after the
riuer, and is called Beragua the leffe : Bycaufe bothe the ryuers are in the dominion of the kyng which inhabiteth
the region of Beragua. But what chaunfed vnto hym in this vyage on the ryghte hande and on the lefte, lette
vs nowe declare. Whyle therfore Colonus the Admirall remayned yet in the ryuer Hiebra, he fent Bertholomeus
Colonus his brother and Lieuetenaunte of Hifpaniola, with the fhyppe boates and threfcore and. viii.
men to the ryuer of Beragua, where the king of the region beinge naked and painted after the maner of the
countrey, came towarde them with a great multitude of men waytynge on hym, but all vnarmed and without
weapons, gyuinge alfo fygnes of peace. When he approched nerer, and entered communication with owre men,
certeyne of his gentelmen nearefte aboute his perfon, rememberinge the maieftie of a king, and that it ftoode
not with his honour to bargen ftondynge, tooke a greate ftoone owte of the ryuer, wafftiynge and rubbynge it
veary decently, and fo put it vnder hym with humble reuerence. The kyng thus fyttyng, feemed with fygnes
and tokens to infinuate that it ftiuld be lawful for owre men to fearche and viewe al the ryuers within his
dominion. Wherfore, the vi. day of the Ides of February, leaning his boates with certeyne of his coompany,
he wente by lande a foote from the bankes of Beragua vntyl he came to the ryuer of Duraba, whiche he
affirmeth to be richer in gold then eyther Hiebra or Beragua. For gold is engendred in al the riuers of that
land. In fo muche that emonge the rootes of the trees growynge by the bankes of the ryuers, and amonge the
ftones left of the water, and alfo where fo euer they dygged a hole or pyt in the grounde not pafte the deapthe
of a handfull and a halfe, they founde the earthe taken owte therof, myxte with golde : Where vppon he deter-
myned to faften his foote there and to inhabyte. Whiche thynge the people of the countrey perceauynge and
fmellynge what inconuenyence and myfchiefe myght thereof enfewe to their countrey if they (hulde permitte
ftraungers to plante their habitation there, aflembled a great army, and with horrible owte crye affayled owre
153
SpytefuU people.
Guns make peace.
Seuen golden
ryuers
Note, where the
plentie of golde
endeth
Pignottem.
Vibia.
Partus Belhis.
Paynted people.
A strange syght
A shel in the
steede of a
codpiece.
Crocodiles of
sweete sauour.
Alcayr or Babilon
in Egipt
Shippes eaten
with wormes.
Alexandria in
Egypte.
Broma.
Beragua.
:o9
How the king of
Beragua
enterteyned the
lyeuetenaunte.
Their reuerence to
the kynge.
Golde in the ryuer
Duraba.
Great plenty of
golde.
154
The thyrde Decade.
Slynges and
dartes.
Liberty more
esteemed then
ryches.
The Spanyardes
are dryuen to
flight
The lUnde of
lamaica.
A myserablc ;ase.
110
Neccssytic hath
no lawe Howe
farre tyfe is to bee
esteemed.
A daungerous
enterpryse.
Sancius
Dominicus.
Landes found by
Colonus.
Temperate regions
and noisome aier
Cerabaro.
Hiebra.
Beragua.
Experte myner.s.
A Kodly nature in
gude.
Golden haruesL
men (who had nowe begoonne to buylde houfes) foo defperately that they were fcarcely able to abyde the
fyrile brunte. Thefe naked barbarians at their fyrfl approche, vfed onely flynges and dartes : But when they
came nearer to hande flrookes, they foughte with their woodden fwoordes whiche they caule Machanas, as wee
haue fayd before. A man woolde not thinke what great malice and ^vrath was kyndeled in their hartes ageinft
o^vre men : And with what defperate myndes they fought for the defenfe of their lybertie whiche they more
elleeme then lyfe or rycheffe. For they were nowe fo voyde of all feare, and contemnynge deathe, that they
neyther feared longe bowes or croffebowes, nor yet (whiche is moofle to be marueyled) were any thynge
difcouraged at the terryble noyfe of the gunnes fliotte of from the fhyppes. They retyred once. But fhortly
after encreafynge their noumber, they returned more fiercely then at the fyrfle. They woolde haue byn
contented to haue receyued owre men frendly as flraungers, but not as inhabitours. The more inflante that
owre men were to remaine, fo muche the greater multitude of bortherers flocked togyther dayly, dillurbyng them
both nyght and daye fumt)mies on the one fyde and fumtymes on the other. The fliyps lying at anker neare
vnto the (hore, warded them on the backe halfe. But at the length they were fayne to forfake this lande, and
retoume backe the fame way by the which they came. Thus with much diffyculty and danger, they came to
the Hand of Jamaica lyenge on the fouth fyde of Hifpaniola and Cuba, with their fliyppes as full of holes as
fieues, and fo eaten with woormes, as though they had byn bored through with wimbles. The water entered
fo fade at the ryftes and holes, that if they had not with the paynefuU labour of their handes empted the fame
as fafte, they were lyke to haue peryffhed. Where as yet by this meanes they arryued at lamaica, althoughe
in maner halfe deade. But their calamitie ceafed not here. For as fafl as their fhyppes leaked, their llrengthe
dimyniffhed fo that they were no longer able to keepe theym from fynkynge. By reafon wherof, faulynge into
the handes of the barbarians, and inclofed withowte hope of departure, they led their lyues for the fpace of
tenne monthes emong the naked people more myferably then euer dyd Achemenides emonge the gyantes cauled
Cicbpes: rather lyuing then beinge eyther contented or fatiffied with the (Irange meates of that Hande : and
that onely at fuch tymes as pleafed the barbarians to giue them part of theirs. The deadly enmity and malice
whiche thefe barbarous kinges beare one ageinfl. an other, made greatly with owre men. For at fuche tymes
as they attempted warre ageinfl. their bortherers they woold fumtymes g)Tie owre men parte of theyr breade to
ayde them. But howe myferable and wretched a thyng it is to lyue onely with breade gotten by beggynge,
yowre holynefle maye eafylye coniecture: Efpecially where all other accuftomed foode is lackynge, as wyne,
oyle, fleflhe, butter, chiefe, and milke, wherwith the fl.omakes of owr people of Europe haue euer byn noorifflied
euen from their cradelles. Therfore as neceflyty is fubiecte to no lawe, fo doothe it enforce men to attempte
defperate aduentures. And thofe the foner, which by a certeyne nobylytie of nature do no further efleeme
lyfe then it is ioyned with fumme felicity. Bertholomeus Colonus therfore, intendynge rather to proue what god
woolde do with hym and his companyons in thefe extremities, then any longer to abide the fame, commaunded
Diegus Mendez his fteward with two guydes of that Hande whome he had hyred with promyfles of great rewardes
at their retoume, to enter into one of their canoas and take their viage to Hifpaniola. Beynge thus tofled on
the fea two and fro from rocke too rocke by reafon of the fhortenefle and narownes of the canoa, they arryued
at the length at the lafle corner of Hifpaniola, beynge diflante from lamaica fortie leagues. Here his guydes
departynge from hym, returned ageine to Colonus for the rewardes which he had promyfed them. But Diegus
Mendez wente on forward a foote vntyll he came to the citie cauled Sa?inus Dominicus beynge the chiefe and
heade citye of the Hande. The offycers and rulers of Hifpaniola, beinge enformed of the matter, appoynted
hym two fhyppes wherwith he retourned to his maifler and coompanions. As he founde them, foo came they
to Hifpaniola, verye feeble and in maner naked. What chaunced of them afterwarde, I knowe not as yet.
Lette vs nowe therfore leaue thefe particulers, and fpeake fumwhat more of generals. In al thofe tractes whiche
we fayde here before to haue bynne found by Colonus the Admyrall, bothe he hym felfe writeth, and all his
coompanyons of that vyage confefTe, that the trees, herbes, and frutes, are floryfliing and greene all the hole
yeare, and the ayer fo temperate and holefome, that of all his coompanye there neuer fell one man fycke, nor
yet were vexed eyther with extreme coulde or heate for the fpace of fyftie leagues from the great hauen of
Cerabaro to the ryuers of Hiebra and Beragua. Th[e]inhabitantes of Cerabaro, and the nations whiche are
betwyxte that and the fayde ryuers, applye not them felues to the gatherynge of golde but onely at certeyne
tymes of the yeare : And are very experte and cunnyng herein, as are owre myners of fyluer and Iren. They
knowe by longe experience in what places golde is moofle abundantly engendred : as by the colour of the
water of the ryuers, and fuche as faule from the montaynes: And alfo by the colour of the earthe and flones.
They beleue a certeyne godly nature to be in golde, forafmuche as they neuer gather it excepte they vfe
certeyne relygious expiations or pourgynge, as to abfteyn from women, and all kyndes of plefures and delycate
meates and drinkes, during all the tyme that their golden haruefl laftethe. They fuppofe that men do naturally
lyue and dye as other beaftes do, and therfore honour none other thynge as god. Yet doo they praye to the
foonne, and honour it when it ryfeth. But lette vs nowe fpeake of the montaines and fituation of thefe landes
The thyrde Decade.
155
From all the fea bankes of thefe regyons, exceding great and hyghe mountaynes are feene towarde the Southe,
yet reachynge by a continuall tracte from the Eafte into the wefle. By reafon wherof I fuppofe that the two
greate feas (wherof I haue fpoken larg[e]ly before) are deuided with thefe montaynes as it were with bulwarkes,
lealle they (houlde ioyne and repugne, as Italye deuideth the fea cauled Tirrhmum, from the fea Adriatyke,
which is nowe commonly cauled the goulfe of Venes.
For whiche waye foo euer they fayled from the poynt cauled Promotitorium, S. AuguJIini (whiche perteyneth
to the Portugales and profpecteth ageynfle the fea Atlantike) euen vnto Vraba and the hauen Cerabaro, and to
the furtheft. landes found hytherto weflwarde, they had euer greate mountaynes in fyghte both nere hande and
farre of, in all that longe rafe. Thefe mountaynes were in fume place, fmooth, pleafaunt and frutfull, full of
goodly trees and herbes : And fumwhere, hygh, rowgh, ful of rockes, and baren, as chaunfeth in the famus
mountaynes of Taurus in Afia, and alfo in dyuers coaftes of our mountaynes of Apennini, and fuche other of
lyke byggeneffe. The rydgies alfo of thefe mountaynes are diuided with goodly and fayre valleis. That part
of the mountaynes which includeth the lymettes of Beragua, is thought to be hygher then the clowdes, in fo
much that (as they faye) the tops of them can feldome bee feene for the multitude of thicke clowdes which are
beneath the fame. Colonus the Admirall the fyrfle fynder of thefe regions, affirmeth that the toppes of the
montaynes of Beragua are more then fiftie myles in heyghth. He fayth furthermore that in the fame region
at the rotes of the montaynes the way is open to the fouth fea, and compareth it as it were betwene Venice and
Genua, or lanua as the Genues wyll haue it cauled, whiche fable that theyr citie was buylded of lanus. He
affirmeth alfo that this lande reacheth foorth towarde the fouth : And that from henfe it taketh the begynnynge
of breadth, lyke as from the Alpes owte of the narowe thygh of Italy, we fee the large and mayne landes of
Fraunce, Germanye, and Pannonye, to the Sarmatians and Scythyans, euen vnto the mountaynes and rockes of
Riphea and the frozen fea, and embrafe therwith as with a continuall bonde, all T[h]racia, and Grecia, with all that
is included within the promontorie or poynt of Malea and Hellefpontus fouthwarde, and the fea Euxinus and the
maryflhes of Mxotis in Scythia northwarde. The Admirall fuppofethe, that on the lefte hande in faylynge
towarde the wede, this lande is ioyned to India beyonde the ryuer of Ganges : And that on the ryght hande
towarde the North, it bee extended to the frofen fea, beyonde the Hyperboreans and the North pole : So that
both the feas (that is to meane that fouth fea which we fayde to bee founde by Vafchus, and owre Ocean)
(hulde ioyne and meete in the comers of that lande ; And that the waters of thefe feas doo not onely inclofe
and compaffe the fame withowt diuifion as Europe is inclofed with the feas of Hellefpontus and Tanais, with the
frofen Ocean and owre fea of Tyrrhenum with the Spanyfihe feas. But in my opinion, the vehement courfe of
the Ocean toward the wefle, doth fignifie and lette that the fayde two feas (hulde not fo ioyne togither: But
rather that that land is adherent to the firme landes towarde the Northe, as we haue fayde before. It fhall
fuffice to haue fayde thus muche of the length hereof. Let vs nowe therfore fpeake fumwhat of the breadth of
the fame. We haue made mention before howe the fouth fea is diuided by narowe lymittes from owre Ocean, as
it was proued by th[e] experience of Vafchus Nunnez and his coompanions which fyrft made open the way
thyther. But as dyuerfly as the mountaynes of owre Alpes in Europe are fumwhere narowe and in fume place
brode, euen fo by the lyke prouidence of nature, this lande in fume parte reacheth farre in breadth, and is in
other places coarcted with narowe limettes from fea to fea, with valleys alfo in fume places, wherby men maye
paffe from the one fyde to the other. Where we haue defcrybed the regions of Vraba and Beragua to bee fituate,
thefe feas are diuided by fmaule diRaunce. Yet owght we to thynke the region which the great ryuer of
Maragnonus runneth through, to bee very large if we fhall graunt Maragnonum to bee a ryuer and no fea, as the
freflie waters of the fame owght to perfuade vs. For in fuche narowe caues of the earth, there can bee no
fwalowing goulfes of fuch bygneffe as to receaue or nooryfhe fo great abundance of water. The lyke is alfo to
bee fuppofed of the great ryuer of Dabaiba which we fayde to bee from the comer of the goulfe of Vraba in
fume place of fortie fathomes depth, and fumwhere fiftie : Alfo three myles in breadth, and fo to faule into the
fea. We mull needes graunt that the earth is brode there, by the whiche the ryuer paffeth from the hyghe
mountaynes of Dabaiba from the Ealle and not from the weft. They fay that this ryuer confifteth and taketh
his encreafe of foure other ryuers faulynge from the mountaynes oi Dabaiba. 0\vre men caule this ryuer
Flumen. S. lohannis. They fay alfo that from henfe it fauleth into the goulfe of Vraba by feuen mouthes as
doothe the ryuer of Nilus into the fea of Egypte. Lykewyfe that in the fame region of Vraba there are in fume
places narowe ftreyghtes not paflynge fyftene leaques : and the fame to bee faluage and withowt any paffage by
reafon of dyuers maryffhes and defolate wayes, which the Latines caule Lamas: But the Spanyardes accordynge
to their varietie, caule them Tremedales, Trampales, Cenegales, Sumideros, and Zahondaderos. But before we
pafle any further, it fhall not bee greatly from owr purpofe to declare from whenfe thefe mountaynes of Dabaiba
haue theyr name accordynge vnto th[e]antiquities of th[e]inhabitantes. They faye therefore that Dabaiba was
a woman of greate magnanimitie and wyfedome emonge theyr prediceffours in owlde tyme : whom in her lyfe,
all th[e]inhabitantes of thofe prouinces did greatly reuerence, and beinge deade gaue her diuine honour and
Hyghe and greate
mountaynes.
Tyrrhennum is
nowe cauled
Tuscane
Cap. S. A ugttsiini.
Vraba.
Cerabaro.
Frutful
mountaynes.
Apennini are
mountaynes
which diuide
Italy into. it.
partes
Beragua
The mountaynes
of Beragua higher
then the cloudes.
Montaynes of
fiftie miles heyght.
Ill
lanus otherwyse
cauled laphet, ihe
son of Noe.
Italy is lyke vnto
a legge in the
sea, and the
mountaynes of the
alpes, are in the
thyghe thereof
Colonus his
opinion of the
supposed
Continent
By this coniecture,
the way shuld be
open to Cathay by
the hiperboreans
Looke the
nauigation of
Cabote. decaEde].
iii. lib. vL
The breadth of
the lande
The regions of
Vraba and
Beragua.
The greate riuer
Maragnonus.
The greate riuer
Dabaiba, or sanct>
lohannis.
The ryers haue
theyr increase
from the sprynges
of the montaynes.
The ryuer of Nilu:
in Egypte.
Marisshcs and
desolate wayes.
A superstitious
opinion of
th[e]originaU of
montaines of
Dabaiba.
I
156
The thyrde Decade.
112
Dragons and
crocodiles in the
marishes
The hauen
Cerabara
Twenrie golden
ryuers.
Precious stones.
A precious
diemonde of
excedynge bygnes.
Topases.
The Spanyardes
contemne
efTeminate plesiires
Sweete sauours.
A similitude
prouing great
plentie of golde
and precious
stones.
The hauen of
Sancta Martha.
Cariai,
The heroical
factes of the
Spaniard es.
113
named the region after her name, beleuynge that fliee fendeth thunder and lyghtnynge to deftroy the frutes of
the earth yf fliee bee angered, and to fend plentie if (hee bee well pleafed. This fuperflition hatha byn
perfuaded them by a craftie kynde of men vnder pretenfe of religion to th[e]intent that they might enioye fuche
gyftes and ofTeringes as were brought to the place where (hee was honoured. This is fufficient for this purpofe.
They faye furthermore that the maryffhes of the narowe lande wherof we haue fpoken, brynge foorth great
plentie of Crocodiles, dragons, battes, and gnattes beinge very hurtfuU. Therefore when fo euer they take any
iorney towarde the fouthe, they go owte of the way towarde the mountaynes, and efchewe the regions neare vnto
thofe perelous fennes or maryfhes. Sume thinke that there is a valley lyinge that way that the ryuer runneth
which owre men caule Rio de los perdidos, that is, the ryuer of the loft men (fo named by the miffortune whiche
there befell to Nicuefa and his coompany) and not far diftant from the hauen Cerabaro whiche diuideth thofe
mountaynes towarde the fouth. But let vs nowe fynilhe this booke with a fewe other thynges woorthy to bee
noted. They fay therefore that on the ryght hande and lefte hande frome Dariena, there are twentie ryuers in
all the whiche, greate plentie of golde is founde. Being demaunded what was the caufe why they brought no
greater abundance of golde from thenfe, they anfwered that they lacked myners : And that the men which they
tooke with them from Spayne thyther, were not accuftomed to laboure, but for the mofle parte brought vp
in the warres. This lande feemeth alfo to promeffe many precious flones. For befyde thofe which I fayde
to bee founde neare vnto Cariai and Sandla Martha, one Andreas Moralis a pylot (who had trauayled
thofe coaftes with Johannes de la Coffa whyle he yet lyued) had a precious diamonde which he bought of a
naked younge man in the region of Cumana in the prouince of Paria. This ftone was as longe as two
ioyntes of a mans middell fynger, and as bygge as the fyrft ioynte of the thumme : beinge alfo paynted on euery
fyde, confiftynge of eyght fquares perfectly formed by nature. They fay that with this they made fcarres in
anuilles and hammers, and brake the teethe of fyles, the ftone remaynyng vnperyfftied. The younge
man of Cumana, wore this ftone aboute his necke emonge other ouches, and foulde it to Andreas Moralis
for fyue of our counterfect ftones made of glaffe of dyuers colours wherwith the ignorant younge man was greatly
delyted. They founde alfo certeyne topafes on the fliore. But th[e]eftimation of golde was fo farre entered
into the heades of owre men, that they had no regarde to ftones. Alfo the moft part of the Spanyardes, do
lawgh them to fcome which vfe to weare many ftones : fpecially fuch as are common : ludginge it to bee an
effeminate thynge, and more meete for women then men. The noble men onely when they celebrate folemne
manages, or fet forth any triumphes, weare cheynes of gold byfet with precious ftones, and vfe fayre apparell of
fylke embrothered with golde intermixt with pearles and precious ftones: And not at other tymes. They
thynke it no leiTe effeminate for men to fmell of the fweete fauours of Arabie : And iudge hym to bee infected
with fum kynde of fylthy lechery, in whom they fmell the fauour of mufke or Cajloreum. But lyke as by one
apple taken from a tree, we may perceyue the tree to bee frutfull, and by one fyfhe taken in a ryuer, we may
knowe that fyfhe is ingendered in the fame, euen fo, by a lyttel gold, and by one ftone, we owght to confyder
that this lande bringeth forthe great plentie of golde and precious ftones. What they haue found in the porta
of Sanlla Martha in the region of Cariai when the hole nauye pafTed therby vnder the gouemaunce of Petrus
Arias and his coompany with certeine other of the kynges offycers, I haue fuffyciently declared in his place.
To be fhorte therefore, all thynges do fo floryffhe, growe, encreafe, and profper, that the lafte are euer better
then the fyrfte. And furely to declare my opinion herin, what fo euer hath heretofore byn difcouered by the
famous trauayles of Saturnus and Hercules, with fuch other whom the antiquitie for their heroical factes honoured
as goddes, feemeth but lyttell and obfcure if it be compared to the Spanyardes victorious laboures. Thus I byd
yowre holynes fare well, defyringe yowe to certifye me howe yowe lyke thefe fyrfte frutes of the Ocean, that
beyng encoraged with yowre exhortations, I maye the gladlyer and with leffa tedioufheffe write fuche thynges as
Ihal chaunce herafter.
The fyft booke of the thirde decade.
L fuche lyuynge creatures as vnder the cercle of the moone bringe forthe any thynge, are
accuftomed by th[e]inftincte of nature as foone as they are delyuered of their byrthe, eyther
to clofe vppe the matrice, or at the leafte to bee quyete for a fpace. But owre moofte frute-
fuU Ocean and newe woorlde, engendereth and bringeth furthe dayly newe byrthes wherby
men of great wytte, and efpecially fuche as are ftudyous of newe and meruelous thinges, may
haue fumwhat at hand wherwith to feede their myndes. If yowre holyneffe do afke to what
purpofe is al this, ye (hal vnderftand, that I had fcarcely fynyfftied the hiftorye of fuche thynges
as chaunfed to Vafchus Nunnez and his coompanye in their vyage to the fouthe fea, when foodenly there came
156
The thyrde Decade.
157
newe letters from Petrus Arias the newe gouemour whom the kyng had appoynted the yeare before with an
army of men and a nauye of fliippes to fayle to thefe newe landes. He fygnifyeth by his letters, that he with
his nauye and coompany, arryued all fafelye. Furthermore, lohannes Cabedus (whome yowre holynes at the
requefle of the mofle catholyke kynge had created byffhoppe of that prouynce of Dariend) and three other of
the chiefe offycers ioined in commiffion to be his aflyflance, as Alfonfus de Ponte, Diegits Marques, and lohannes
de Tauira, confyrmed the fame letters and fubfcribed them with their names. The nauygation therfore of
Petrus Arias, was in this maner. The daye before the Ides of Apryll, in the yeare of Chrille. 1514. he hoyfed
vppe his fayles in the towne of faincte Lticar de Barrameda, fytuate in the mouthe of the ryuer Bcetis, whiche
the Spaniardes nowe caule Guadalchebir. The feuen Ilandes of Canaria are about foure hundreth myles dillant
from the place where this riuer fauleth into the fea. Summe thinke that thefe are the Ilandes which the owlde
writers did caule the fortunate Ilandes. But other thynke the contrary. The name <3f thefe Ilandes, are thefe.
The two whiche appere fyrfte in fyght, are named Lanzelota and Fortifuentura. On the backehalfe of thefe,
lyeth Magna Canaria or Grancanaria. Beyonde that is Tenerife: and Gomera fumwhat towarde the northe
frome that. Palma and Ferrea, lye behynde as it were a bulwarke to all the other. Petrus Arias therfore, arriued
at Gomera the eyghte daye after his departure, with a nauye of xvii. fhippes and a. M. [thousand] and fyue
hundreth men, althoughe there were onely a thoufand and two hundreth aflygned hym by the kynges letters.
It is fayde furthermore that he lefte behynd hym more then two thoufande verye penfyue and fyghynge that
they alfo myght not be receaued, proferynge them felues to go at their owne charges. He taried. xvi. dayes in
Gomera to th[e]intente to make prouyfyon of fuell and frefhe water : But chiefely to repayre his fhyppes beynge
fore brofed with tempefles, and efpecially the gouemours fhippe whiche had lofle the rudder. For thefe
Ilandes are a commodious reflynge place for all fuche as intende to attempte any nauygations in that mayne
fea. Departynge from henfe in the nones of Maye, he fawe no more lande vntyll the thirde daye of lune,
at the whiche he arriued at Dominica an Ilande of the Canibales, being diflant from Gomera aboute eyght
hundreth leaques. Here he remayned foure dayes, makinge newe prouifion of frefhe water and fuell, durynge
whiche tyme he fawe no man nor yet any lleppes of men ; But founde plentie of fea crabbes and greate lyfartes-
From henfe he layled by the Ilandes of Matinina (otherwyfe cauled Madanino) Guadalupea, and Galanta
(otherwyfe cauled Galana) of all whiche, we haue fpoken in the fyrfle decade. He pafled alfo throughe
the fea of herbes or weedes, continuyng a long tracte. Yet nother he, nor Colonus the Admyrall (who
fyrfle founde thefe Ilandes and fayled through this fea of weedes) haue declared anye reafon howe
thefe weedes fhoulde coome. Summe thynke the fea too be verye muddye there, and that thefe weedes
are engendered in the bottome therof, and fo beynge loofed, to afcende to the vppermoofle parte of the
water, as wee fee oftentymes chaunce in certeyne flondynge pooles, and fumtymes alfo in greate ryuers.
Other fuppofe that they are not engendered there, but to bee beaten from certeyne rockes by the
vyolence of the water in tempefles. And thus they leaue the matter in dowte: Neyther haue they yet
any certeyne experyence whether they (lycke fafle and gyue place to the fhyppes, or wander loofe vppon
the water. But it is to bee thought that they are engendered there. For otherwyfe they fliulde bee dryuen
togyther on heapes by th[e]ympulfyon of the fhyppes euen as a beafome gathereth the fwepynges of a houfe, and
fhulde alfo lette the courfe of the fhyppes. The fourth day after that he departed frome Dominica, the hyghe
mountaynes couered with fnowe (wherof we haue fpoken in the feconde decade) appered vnto hym. They faye
that there the feas runne as fwyftely towarde the wefle, as it were a ryuer faulyng from the toppes of hyghe
montaynes : Although they fayled not directly toward the wefl, but inclined fumwhat to the fouth. From thefe
montaynes fauleth the ryuer of Gaira, famous by the flaughter of owre men at fuch tyme as Rodericus
Colmenares paffed by thofe coalles as we haue fayde before. Lykewyfe many other fayre ryuers haue their
originall from the fame montaynes. This prouynce (in the whiche is, alfo the regyon of Caramairi) hath in it
two notable hauens, of the which owre men named the one Carthago or Carthagena, and the other San^a
Martha, the region wherof, th[e]inhabitantes caule Saturma. The porte of SanEla Martha, is nearer to the
montaines couered with fnowe cauled Monies Niuales: for it is at the rootes of the fame montaines. But the
hauen of Carthago, is more weftewarde aboute fyftie leaques. He ^vriteth marueylous thynges of the hauen of
Sanfla Martha, whiche they alfo confirme that came lately from thenfe : Of the which younge Vefputius is one
to whom Americus Vefputius his vncle (being a Florentine borne) left the exact knowlege of the mariners
facultie, as it were by inheritance after his death for he was a very expert maifler in the knowledge of his
carde, his compafTe, and the eleuation of the pole flarre with all that perteineth therto. This younge Vefputius
was affygned by the kyng to bee one of the maiflers of the gouemours fhyppe, bicaufe he was cunninge in
iudgyng the degrees of the eleuation of the pole flarre by the quadrante. For the charge of gouemynge the
rudder, was chiefely coommytted to one lohannes Serranus a Spaniarde, who had oftentymes ouer runne thofe
coafles. Vefputius is my verye familyar frende, and a wyttie younge man in whofe coompany I take great
pleafure, and therefore vfe hym oftentymes for my gefle. He hath alfo made many vyages into thefe coafles, and
The bysshop of
Daricna.
The naui^ation of
Petrus Arias.
Saint Lucar.
The Hand of
Canarie-
Prouision of
fresshe water and
fuelL
The Hand of
Dominica.
Guadalupea,
otherwyse cauled
Carucueria, or
Queraquiera.
The sea of herbes.
114
These mountaynes
are cauled Monies
Niuales or Serra
Neuata, decade ii.
Hber. I and iL
The swyftc course
of the sea towarde
the west.
The ryuer Gaira.
Caramairi,
Cartliago.
Saturma.
Mountaynes
couered with
snowc.
A ntericifs
VesptUius.
158
The thyrde Decade.
The stoulnes of
the liarbarians.
The Canibales
feyght in the
water.
The vsc of gunncs.
The eeneracion of
thunder and
lyghtnynge.
Meieora,
Venciiious arrowes
115
Plentie of fysshe.
Cunnynge
fysshers.
Theyr householde
stuife.
TapWstry.
A straunge
phantasy.
This is he whom
Cai danus praiseth.
Precious stones
The Smarngde is
the trew cmt-rode
Another kind of
amber is founde
in whales.
Gold and brasile.
Marchasiles are
flowers of metals,
by the colours
wherof, the kyndes
of metals are
knoweiL
These locustes
burne the come
with toching and
deuoure the
residewe they arc
in India of iiL
foote length.
diligently noted fuche thinges as he hath feene. Petrus Arias therfore writeth, and he confyrmelh the fame,
that th[e]inhabitantes of thefe regyons tooke their originall of the Caribes or Canibales, as appeared by the
defperate fiercenes and crueltie which they oftentymes fliewed to owre men when they paffed by their coaft.es.
Suche floutenes and fortitude of mynde is naturallye engendered in thefe naked Barbarians, that they feared not
to aflayle owre hole nauy and to forbyd them to coome a land. They feyght with venemous arrowes as we haue
fayde before. Perceauynge that owre men contempned their threatnynges, they ranne furioufly into the fea,
euen vppe to the breafles, nothynge fearinge eyther the bygnes or multitude of owre fhyppes, but ceafed not
continually beinge thus in the water, to cafl dartes and fhute their venemous arrowes as thicke as hayle: In fo
muche that owre men had byrme in great daunger if they had not byn defended by the cages or pauiffes
of the fliyppes and their targettes. Yet were two of them wounded whiche died fliortely after. But this
conflycte continued fo fharpe, that at the length owre men were enforced to fhute of their byggeft. pieces of
ordinaunce with haylefliotte : At the flaughter and terrible noyfe wherof the barbarians beynge fore difcomfited
and fhaken with feare, thynkynge the fame to be thunder and lyghtnynge, toumed their backes and fledde
amayne. They greately feare thunder bycaufe thefe regions are oftentymes vexed with thunder and lyghtnynge
by reafon of the hyghe montaynes and neareneffe of the fame to the region of the ayer wherin fuch fierie
tempefles are engendered which the philofophers caule Meieora. And all be it that owre men had nowe dryuen
their enemyes to flyght, and fawe them difparcled and owte of order, yet dowted they and were of dyuers
opinions whether they fhulde purfue them or not On the one partie, fhame pricked them forwarde, and on the
other fyde feare caufed them to cafte many perelles, efpecially confyderynge the venemous arrowes whiche thefe
barbarians canne direct fo certeynely. To departe from theym with a drye foote (as faithe the prouerbe) with fo
great a nauye and fuche an armye, they reputed it as a thynge greately foundynge to their reproche and difhonour.
At the length therfore (hame ouercommyng feare, they purfued them and came to land with their (hippeboates. The
gouemoure of the nauie, and alfo Vefputius doo wryte, that the hauen is no leffe then three leagues in compaffe,
beinge alfo fafe wdthowt rockes, and the water therof fo clere, that a man may fee pybble flones in the bottome
twentie cubettes deape. They faye lykewyfe that there fauleth twoo fayre ryuers of freffhe water into the
hauen : but the fame to bee meeter to beare the canoas of thefe prouinces then anye bygger veffels. It is a
delectable thynge to heare what they tel of the plentie and varietie, and alfo of the pleafaunt taft. of the fyflhes
afwel of thefe riuers as of the fea there about. By reafon wherof they founde here many fyffher boates and
nettes woonderfully wrought of the flalkes of certeyne herbes or weedes dryed and tawed and wrethed with
cordes of fpunne goflampine cotton. For the people of Caramairi, Gaira, and Saturma, are very cunnynge in
fyffliynge, and vfe to fell fyfftie to theyr bortherers for exchaunge of fuche thynges as they lacke. When owre men
had thus chafed the Barbaryans from the fea coafles, and hadde nowe entered into theyr houfes, they affayled
them with newe fkyrmuflies, efpecially when they fawe them faule to fackynge and fpoylyng, and theyr wyues
and chyldren taken captiue. Theyr houfeholde fluffe was made of great reedes which growe on the fea bankes
and the ftalkes of certeyne herbes beaten and afterward made harde. The floures therof were flrewed \vith
herbes of fundry coloures; And the waules hanged with a kynde of tap[e]flry artificially made of goflampine
cotton, and wrought with pictures of Lions, Tygers, and Eagles. The doores of theyr houfes and chambers
were full of dyuers kyndes of fhelles hangynge loofe by fmaule cordes, that beinge fhaken by the wynde they
myght make a certeyne rattelynge and alfo a whyflelynge noyfe by gatherynge the wynde in theyr holowe
places. For herein they haue greate delyte, and impute this for a goodly ornamente. Dyuers haue fhewed me
many woonderfull thynges of thefe regions : Efpecially one Gonzalus Fernandus Ouiedus beinge one of the
maieflrates appointed in that office which the Spanyardes caule Veedor, who hath alfo hetherto entered fiirther
into the lande then any other. He affirmeth that he chaunced vppon the fragmente of a faphire bygger then
the egge of a goofe. And that in certeyne hylles where he trauayled with thirtie men, he founde many of the
precious flones cauled Smaragdes, calcidones, and lafpers, befyde great pieces of amber of the montaines. He
alfo with dyuers other do affirme that in the houfes of fume of the Canibales of thefe regions, they founde the
lyke precious fl.ones fet in golde and inclofed in the tap[e](lry or arras (if it may foo bee cauled) where\vith they
hange theyr houfes. The fame lande bryngeth foorth alfo many wooddes of brafile trees and great plentie of
golde : In fo much that in maner in al places they founde on the fea bankes and on the (hoores, certeyne
marchafites in token of golde : Fernandus Ouiedus declareth furthermore that in a certeyne region cauled Zenu,
lyinge foure fcore and tenne myles from Dariena Eaflwarde, they exercyfe a ftraunge kynde of marchaundies.
For in the houfes of the inhabitantes, they founde greate chefles and bafkets made of the twigges and leaues of
certeyne trees apte for that purpofe, beinge all full of greffehoppers, grylles, crabbes, or crefyflhes : fnayles alfo,
and locuftes whiche deflrowe the fieldes of come, all well dryed and faked. Beinge demaunded why they
referued fuch a multitude of thefe beafl,es, they anfwered that they kepte them to bee foulde to theyr bortherers
which dwell further within the lande : And that for the exchange of thefe precious byrdes and failed fyflhes,
they receaued of them certeyne flrange thynges wherin partely they take pleafure, and partly vfe them for
The thyrde Decade.
159
theyr neceflary affayers. Thefe people dwel not togyther, but fcattered here and there. Th[e]inhabitantes of
Caramairi, feeme to dwel in an earthly Paradife, theyr region is fo fayre and frutefuU, withowt owtragious heate
or fharpe coulde, with lyttle difference of the length of day and nyght throwghowt all the yeare. After that
owre men had thus dryuen the barbarians to flyght, they entered into a valley of two leagues in breadth and
three in length, extendynge to certeyne frutful mountaynes ful of graffe, herbes, and trees, at the rootes wherof,
lye twoo other valleys towarde the ryght hande and the left, throwgh eyther of the which runneth a fayre ryuer,
whereof the ryuer of Gaira is one, but vnto the other they haue yet gyuen noo name. In thefe valleys they
founde manye fayre gardeyns and pleafaunte fyeldes watered with trenfhes diflrybuted in marueylous order,
with no leffe arte then owre Infubrians and Hetrurians vfe to water theyr fyeldes. Theyr common meate,
is Ages, Incca, Maizium, Batiala, wth fuche other rootes and frutes of trees, and alfo fuche fyfflie as they vfe in
the Ilandes and other regions of thefe prouinces. They eate mans flefhe but feldome, bycaufe they meete not
oftentymes with (Irangiers, except they goo foorth of theyr owne dominions with a mayne armye of purpofe to
hunt for men, when theyr rauenynge appetite pricketh them forwarde. For they abfleyne from them felues, and
eate none but fuche as they take in the warres or otherwyfe by chaunce. But fuerly it is a miferable thynge to
heare howe many myriades of men thefe fylthy and vnnaturall deuourers of mans fleffhe haue confumed, and
lefte thoufandes of moRe fayre and frutfull Ilandes and regions defolate withowte menne : By reafon wherof
owre men founde fo many Ilandes whiche for theyr fayrenes and frutefulneffe myght feeme to bee certeyne earthly
Paradyfes, and yet were vtterly voyde of men. Hereby yowre holyneffe may confider howe pernitious a kynde
of men this is. We haue fayde before that the Ilande named SanBi lohannis (which th[e]inhabitantes caule
Burichmd) is nexte to Hifpaniola. It is fayde that onely the Canibales which dwell in the other Ilandes nere
about this, as in the Ilande cauled Hayhay or Sancta Cruets, and in Guadalupea (otherwife cauled Qiieraqueiera,
or Caruaiierd) haue in owre tyme vyolentely taken owte of the fayde Ilande of SanHi lohannis, more then fyue
thoufande men to bee eaten. But let it fuffice thus much to haue wandered by thefe monflrous bludfuckers.
We wyll nowe therfore fpeake fumewhat of the rootes whereof they make theyr breade, forafmuch as the fame
(hall hereafter bee foode to Chriflian men in fleede of breade made of wheate, and in the fleade of radyffhe with
fuch other rootes as they haue byn accuflomed to eate in Europe. We haue oftentymes fayde before that lucca
is a roote whereof the befle and mofle dehcate breade is made bothe in the firme lande of thefe regions, and
alfo in the Ilandes. But howe it is tylled or hufbanded, howe it groweth, and of howe dyuers kyndes it is, I
haue not yet declared. Therefore, when they intende to plante this lucca, they make a hole in the earth knee
deape, and rayfe a heape of the earth taken owte of the fame, fafhionynge it lyke a fquare bedde of nyne foote
breadth on euerye fyde, fettynge twelue trunkes of thefe rootes (beinge about a foote and a halfe longe a piece)
in euery of the fayd beddes conteynynge three rootes of a fyde, fo layde a flope, that the endes of them ioyne
in maner togyther ir> the center or myddeft of the bedde within the grounde. Owt of the ioyntes of the rootes
and fpaces betwene the fame, fprynge the toppes and blades of newe rootes, which by lyttle and lyttle encrea-
fynge, growe to the byggenes and length of a mans arme in the brawne, and oftentymes as bygge as the thygh :
So that by the tyme of thrjT full rypenes, in maner all the earthe of the heape, is conuerted into rootes. But
they fay that thefe rootes are not rype in leffe tyme then a yeare and a halfe : And that the longer they are
fuffered to growe euen vntyll twoo yeares complete, they are fo muche the better and more perfecte to make
breade therof When they are taken foorthe of the earth, they fcrape them and flyfe them with certeyne fliarpe
flones feruynge for the fame purpofe : And thus layinge them betwene two great flones, or puttynge them in a
facke made of the (lalkes of certeyne towgh herbes and fmaule reedes, they preffe them (as we do cheefe or
crabbes to drawe owte the iufe thereof) and fo let them drye a daye before they eate them. The iufe or
lyquoure, they caft. away : for (as we haue fayde) it is deadly poyfon in the Ilandes. Yet is the iufe of fuche as
growe in the firme lande, holfome if it bee fodde, as is the whey of owre mylke. They faye that there are manye
kyndes of this lucca, wherof fonie are more pleafaunte and delycate then the other, and are therefore referued
as it were to make fine manchet for the kynges owne tables. But the gentelmen eate of the meaner forte, and
the common people of the bafefl. The fynefl they caule Cazabbi, which they make rounde lyke cakes in
certeyne preffes before they feeth it or bake it. They faye furthermore that there are lykewyfe dyuers kyndes
of the rootes of Ages and Battata. But they vfe thefe rather as frutes and dyffhes of feruice, then to make
breade therof, as we vfe rapes, radyffhes, muffheroms, nauies, perfeneppes, and fuch lyke. In this cafe, they
moofle efpecially efteeme the befl kynde of Battatas, which in pleafant tad and tendemes farre exceadeth owTe
mufheromes. It (hal fuffice to haue fayde thus muche of rootes. We wyll nowe fpeake therfore of an other
kynde of theyr breade. We declared before that they haue a kynde of grayne or pulfe muche lyke vnto
Panicum, but with fumwhat bygger graines, which they beate into meale vppon certeyne greate hollowe flones
with the labour of their handes when they lacke lucca : And of this is made the more vulgar or common breade.
It is fowen thrife a yeare, fo that the frutfulneffe of the grounde may beare it by reafon of the equalitie of the
tyme, whereof wee haue fpoken fuffyciently before. In thefe reg)'ons they founde alfo the graine of Maizium,
The fayre region
of Caramairi
Fruteful
montaynes.
Gardens.
Insubres are
nowe cauled
Lumb;»rdes, and
hetrusci, Tuscans
116
Many countreys
lefte desolate by
the fiercenes of
the Canibales.
One myriade is
ten thousande.
A miseraule
hearynge.
Breade of rootes.
llie maner of
pi an tinge the
roote lucca.
Earth turned into
rootes.
How breade is
made of rootes.
A straunge
thynge.
Cazahhi.
Ages and Battata
Panicum is a
grayne sumcwhal
lyke mil The
Italians caule u
Melica.
117
I
i6o
The thyrde Decade.
He meanethe the
eqiiall len^h of
day and night
which is
continually vnder
the Equinoctial
lyne.
Maizium
Earth of dyuers
colours.
Golde in ryuers.
Hartes and bores.
Foules.
Holsome ayer
Gossamphie
cotton.
Fethcp;.
Howes and
arrowes.
Deade bodies
rescnied
Ouches of laton.
Gonzalus Ouledus,
sayth that they
gilt maruelously
with the iuse of a
. certeyne herbe.
Whyte marWe.
The great ryuer
Maragnonus.
This ioyneth with
the myghty ryuer
cauled Flumen
Amazonum, found
of late.
Clokes of fethers.
118
The swyfte course
of the water.
xl. leaques in one
nj-Rht.
and fundry kyndes of frutes of trees diligentely planted and well hufbanded. The waye betwene the regyons
of Caramairi and Saturma, is fayre, brode, and ryghte foorthe. They founde here alfo fundrye kyndes of
waterpottes made of earthe of dyuers colours, in the whiche they bothe fetche and keepe frefhe water. Lyke-
wife fundry kindes of iugges, godderdes, drynkyng cuppes, pottes, pannes, dyffhes, and platters artifycially
made. When the gouemour had gyuen commaundement by proclamation, that th[e]inhabitantes fhulde eyther
obey the Chriflian kynge and embrafe owre relygion, or elles to depart owte of their countrey, they anfwered
with venemous arrowes. In this fkyrmyfhe, owre men tooke fumme of theym : whereof clothynge the mode
parte in faire apparell, they fente them ageyne to their owne coompany : But leadyng the refydue to the (hyppes
to th[e]intent to (hewe them the poure and magnyfycence of the chriflians that they myght declare the fame to
their coompanions, therby to wynne their fauour, they appareled them lykewyfe and fente them after their
felowes. Theye affynne that in all the ryuers of thefe coaftes, theye fawe great argumentes and tokens of golde: .
They founde here and there in their houfes good flore of hartes fleflhe and bores flefhe wherwith they fedde
them felues dilycately. They alfo, haue greate plentie of fundry kyndes of byrdes and foules, wherof they
brynge vppe many in their houfes, fumme for neceflarye foode, and other for daynty dyffhes as we do hennes
and partriches. Owre men hereby coniecture that the ayer of thefe regions is veary holfome, for as muche as
fleapynge all nyghte vnder the fyrmament on the bankes of the ryuers, none of them were at any tyme offended
with reumes or heade ache by reafon of any noyfome humoure or vapoure proceadynge from the earthe, ayer,
or water. Owre men furthermore, founde there many great bothomes of goflampyne cotton ready fpunne, and
fardelles of dyuers kyndes of fethers wherof they make them felues creftes and plumes after the maner of owre
men of armes : alfo certeine clokes whiche they efleeme as mofle cumly ornamentes. They founde lykewyfe
an innumerable multitude of bowes and arrowes. Th[e]inhabitantes alfo of thefe regions, in fumme places vfe
to bume the carkefes of their prynces when theye are deade, and to referue their bones buryed with fpyces in
certeyne hylles. In other places, they onely drye theym and imbaume them with fpyces and fweete gummes,
and foo referue them in fepulchers in their owne houfes. Sumwhere alfo, they drye them, fpyce them, adoume
them with precyous iewells and ouches, and fo reuerently place them in certeyne tabernacles made for the
fame purpofe in their owne palayces. When owre men had many of their tabellets, braflettes, coUers, and fuche
other ouches (whiche they caule Guanines) they founde them rather to bee made of laton then of golde :
wherby they fuppofe that they haue vfed to exchaunge their ware with fumme craftie ftraungers whiche broughte
them thofe counterfect ouches to defraude them of their golde. For euen o^vre menne perceaued not the
deceate vntyll they came to the meltynge. Furthermore, certayne of owre buylders wanderynge a lyttell way
from the fea coafles, chaunced to fynde certayne pyeces of white marble. Wherby they thynke that in tyme
pafle fumme ftraungers haue coome too thofe landes, whiche haue dygged marble owte of the mountaines, and
lefte thofe fragmentes on the plaine. There owre men learned that the ryuer Maragnonus defcendeth frome
the montaynes couered with fnowe cauled Monies Niuales or Serra Neiiata : And the fame to bee encreafed by
many other ryuers whiche faule into it throughowte all the lowe and wate[r]lye regions by the whiche it runneth
with fo longe a tracte from the fayde montaynes into the fea : And this to bee the caufe of the greatneffe theroE
Thefe thynges beyng thus brought to pafle, the gouemour commaunded the trumpitour to blowe a retraite:
Whervppon they whiche were fente to lande (beynge fyue hundreth in noumber) makynge a great fhoute for
ioye of their victory, fette them felues in order of battayle, and fo keping their array, returned to the (hippes
laden with fpoyle of thofe prouinces, and fliynynge in fouldiers clokes of fethers, with faire plumes and creftes
of variable colours. In this meane tyme hauynge repaired their fhyppes and fumyffhed the fame with all
neceflaries, they loofed anker the. xvi. daye of the Calendes of luly, directynge their courfe to the hauen of
Carihagena, in the whiche viage they deftroyed and wafted certayne Ilandes of the Canibales lyinge in the waye,
accordynge as they were commaunded by the kynge. But the fwifte courfe of the water deceaued bothe
laJmnnes Serranus the chiefe Pilot of the gouemours ftiyppe, and all the other, althoughe they made their bofte
that they perfectely knewe the nature therof. For they affyrnie that in one night they were caried forty leaques
beyonde their eftimation.
i6a
The thyrde Decade.
i6i
TflE SYXTE BOOKE OF THE THIRDE DeCADE.
Ere mufte we fumwhat digreffe from cofmography, and make a philofophicall difcours to
fearche the fecreate caufes of nature. For wheras they al affyrme with one confent, that the
fea runneth there from the Eafle to the wefte as fwyftly as it were a ryuer fauUnge from hyghe
mountaynes, I thoughte it not good to lette fo great a matter flyppe vntouched. The whiche
while I confyder, I am drawen into no fmaule ambyguitie and doute, whether thofe waters
haue their courfe whiche flowe with fo contynuall a tracte in circuite from the Eafle, as
thowghe they fledde to the weft neuer to retourne, and yet neyther the wefte therby any
whitte the more fylled, nor the Eafte emptied. If we Ihall faye that they faule to their centre (as is the nature of
heuye thynges) and affigne the Equinoctiall lyne to be the centre (as fumme affyrme) what centre fliall we
appointe to bee able to receaue fo great aboundaunce of water? Or what circumference ihal be founde weate?
They whiche haue fearched thofe coaftes, haue yet founde no lykely reafou to be trewe. Manye thynke that
there fliulde bee certeyne large ilraightes or enterances in the comer of that greate lande whiche we defcribed
to bee eyght tymes bygger then Italye, and the comer therof to be full of goulfes, wherby they fuppofe that
fumme ftrayghtes ftiulde pafle through the fame lyinge on the wefte fyde of the Ilande of Cuba : And that the
fayde ftraightes fliuld fwalowe vp thofe waters, and fo conuey the fame into the wefte and from thenfe ageyn
into owre Eafte Ocean, or north feas as fumme thynke. Other -vvyll, that the goulfe of that great lande bee
clofed vppe : and the lande to reach farre towarde the northe on the backe fyde of Cuba : fo that it embrace
the northe landes whiche the frofen fea encompafeth vnder the northe pole : And that all the lande of thofe
coaftes, ftioulde ioyne togyther as one firme lande : Wherby they coniecture that thofe waters fhulde bee turned
aboute by the obiecte or refyflaunce of that lande fo bendynge towarde the north, as we fee the waters toumed
aboute in the crooked bankes of certeyne ryuers. But this agreeth not in all poyntes. For they alfo whiche
haue fearched the frozen fea, and fayled from thenfe into the wefte, do lykewyfe afiyrme that thofe northe feas
flowe contynually towarde the wefte, although nothing fo fwiftely. Thefe northe feas haue byn fearched by one
Sebaftian Cabot a Venetian bome, whom beinge yet but in maner an infante, his parentes caryed with them
into Englande hauyng occafion to reforte thether for trade of marchandies, as is the maner of the Venetians too
leaue no parte of the worlde vnfearched to obteyne richeffe. He therfore furnifihed two fhippes in England at
his owne charges ; And fyrft with three hundreth men, directed his courfe fo farre toward the northe pole, that
euen in the mooneth of luly he founde monftrous heapes of Ife fwimming on the fea, and in maner continuall
day lyght. Yet fawe he the lande in that tracte, free from Ife, whiche had byn molten by heate of the funne.
Thus feyng fuche heapes of Ife before hym he was enforced to tourne his fayles and folowe the wefte, fo
coaftynge ftyll by the fhore, that he was thereby broughte fo farre into the fouthe by reafon of the lande bendynge
fo muche fouthward that it was there almofte equall in latitude with the fea cauled Fretum Hercukum, hauynge
the north pole eleuate in maner in the fame degree. He fayled lykewife in this tracte fo farre towarde the wefte,
that he had the Ilande of Cuba [on] his lefte hande in maner in the fame degree of longitude. As he traueyled by
the coaftes of this greate lande (whiche he named Baccallaos) he fayth that he found the like courfe of the waters
toward the weft, but the fame to runne more foftely and gentelly then the fwifte waters whiche the Spanyardes
found in their nauigations foutheward.
Wherefore, it is not onely more lyke to bee trewe, but ought alfo of neceffitie to bee concluded, that
betwene both the landes hetherto vnknowen, there fhulde bee certeyne great open places wherby the waters
fhulde thus continually pafTe from the Eaft into the wefte : which waters I fuppofe to bee dryuen about the
globe of the earth by the vnceflaunt mouynge and impulfion of the heauens : and not to bee fwalowed vp and
caft owt ageyne by the breathynge of Demogorgon as fume haue imagined bycaufe they fee the feas by increafe
and decreafe, to flowe and reflowe. Sebaftian Cabot him felfe, named thofe landes Baccallaos, bycaufe that in
the feas therabout he founde fo great multitudes of certeyne bigge fyffhes much lyke vnto tunies (which th[e]in-
habitantes caule Baccallaos) that they fumtymes ftayed his fhippes. He founde alfo the people of thofe regions
couered with beaftes fkynnes : Yet not without th[e]ufe of reafon.
He faythe alfo that there is greate plentie of beares in thofe regions, whiche vfe to eate fyffhe. For
plungeinge theym felues into the water where they perceue a multitude of thefe fyffhes to lye, they faften theyr
clawes in theyr fcales, and fo drawe them to lande and eate them. So that (as he faith) the beares beinge thus
fatiffied with fyffhe, are not noyfom to men. He declareth further, that in many places of thefe regions, he
Eden. P i6i
Sundry opinions
why the sea
runneth with so
swyft course from
the East into the
west.
Th[e]equinoctiall
lyne.
Why all waters
moue towarde
the southe or
Equinoctial, reade
CardariHS de
subtitit liber, it.
de Etementis.
Strayghtes.
As by the strayght
of Magellan us.
The north landes.
The frosen sea.
Sebastian. Cabot.
The Venetians.
The viage of
Sebastian Cabot
from Englande to
the frosen sea.
Frost in the
moneth of luly.
Fretum
Herculeum,
diuideth Spayne
and the Moores
and is nowe cauled
the strayghtes
of Marrok.
Baccallaos^
or Terra
Baccalleantm.
119
The mouyng of
heuen causeth the
sea to moue.
Demogorgon w
the spirite of the
earth.
People couered
with beastes bkins
Howe beares take
and eate fys.shes
of the sea.
t62
The thyrde Decade.
Pcrhappes this
laton is copper
which holdeth
fold. For Uton
ath no myne, and
is an artificial 1
metal and not
natural
Cabot cauled owt
of Englande into
Spayne.
The Second vlage
of Cabot
Thellandesof
the Canybales.
The Ilande Fortis.
Salte
A straimge thynge.
How Petrus Arias
with the kyngcs
nauy arriued at
Danena.
Howe Vaschus
receaued the new
gouemour.
Whye these
regions are cauled
prouynces.
120
Barrelles of meale.
Habitable regions
vnder the
Equinoctiall lyne.
Where the newe
gouernour planted
his habitation
The viage of
lohanncs Aiora
The hauen of
Comugrus
Siunte Mychaeiii
goulf*
The hauen lof]
Pocchorrosa.
fawe great plentie of laton amonge th[e]inhabitantes. Cabot is my very frende, whom I vfe famylierly,
and delyte to haue hym fumtymes keepe mee company in myne owne houfe. For beinge cauled owte of
England by the commaundement of the catholyke kynge of Caflile after the deathe of Henry kynge of
Englande the feuenth of that name, he was made one of owre counfayle and affyflance as touchynge the
affayres of the newe Indies, lookyng dayely for fhippes to bee furnyffhed for hym to difcouer this hyd fecreate
of nature. This vyage is appoynted to bee begunne in March in the yeare next folowynge, beinge the yeare of
Chryfl M. D. XVI. What (hall fucceade, yowre holynes fhalbe aduertifed by my letters if god graunte me lyfe.
Sume of the Spanyardes denye that Cabot was the fyrfl fynder of the lande of Baccallaos : And affirme that he
went not fo farre wellewarde. But it fliall fuffice to haue fayde thus much of the goulfes and flrayghtes, and
of Seballian Cabot. Let vs nowe therefore retume to the Spanyardes. At this tyme, they let paffe the hauen
of Carthago vntouched, with all the Ilandes of the Canibales there aboute, whiche they named Infulas SanSli
Bernardi: Leauynge alfo behynde theyr backes, all the region of Caramairi. Heare by reafon of a fooden
tempefte, they were cafle vppon the Ilande Fortis, beinge about fyftie leagues diflante from the enteraunce of
the goulfe of Vraba. In this Ilande, they founde in the houfes of th[e]inhabitantes, many bafkets made of
certeyne greate fea reedes, ful of falte. For this Ilande hath in it many goodly falte bayes : by reafon whereof
they haue greate plentie of falte which they fell to other nations for fuch thynges as they Ilande in neede of.
Not farre from henfe, a great curlewe as bygge as a florke came flying to the gouernours (hippe, and fufifered
her felfe to bee eafely taken i which beinge caryed about amonge all the Ihippes of the nauie, dyed Ihortly after.
They fawe alfo a great multytude of the fame kynde of foules on the fhore a farre of.
The gouernour his fhyppe whiche we fayde to haue lofte the rudder beinge nowe fore broofed and in
maner vnprofytable, they lefte behynde to folowe at leafure. The nauie arriued at Dariena the tvvelfth day of
the Calendes of luly, and the gouemour his fhippe (beinge voyde of men) was dryuen a lande in the fame
coafles within foure dayes after. The Spanyardes whiche nowe inhabited Dariena, with theyr Capitayne and
Lieuetenant Vqfchus Nunnez Balboa (of whom we haue largely made mention before) beinge certified of
th[e]arryual of Petrus Arias and his coompanye, wente foorthe three myles to meete him, and receaued him
honorably and religioufly with the pfalme Te deum Laudamus, giuing thankes to god by whofe fafe conducte
they were brought fo profperoufly thether to al theyr confortes. They receaued them gladly into theyr houfes
builded after the maner of thofe prouinces. I may well caule thefe regions, Prouinces, a Procul victis, (that is)
fuch as are ouercome farre of, forafmuch as o^vre men doo nowe inhabite the fame all the barbarous kynges
and Idolatours beinge elected. They enterteyned them with fuch chere as they were able to make them : as
wth the frutes of thofe regions, and newe breade bothe made of rootes and the grayne Maizium. Other
delicates to make vp the feafl, were of theyr owne llore whiche they brought with theym in theyr fhyppes, as
pondered fleflhe, falted fyfflie, and breade made of wheate. For they brought with them many barrelles of wheate
meale for the fame purpofe. Here maye yowre holynes not withowt iufle caufe of admiracion beholde a kynges
nauie and great multitude of Chriflians, inhabytinge not onely the regions fituate vnder the circle of heauen cauled
Tropicus Cancri, but alfo in maner vnder the Equinoctiall lyne, contrary to th[e]opinion of the owlde wTyters, a fewe
excepted. But after that they are nowe mette togyther, let vs further declare what they determyned to doo.
Therefore, the daye after that the nauie arriued, there affembled a coompany of the Spanyardes th[e]inhabitoures
of Dariena, to the number of foure hundreth and fyftie men. Petrus Arias the gouernour of the nauie and his
coompany, conferred with them bothe priuilie and openlye of certeyne articles wherof it was the k)'nges pleafure
he fhulde enquire: And mofl efpecially as concemyng fuch thynges wherof Vafchus the fyrfle fynder and
Admirall of the Southe fea, made mention in his large letter fent from Dariena to Spayn. In this inquifition
they founde all thynges to bee trewe, wherof Vafchus had certifyed the kynge by his letters : And therevppon
concluded that in the dominions of Comogra, Pocchorrofa, and Tumanama, at th[e]aflignement of Vafchus,
certeine fortreffes fhuld bee erected foorthwith to th[e]intente there to plant theyr colonie or habitacion. To
the better accomplyflhemente hereof, they fent immediatly one Johannes Aiora a noble younge gentelman of
Corduba and vnder Lieuetenant, with foure hundreth men and foure carauelles and one other lyttle (hippe.
Thus departinge, he fayled fyrfl. directly to the hauen of Cotnogrus, dyflant from Dariena aboute twentie and
fyue leagues, as they wryte in theyr laft letters. Frome henfe, he is appoynted to fende a hundreth and fyftie
of his foure hundreth, towarde the South by a newe and ryghter way founde of late, by the which (as they fay)
it is not parte, xxvi. leagues from the palaice of kynge Cotnogrus to the enteraunce of the goulfe of Sancti
Michaelis. The refidewe of the foure hundreth, fhall remayne there to bee an ayde and fuccour to all fuch as
(hall iomey to and fro. Thofe hundreth and fiftie which are afTigned to go fouthwarde, take with them for
interpretours certeine of owre men which had lemed the footheme language of the bonde men which were gyuen
to Vafchus when he ouerranne thofe regions, and alfo certeyne of the bondemen them felues which had nowe
lemed the Spanyffhe tonge. They fay that the hauen of Pocchorrofa, is onely feuen leaques diflante frome the
hauen of Cotnogrus. In Pocchorrofa, he is affigned to leaue fyftie men with the lyghtefl fhyp which maye bee a
163
The thyrde Decade.
163
paflinger betwene them: that lyke as we vfe pofle horfes by lande, fo may they by this currant (hippe, in fhorte
fpace certifie the Lieuetenaunt and th[e]inhabitours of Dariena of fuche thynges as fhall chaunce. They
entende alfo to buylde houfes in the region of Tiimanama. The palaice of kynge Tumanama, is diflant from
Pocchorrofa about tvventie leaques. Of thefe foure hundreth men, beinge of the owlde fouldiers of Dariena and
men of good experience, fyftie weare appoynted to bee as it were Decurians to guide and conducte the newe
men from place to place to do their affaires. ^Vhen they had thus fette all thynges in order, they thought it
good to aduertife the king hereof, and therwith to certifye hym that in thofe prouinces there is a kynge named
Dabaiba whofe dominion is very riche in golde : But the fame to be yet vntouched by reafon of his great power.
His kingedome ioyneth to the feconde greate ryuer named Dabaiba after his name, whiche fauleth into the fea
owt of the comer of the goulfe of Vraba as we haue largely declared before. The common reporte is, that all
the lande of his dominions is ryche in golde. The palayce of kynge Dabaiba is fyfty leaques diftante from
Dariena. Th[e]inhabitantes faye that from the palaice, the golde mynes reache to the borthers on euery fyde.
Albeit, owre men haue alfo golde mynes not to bee contempned, euen within three leaques oi Dariaia, in the
which they gather golde in many places at this prefente : Yet doo theye affyrme greater plentie to bee in the
mynes of Dabaiba. In the bookes of owre fyrlle frutes wrytten to yowre holyneffe, we made mention of this
Dabaiba, wherin owre men were deceaued and myflooke the matter. For where they founde the fyffher
men of kyng Dabaiba in the maryflhes, they thought his region had byn there alfo. They determyned
therfore to fende to kynge Dabaiba, three hundreth choyfe younge men to be chofen owte of the hole
army as molle apte to the warres, and well furnyffhed with all kyndes of armoure and artillery, to
th[e]intent to go vnto hym and wyl hym, eyther frendly and peaceably to permytte them to inhabyte
parte of his kingdome with the fruition of the golde mynes, or elles to bydde him battayle and dryue
hym owte of his countrey. In their letters, they often tymes repete this for an argument of great rychefle
to coome, that they in maner dygged the grounde in noo place, but founde the earthe myxte with fparkes
and fmaule graynes of golde. They haue alfo aduertifed the kynge that it fhalbe commodious to place
inhabitours in the hauen of San5la Martha in the region of Saturma, that it maye bee a place of refuge for them
that fayle from the Ilande of Dominica from the whiche (as they faye) it is but foure or fyue dayes faylyng to
that hauen of the regyon of Saturma : And from the hauen, but thre dayes faylyng to Dariena. But this is to
bee vnderflode in goynge and not in returnynge. For the retumyng from thenfe is fo laborious and difficulte by
reafon of the contrary courfe of the water, that they feeme as it were to afcende hyghe montaynes and flryue
ageynfle the poure of Neptunns. This fwyfte courfe of the fea towarde the Wefle, is not fo violente to theym
whiche retoume to Spayne frorae the Ilandes oi Hifpaniola and Cuba: Althoughe they alfo do laboure ageynfte
the faule of the Ocean ; The caufe wherof is, that the fea is here verye large, fo the waters haue their full
fcoope. But in the tracte of Paria, the waters are conflrayned together by the bendynge fydes of that great
lande, and by the multytude of Ilandes lyinge ageynfte it, as the lyke is feene in the ftraightes or narowe feas of
Sicilie where the violent courfe of the waters caufe the daungerous places of Scylla and Charybdis, by reafon of
thofe narowe feas whiche conteine Ionium, Libicum, and Tirrhentim. Co/onus the fyrft fynder of thefe regyons,
hath lefte in wrytynge, that faylynge from the Ilande of Guanaffa, and the prouynces of laia, Maia, and
Cerabaro, beyng regyons of the weft marches of Beragua, he founde the courfe of the water fo vehemente and
furious ageynfte the fore parte of his fhippe whyle he failed from thofe coaftes towarde the Eafte, that he coulde
at no tyme touche the grounde with his foundynge plummet, but that the contrary vyolence of the water woolde
beare it vppe from the bottome. He affyrmeth alfo, that he coulde neuer in one hole daye with a meately good
wynde, wynne one myle of the courfe of the water. And this is the caufe why they are oftentymes enforced to
fayle fyrfte by the Ilandes of Cuba and Hifpaniola, and fo into the mayne fea toward the North when they
retume to Spaine, that the Northe wyndes maye further their vyage whiche they can not brynge to paffe by a
directe courfe. But of the motions of the Ocean fea to and fro, this fhal fufiyce. Let vs now therfore reherfe
what they write of Dariena, and of their habitation there, which they caule Sanlla Maria Antiqtia, planted on
the fea bankes of Dariena. The fituation of the place, hath no natural munition or defenfe : And the ayer is
more peftiferous then in Sardus. The Spanyfhe inhabitours, are all pale and yelowe, lyke vnto them that haue
the yelowe giaundyes. Whiche neuertheleffe commeth not of the nature of the region as it is fituate vnder the
heauen. For in many regyons beyng vnder the felfe fame degree of latitude, hauyng the pole of the fame
eleuation, they fynd holfome and temperate ayer, in fuch places where as the earth bryngeth forth fayre fprynges
of water, or where holfome ryuers runne by bankes of pure earthe without mudde : but mofte efpecyally where
they inhabyte the fydes of the hylles and not the valleyes. But that habytation whiche is on the bankes of the
ryuer of Dariena, is fytuate in a deepe valley, and enuironed on euery fyde with hyghe hylles : By reafon wherof,
it receaueth the foonne beames at noonetyde directly perpenticular ouer their heades, and are therfore fore
vexed by reflection of the beames bothe before, behynde, and from the fydes. For it is the reflection of the
foonne beames whiche caufeth feruente heate, and not their acceffe or nereneffe to the earth. Forafmuche as
X63
A passynger
shyppe.
Kyng Tumanama
Decurians are
officers deuided
into tennes. etc
The gold mynes
Kyng Dabaiba.
The pallaice of
kynge Dabaiba.
The gold mynes
of Dariena.
Expedition ageinst
kynge Dabaib.a.
121
Great plentie of
golde.
The regyon of
Saturma
The Ilande of
Dominica.
Dariena.
Difficulte faylyng
ageynst the course
of the sea.
The daungerous
straightes of Scylla
and Charybdis.
Guanas Sit.
laia.
Maia.
Cerabaro.
Beragua.
The vehement
course of the sea
from the east to
the west.
The northe wynde.
Sancta Maria
Antiqua, the fyrst
habitation of the
spaniardes in the
fyrme lande.
Sardus the Ilande
of Sardinia.
The variety of
regions lyinge
vnder one paraleL
By what meanes
the Sonne beames
are cause of
feruent heate.
164
The thyrde Decade.
The pernicious
ayer of Pariena.
122
Toades and flees
engendered of
droppes of water.
Necessytie hath
no lawe
A house setle on
fyer with
lyghtnynge.
A dogge deuoured
of a crocodyle,
Tanqiiani cants
e Nilo.
The byting of
battes.
Lyons and tygers.
Beasles wex
byggcr in their
kyade.
How the
gouemour
entcrleyned kyng
Careta.
Note.
Broma or Bissa,
are wormes whiche
destroy shippes.
123
A venemous tree.
Perhappes theyr
venemous arrows
are made of this
woodde or. &c.
they are not paflyble in them felues as dothe manyfeftly appeare by the fnowe lyinge contynually vnmolten
vpon certeyne hygh montaynes, as yowre holynefle knoweth ryghte well. The foonne beames therfore faulyng
on the montaynes, are reflected downewarde into the valley by reafon of th[e]obiecte of the declynynge fydes
of the hylles, as it were the faule of a greate rounde floone rowlde frome the toppe of a montayne. The
valley therfore receaueth, both thofe beames whiche faule directly theron, and alfo thofe whiche are reflected
downwarde from euery fyde of the montaynes. Their habitation therfore in Dariena, is pernicious and vnhol-
fome onely of the particular nature of the place, and not by the fytuation of the regyon as it is placed vnder the
heauen or nere to the foonne. The place is alfo contagious by the nature of the foyle, by reafon it is coompafed
aboute with muddy and (lynkynge maryfflies, th[e]infection wherof is not a lyttle encreafed by the heate. The
vyllage it felfe, is in a maryfhe, and in maner a (landynge puddle, where, of the droppes faulyng from the handes
of the bond men whyle they water the pauementes of their houfes, toades are engendered immediately, as I my
felfe fawe in an other place the droppes of that water tume into flees in the foomer feafon. Furthermore, where
fo euer they dygge the grounde the deapthe of a handefull and a halfe, there fpringeth owte vnholfome and
corrupte water of the nature of the ryuer which runneth through the deepe and muddy chanel of the valley, and
fo fauleth into the fea. Now therfore they confulte of remouyng their habytation. Neceflytie caufed them fyrfl
to faflen their foote heare, bycaufe that they whiche fyrfl arryued in thofe landes, were opprefled with fuche
vrgente hunger, that they had no refpecte to chaunge the place althoughe they were thus vexed by the contagion
of the foyle and heate of the foonne, befyde the corrupte water and infectious ayer by reafon of venemous
vapours and exhalations ryfynge from the fame. An other greate incommoditie was, that the place was deflitute
of a commodious hauen, beynge three leaques diflante from the mouthe of the goulfe. The waye is alfo roughe
and diffyculte to brynge vyttayles and other neceflaries from the fea. But lette vs nowe fpeake fumwhat of other
particular thynges whiche chaunfed. Therfore fhortly after that they weare arryued, there happened many
thynges wherof they had no knowledge before. A certayne well learned phifytion of Ciuile, whome partely
th[e]autorytie of the byflhoppe of Dariena, and partely the defyre of golde had allured to thofe landes, was fo
fcarred with lyghtnynge in the nyghte feafon lyinge in bedde with his wyfe, that the houfe and all the fluffe
therin beynge fette on fyer and burnte, he and his wyfe bothe foore fcorched, ranne foorthe cryinge and almofl.e
naked, hardely efcapynge the daunger of deathe. At an other tyme, as certayne of them floode on the (hoore,
a great Crocodyle fodenly caryed awaye a mafty of a yeare and a halfe owlde, as a kyte fhulde haue fnatched
vppe a chicken : And this euen in the prefence of theym all, where the myferable dogge cryed in vayne for the
helpe of his mayfler. In the nighte feafon they were tormented with the bytynge of battes whiche are there foo
noyfome that if they byte any man in his fleape, they putte hym in daunger of lyfe, onely with drawynge of
bludde: In fo muche that fumme haue dyed therof, faulynge as it were into a confumption through the
malycioufnefle of the venemous wounde. If thefe battes chaunce to fynde a cocke or a henne abrode in the
nyght feafon, they byte them by the combes and fo kyll them. They alfo whiche wente lafle into thefe regions,
do wryte, that the lande is troubeled with Crocodyles, Lyons, and Tigers : But that they haue nowe deuifed
artes and ingens howe to take them. Lykewyfe that in the houfes of their felowes, they founde the hydes and
cafes of fuche Lyons and Tygers as they had kylled. They wryte furthermore, that by reafon of the rankenefle
and frutefulnefle of the grounde, kyne, fwyne, and horfes, doo marueloufly increafe in thefe regions, and growe
to a muche bygger quantitie then they whiche weare of the firft broode. Of the excedynge hyghnefTe of the
trees with their fruites, of the garden herbes, fruites, plantes, and feedes whiche owTe men broughte from Spayne
and fowed and fet the fame in thefe regyons, lykewyfe of the hertes and other foure footed beaft.es bothe tame
and wylde, alfo of dyuers kyndes of foules, byrdes, and fyfflies, they write euen as we haue declared in the decades
before. Careta the kynge of the regyon of Cioba, was with them for the fpace of three dayes : whome when
they had frendly enterteyned and (hewed hym the fecreate places of their fhyppes, their horfes alfo with their
trappars, bardes, and other furnimentes, befyde many other thinges whiche feemed ftraunge to hym, and had
further delited his mynd with the hannony of their mufycall inft.rumentes, and gyuen hym many rewardes, they
dyfmyffed hym halfe amafed with to muche admyration. He fygnifyed vnto them, that their trees in that
prouynce, of the planckes wherof, if fliyppes were made, they Ihoulde bee fafe from the woormes of the
fea whiche they caule Bromas. Howe thefe woormes knawe and corrode the fhyppes, wee haue declared
before. Owre fliyppes are greatly troubeled with this plage if they lye longe in the hauens of thefe
regyons. But they affyrme that the woodde of this tree is foo bytter, that the woormes wyll not tafte therof
There is alfo an other tree peculyar to thefe landes : whofe leaues if they onely touche the bare in any place of
a mannes body, they caufe greate blyft.ers, and thofe foo malycious that excepte the fame bee foorthwith healed
with falte water or faflynge fpyttle, they doo incpntynently engender deadely paynes. They faye lykewyfe,
that the fauour of the woodde is prefente poyfon : And that it can noo whither bee caryed without daunger of
lyfe. When th[e]inhabitauntes of the Ilande of Hifpaniola had oftentymes attempted to fhake of the yoke of
feruytude, and coulde neuer brynge the fame to paffe neyther by open warre nor yet by priuye confpiraces,
.64
The thyrde Decade.
165
tliey were determyned in the nyghte feafon to haue kylled owre men in their fleepe with the fmoke of this
woodde. But when the Chriflian men had knowledge hereof, they compelled the poore wretches to confeffe
their intente, and punyfflied the chiefe autours of the deuyfe. They haue alfo a certayne herbe with the fauour
wherof they are preferued from the hurte of this venemous woodde fo that they maye beare it fafely. Of thefe
fmaule thynges it fhall fuffyce too haue fayde thus muche. They looke dayly for many greater thynges to
certyfye vs of from the Ilandes of the fouth fea. For at fuche tyme as the meffenger whiche broughte owre
letters departed from thenfe, Petrus Arias prepared an expedition to that ryche Ilande whiche lyeth in the
mouthe of the goulfe cauled Sinus S. Mic/iaelis, and reacheth into the fouthe fea, beyng alfo lefte vntouched
of Vafchus by reafon that the fea was at that tyme of the yeare fore troubeled with tempefles, as wee haue
further declared in Vafchus his vyage to the fouthe. Wee looke therfore dayly for greater thynges then are
hetherto pafle. For they haue nowe taken in hand to fubdue manye other prouynces, whiche wee fuppofe too
bee eyther verye ryche, or to brynge furthe fumme flraunge woorkes of nature. lohannes Diaz Solijlus of
Nebriffa (of whome we haue made mention before) is fente by the froonte of the cape or poynte of San5li
Augujiini (whiche reacheth feuen degrees beyonde the Equinoctiall lyne, and perteyneth to the dominion of
the Portugales) to th[e]intent to ouer runne the fouthe fyde from the backe halfe of Paria, Ctitnana, Cuquibacoa,
with the hauens of Carthago and Sanila Martha, of Darioia alfo and Beragua, that more perfecte and certeyne
knowledge may bee had of thofe trades. Furthermore, one lohannes Poncius was fente foorthe with three
fhyppes to deftroye the Canibales bothe in the lande and Ilandes there aboute ; afwell that the nations of the
more humane and innocente people maye at the length lyue without feare of that pefliferous generation, as
alfo the better and more fafely to fearche the fecreates and rycheffe of thofe regions. Many other lykewife
were fente dyuers and fundry wayes : as Gafper Badaiocitis too fearche Weft partes : Francifcus Bezerra, to
fayle by the comer of the goulfe : And Valleius, to paffe by the mouthe or enteraunce therof to the Eafte
coaftes of the goulfe to fearche the fecreates of that lande, in the whiche Fogeda with his coompanye had of
late begunne to plante their habitation, and had buylded a fortreffe and a vyllage. Badaiocitis departed fyrfte
frome Dariena with foure fcore fouldiours well appoynted : Whome Lodouicus Mercado folowed with fyftye :
To Bezerra were alfo fourefcore afiygned, and three fcore and tenne to Valleius. Whether they fliall
arryue at fafe and commodious hauens, or faule into vnfortunate ftations, he onely knoweth whofe prouydence
ruleth all : For as for vs men wee are included within the knowledge of thinges after they haue chaunced.
Lette vs nowe therfore coome to other matters.
CTh
E SEVENTHE BOOKE OF THE THIRDE DECADE.
\FJnis Arias the gouemour of the fuppofed continente, was fcarfly entred into the mayne fea
with his nauye onwarde on his vyage to Dariena. But I was aduertifed that one Andreas
Moralis a pilot who had oftentymes ouer runne the coaftes of thefe new feas and the Ilandes
of the fame, was coome to the courte to fell fuche marchaundies as he broughte with hym
frome thenfe. This man had dyligendy fearched the tracte of the 'fuppofed continente, and
efpecyally th[e]inner regyons of the Ilande of Hifpaniola, wherunto he was appoynted by
his brother Nicolaus Ouandus (the gouemour of the Hand and chiefe Commendatory of the
order of the knyghtes of Alcantara) bycaufe he was a wytty man and more apte to fearche fuche thynges then
any other : So that with his owne handes he drewe faire cardes and tables of fuche regyons as hee difcouered.
Wherin as he hath bynne founde faythfull of fuche as haue fenfe had better tryall hereof, fo is he in moft credyt
emongeft the beft forte. He therfore reforted to me as all they are accuftomed to doo, whiche retoume from
the Ocean. What I learned of hym and dyuers other of thinges heretofore vnknowen, I wyll nowe declare.
The beginnynge of this narration, (halbe the particular defcription of the Ilande of Hifpaniola, forafmuche as it
is the heade and as it weare the principall marte of all the lyberaUty of the Ocean, and hath a thoufande and
againe a thoufande fayre, pleafaunt, bewtifuU, and ryche Nereides whiche lye aboute it on euery fyde, adoumynge
this their ladye and moother, as it were an other Tethis the wyfe of Neptunus, enuyronynge her aboute, and
attendynge vppon her as their queene and patroneffe. But of thefe Nereiades (that is to faye, the Ilandes placed
aboute her) we wyll fpeake more hereafter. Lette vs in the meane tyme declare fumwhat of the Ilande whiche
owre men named Margaritea Diues (whiche the Spanyardes caule De las perlas) beyng nowe well knowen, and
lyinge in the fouthe fea in the goulfe cauled Sinus Sanlli Michaelis (that is) fainte Michaels goulfe. This Hand
hath prefently brought to owre knowledge many ftraunge and woonderfuU thynges and promyfleth no fmaule
A prcserualiue
ageynst poyson.
The Hands of the
south sea.
The ryche Hand
cauled Dites.
Cap[e],_sancti
Augustini.
Of the euyll
successe of these
viages, reade
decade iii.
Liber, ix.
An expedition to
destroy the
Canibales.
Fogeda.
Looke. dccad. iii.
Lib. ix.
The nauigations ol
Andreas Moralis.
124
A particular
description of the
Ilande of
hispaniola
Nereides are
nymphes of the
sea, he meaneth
Ilandes.
Tethis the wyfe oi
Neptunus and
goddesse of the
sea.
The Ilande of^
Margaritea Diues.
Satncte Michaels
goulfe
P 2
t6s
1 66
The thyrde Decade.
Great perles
Hispaniola lyke
vnto the earthly
paradyse.
Thefyrst
inhabitours of
hispaniola
Dardanus.
Teucna.
Troianutn.
Tirians. Sidonians.
Eneas.
Latium.
Hicrusalem
Mecha.
The Ilandes of
Canarie.
Betanchor, a
frenchman.
125
The fyrst names
of hispaniola.
Pm.
The roughnesse
of hispaniola.
The maner of
lemynge.
Ballets and
rhymes.
hope of greater thynges in tyme to coome. In this is founde great plentie of pearles fo fayre and great, that
the fumptuous queene Cleopatra myght haue feemed to weare them in her crownes, cheynes, and braflettes.
Of the (helfyflhes wherin thefe are engendered, wee w)'ll fpeake fumwhat more in th[e]ende of this narration.
But let vs nowe retume to Hifpaniola mode lyke vnto the earthly paradyfe. In the defcription hereof, we wyll
begynne of the impofytion of dyuerfe names : Then of the forme of the Ilande, temperate ayer and benefyciall
heauen : And fynally of the deuifyon of the regyons. Therfore for the ryghter pronunfyation of the names,
yowre holyneffe mufle vnderflande that they are pronounced with th[e]accent, as yowe may know by the verge
fette ouer the heddes of the vowels, as in the name of the Ilande Matinifib, where the accente is in the lad
vowell, and the lyke to be vnderfloode in all other names. They faye therfore, that the fyrfte inhabitours of the
Hand were tranfported in their Canoas (that is boates made of one hole pyece of woodde) from the Ilande of
Matinino, beynge lyke banyffhed men dryuen from thenfe by reafon of certaine contrary factions and diuifyons
emonge them felues, lyke as wee reade howe Dardanus came from Corytho, and Teucrus from Creta into Afia,
and that the regyon where they placed their habitacion, was afterwarde cauled Troianum. The lyke wee reade
howe the Tirians and Sidonians arryued with their nauye in Lybia by the fabulous conduction of Dido. Thefe
Matininans in like maner beynge banyffhed from their owne coimtrey, planted their fyrfte habytation in that
parte of the Hand of Hifpaniola whiche they caule Cahonao, vpon the banke of the ryuer named Bahaboni: As
is redde in the begynnynge of the Romaynes that Eneas of Troye aryued in the region of Italy cauled Latium
vppon the bankes of the ryuer of Tiber. Within the mouthe of the ryuer of Bahaboni, lyeth an Ilande where it
is fayde that th[e]inhabitauntes buylded their fyrfte howfe whiche they named Camoteia. This howfe they
confecrated ftiortely after, and honoured the fame reuerently with continual gyftes and monumentes, euen
vntyl the commynge of owre men, lyke as the Chriftians haue euer relygyoufly honoured lerufalem the fountayne
and oryginall of owre faythe: As alfo the Turkes attribute the lyke to the cytie of Mecha in Araby, and
th[e]inhabytantes of the fortunate Ilandes (cauled the Ilandes of Cananr) to Tyrma buylded vppon a hyghe
rocke from the whiche many were wounte with ioyfuU myndes and fonges to caft them felues downe headlonge,
beyng perfuaded by their prieftes that the foules of all fuche as fo dyd for the loue of Tyrma, ftiulde therby
enioye etemall felycity. The conquerours of the Ilandes of Canarie, founde them yet remaynyng in that
fuperftition, euen vntyll owre tyme : Nor yet is the memory of their facrifyces vtterly wome awaye :
The rocke alfo referueth the owlde name vnto this daye. I haue alfo learned of late, that there yet
remayneth in the Ilande fumme of the faction oi Betanchor the Frenfhe man and fyrfte that broughte the
Ilandes to good culture and ciuilitie beyng therto lycenced by the kynge of Caftile as I haue fayde before.
Thefe doo yet (for the mofte parte) obferue bothe the language and maners of the Frenftiemen, although the
heres and fucceffours of Betanchor, had foulde the two fubdued Ilandes to certeyne men of Caftile. Yet
th[e]inhabitours whiche fucceded Betanchor, and buylded them houfes and encreafed their families there, do
contynue to this daye : And lyue quietly and pleafauntly with the Spanyardes, not greued with the fliarpe coulde
of Fraunce. But lette vs nowe retume to th[e]inhabitauntes of Alatinino and Hifpaniola. The Ilande of
Hifpaniola was fyrfte named by the fyrfte inhabitours, Quizqueia, and then Haiti. And this not by chaunce,
or at the pleafure of fuche as diuifed thefe names, but of credulitie and belefe of fumme great effecte. For
Quizqueia, is as niuche to faye as a great thinge : And that fo great that none maye bee greater. They inter-
prete alfo, that Quizqueia fygnifyeth, large, vniuerfall, or al, in like fignification as the Greekes named their god
cauled Fan : Bycaufe that for the greatnes therof, thefe fymple foules fuppofed it to bee the hole worlde : And
that the foonne beames gaue lyghte to none other worlde but onely to this Ilande with the other adiacente
aboute the fame : And thervppon thoughte it moft woorthy to bee cauled great, as the greateft of all other
knowen to them. Haiti is as muche to faye by interpretation, as roughe, fliarpe, or craggie. But by a
fyguratiue fpeache cauled denomination (wherby the hole is named by part) they named the hole Hand Haiti
(that is) roughe : For as muche as in many places the face of this Hand is rough by reafon of the craggie mon-
taynes, horrible thicke wooddes, and terrible darke and diepe valleys enuyroned with great and highe
montaynes, althoughe it bee in manye other places exceadynge bewtifull and floryffhynge. Here mufte wee
fumwhat digreffe from th[e]order we are entered into. Perhappes your holyneffe wyll maruell by what meanes
thefe fymple men flioulde of foo longe contynuance beare in minde fuche principles, where as they haue no
knowledge of letters. So it is therfore, that from the beginninge, their princes haue euer byn accuft '^"led to
committe their children to the gouemaunce of their wife men whiche they caule Boitios, to bee inftructed in
knowledge, and to beare in memorie fuche thynges as they leme. They gyue them felues chieflye to two
thynges : As generally to leme th[e]originall and fucceffe of thynges : And particularlye to reherfe the nobis
factes of their graundefathers great graundefathers and aunceftours afwell in peace as in warre. Thefe two
tliynges they haue of owlde tyme compofed in certeyne meters and ballettes in their language. Thefe rhymes
or ballettes, they caule Areitos. And as owre mynftrelles are accuftomed too fynge to the harpe or lute, fo doo
they in lyke maner fynge thefe fonges and daunce to the fame, playinge on tymbrelles made of fliels of certen
The thyyde Decade.
167
fyflhes. Thefe tymbrels they caule Maguei. They haue alfo fonges and ballettes of loue: And other of
lamentations and moomyng : Summe alfo to encorage them to the warres, with euery of them their tewnes
agreable to the matter. They exercyfe theym felues muche in daunceinge, wherin they are verye actyue and
of greater agilitie then owre men, by reafon they gyue them felues to nothyng fo muche, and are not hyndered
with a])parell whiche is alfo the caufe of their fwiftenefle of foote. In their ballettes lefte them of their
aunceftours, they haue prophecies of the comminge of owre men into their countrey. Thefe they fynge with
moomyng and as it were with gronyng, bewayle the loife of their lybertie and feruitude. For thefe prophecies
make mention that there flioulde coome into the Ilande Maguacochios, that is, men clothed in apparell, and
armed with fuche fwoordes as fhulde cutte a man in funder at one flroke : vnder whofe yoke their pofleritie
fliulde bee fubdued. And here I do not maruell that their prediceflburs coulde prophecye of the feruitude and
bondage of their fucceflyon, if it bee trewe that is fayd of the familiaritie they haue with fpirites whiche appeare to
them in the night, wherof we haue largely made mention in the nynth booke of the firfl. decade, where alfo wee
haue entreated of their Zemes (that is) their Idoles and Images of diuelles whiche they honoured. But they faye
that fence thefe Zemes were taken awaye by the Chriflians, the fpirites haue no more appeared. Owre men afcribe
this to the fygne of the croffe wherwith they defende theym felues from fuche fpirites. For they are nowe all clenfed
and fanctifyed by the water of bapti[fjme wherby they haue renounced the deuel and are confecrated the holy
members of Chrift. They are vniuerfally ftudyous to knowe the boundes and lymettes of their regions and king-
domes : And efpecially their Mitaini (that is) noble men. So that euen they are not vtterlye ignorante in the
furueyinge of their landes. The common people haue none other care then of fettynge, fowynge, and
plantynge. They are moofle experte fyflhers, by reafon that throughowte the hole yeare, they are accuftoraed
daylye to plounge them felues in the ryuers, fo that in maner they lyue no leffe in the water then on the lande.
They are alfo giuen to huntynge. For (as I haue fayde before) they haue twoo kyndes of foure footed
beafles, wherof the one is lyttle cunnes cauled Vtias, and the other Serpentes named luannas, muche lyke
vnto Crocodiles, of eyght foote length, of mofle pleafaunte tafle, and lyuynge on the lande. All the Ilandes
nooryftie innumerable byrdes and foules : As (locke doues, duckes, geefe, hearons, byfyde no leffe number of
popingiais then fparowes with vs. Euery kynge hath his fubiectes diuided to fundrye affaires : As fumme to
huntynge, other to fyffhynge, and other fumme to hufbandrye. But let vs now returne to fpeake further of the
names. We haue fayde that Quizqueia and Haiti were the oulde names of this Ilande. The hole Ilande
was alfo cauled Cipanga of the region of the montaynes aboundynge with golde : Lyke as owre anciente
poetes cauled all Italye Lafium of parte therof. Therfore as they cauled Aufonia and Hefpcria, Italie, euen
foo by the names of Quizqueia, Haiti, and Cipanga, they vnderflode the hole Ilande of Hifpaniola. Owre
men dyd fyrfle name it Jfabella of queene Helifabeth whiche in the Spanifhe tongue is cauled Ifabella : And fo
named it of the fyrfl Colonie where they planted their habitation vpon the banke nere vnto the fea on the
Northe fyde of the Ilande, as wee haue further declared in the fyrfle decade. But of the names, this fhall
fuffyce. Lette vs nowe therfore fpeake of the fonne of the Ilande. They whiche fyrfle ouer ranne it, defcribed
it vnto me to bee lyke the leafe of a cheflnutte tree, with a goulfe towarde the wefl fyde, lyinge open ageynfl
the Ilande of Cuba. But the experte fhyppe mayRer Andreas Maralis broughte me the forme therof fumwhat
differjnge from that. For from bothe the comers, as from the Eafle angle and the Wefl, he defcribed it to be
indented and eaten with many great goulfes, and the comers to reache foorthe verye farre : and placeth manye
large and fafe hauens in the great goulfe on the Eaft, fyde. But I trufl fhortely foo to trauayle further herein,
that a perfecte carde of the particular defcription of Hifpaniola raaye bee fente vnto yo^vre holyneffe. For they
haue nowe drawne the Geographicall defcription therof in cardes, euen as yowre holyneffe hath feene the forme
and fytuation of Spayne and Italye with their montaines, valleyes, ryuers, cities, and colonies. Lette vs therfore
without fhamfaflneffe compare the Ilande of Hifpaniola to Italie, fumtyme the heade and queene of the hole
worlde. For if wee confyder the quantitie, it fhalbee founde lyttle leffe, and muche more fmtefull. It reacheth
from the Eafle into the Wefl, fyue hundreth and fortye myles accordynge to the computation of the later
fearchers : Althoughe the Admyrall fumwhat increafed this number as wee haue fayde in the fyrfle decade. It
is in breadth fumme where, almofle three hundreth myles : And in fumme places narower where the corners are
extended. But it is fuerlye muche more bleffed and fortunate then Italie : Beynge for the moofle parte therof
fo temperate and floryffhynge, that it is neyther vexed with fharppe coulde, nor afflycted with immoderate heate.
It hath bothe the fleyinges and conuerfyons of the foonne (cauled Solflitid) in maner equall with the Equinoctiall,
with lyttle difference betwene the length of the daye and nyghte throughout all the yeare. For on the fouth fyde,
the day afcendeth fcarcely an houre in length aboue the nyghte, or contrary wyfe. But the dyfference is more
on the northe fyde. Yet are there fumme regions in the Ilande in the whiche the coulde is of fum force. But
yowre holyneffe mufle vnderflonde this to bee incident by reafon of the obiecte or neameffe of the mountaines,
as wee wyl more largely declare hereafter. Yet is not this coulde fo pearcynge and fharpe, that th[e]inhabitantes
are molefled with fnowe or bytynge frofle. In other places, the Ilande enioyeth perpetuall fpringe tyme, and
167
Singing and
dauncemg.
Soonges of loue
and moomynge.
Prophesies.
Note
Theyr familiaritie
witthj spirites
The deuyl is
dryuen awaye
by baptisme
126
Surueyers.
They lyue as much
in the water as on
the lande
Serpentes
A Crocodile is
much lyke to owr
ewte or Lyserte
Byrdes and foules
Popingayes
Cipanga.
Italy cauled
Latium
Isabella
The forme of the
Ilande of
hispaniola
A particular carde
of hispaniola.
Hispaniola
compared to Itahe.
The temperature
of Hispaniola.
The equinoctiaU.
Coulde accid entail,
and not by the
sytuation of
the region.
PerpctUiUl springe
and soomer.
1 68
The thyrde Decade.
Maruelous
fnitfulnes
127
Beastes
Oxen and swyne
of exceadyng
bygnesse.
Swyne fed with
Myrobalanes
Vines
Wheate
An eare of wheate
as by^ as a mans
arme in the brawne
The bread of the
ILmdc.
Golde.
Great plentie of
cattayle.
Brasile.
Mastyx.
Gossampine
Elecirum.
Incotnmodities of
intemperal regions
Holsome ayer
and water
Golde euery where
The description
of the inner partes
of the Ilande.
The citie of s.
Dominicke
The mountaynes
of Haiti
The mountaynes
of Cibaua
128
The Ilande of
Cahini
Ofprouinces
diuided into
Oftheyr
aspirations
is fortunate with contynuall foomer and harueft. The trees floryflie there all the hole yeare : And the medowes
contynue alway greene. All thynges are exceadynge fortunate, and growe to great perfection. How wonderfully
all garden herbes and frutes doo encreafe, foo thatwithin the fpaoe of fyxtene dayes after the feede is sowne, al herbes
of fmaule fteames, as letteffe, borage, radyflie, and fuche other, coome to their full rypeneffe : And alfo howe herbes
of the bygger forte, as gourdes, melones, cucumers, pompons, citrons, and fuche other, coome to their perfection
in the fpace of thirtie dayes, wee haue fufficiently declared elles where. Of the beaftes tranfported out of Spaine
thether, wee haue fayde howe they growe too a muche greater kynde : In fo muche that when they faule into
communication of the oxen or kyne, they compare them in bigneffe to elephantes, and fwyne to mules : But this
fumwhat by an exceflyue kynde of fpeache. We haue alfo made mention how their fwynes fleffhe is more
fauourye and farre better and more pleafaunte tafte and more holfome then owres, by reafon they are fedde with
the frutes of Myrobalane trees, and other pleafaunte and nuryffhynge fruites of that contrey, whiche growe there of
them felues, as do with vs beeches, holly, and okes. Vynes woolde alfo profper there with maruellous encreafe,
if they had any regard to the plantinge therof The lyke encreafe commeth of wheate if it be fowen vppon the
mountaynes where the colde is of fume ftrength: but not in the playnes, by reafon of to much fatnes and
rankenes of the grownde. It is in maner incredible to heare, that an eare of wheate (huld bee bygger then a
mans arme in the brawne, and more then a fpanne in length, bearynge alfo more then a thoufande graynes
as they all confeffe with one \'oyce, and emeftly affirme the fame with othes. Yet they fay the bread of the Ilande
(cauled) Cazabbi xazAe. of the roote ollucca, to bee more holfome, becaufe it is of eafyer digeflion, and is cultured
with leffe labour and greater increafe. The refidue of the tyme which they fpende not in fettynge and plantynge,
they beftowe in gatheringe of golde. They haue nowe fuche plentie of foure footed beads, that horfes and oxe
hydes with flieepe (kynnes and goate (kyns and fuch other, are brought from thenfe into Spayne: So that nowe
the doughter in many thynges helpeth and fuccurreth her mother. Of the trees of brafile, fpices, the graine
which coloureth fcarlet in bright fhinynge redde, maflix, goflampine cotton, the precious metall cauled Ele6lrum,
and fuch other commodities of this Ilande, we haue fpoken fufficiently before. What therefore can chaunce
more happy vnto man vpon the earth, then there to lyue where he neede not to bee dryuen to clofe chaumbers
with fliarpe coulde or fayntynge heate? Nor yet in wynter eyther to bee laden with heauy apparell, or to bume
the fhinnes with continual fyttyng at the fyer, which thynges make men oulde in fliort tyme by refoluinge the
natural heate, wherof a thoufande difeafes infue. They alfo affirme the ayer to bee very healthfull : and the
waters of the ryuers to bee no leffe holfome, as they whiche haue theyr continuall courfe through the earth of
the golden mynes. For there is in maner no ryuer, no mountaynes, and but fewe playnes that are vtterly without
golde. But let vs nowe at the length coome to the particular defcription of the inner partes of this bleffed
Ilande. We haue before declared howe it is in maner equally diuided with foure greate ryuers defcendynge
frome hygh mountaynes : wherof that which runneth towarde the Eaft, is cauled lunna, as that towarde the
Weft is named Attibunicus : The thyrde is Naiba or Haiba which runneth Southwarde: The fourth is cauled
lacJie, and fauleth towarde the North. But this (hippe maifter, hath brought an other defcription obferued of
th[e]inhabitantes from the begynnynge. Let vs therfore diuide the hole Ilande into fiue partes, caulynge the
regions of euery prouince by theyr owlde names : and fynally make mention of fuche thynges as are woorthye
memory in euery of them. The beg)Tininge of the Ilande on the Eaft fyde, is conteyned in the prouince named
Caizcimu : fo named for that in theyr language Cimu, fignifieth the front or begynnynge of any thynge. After
this, foloweth the prouince of Huhabo, and then Caihabo. The fourth is Bainoa. Guaccaiarima conteyneth the
weft comer. But the laft laue one, Bainoa is of larger boundes then the three other. Caizcimu reachethe
from the fyrft fronte of the Ilande to the ryuer Hozama, whiche runneth by the citie of faynt Dominicke. But
towarde the North fyde, it is ended at the rough mountaynes of Haiti. Huhabo, is included within the
mountaynes Haiti and the ryuer laciga. Cai\l{\abo the thyrde prouince, conteyneth all that lyeth betwene
Cuhabo and Dahatio, euen vnto the mouth of the ryuer of laccha or lache (one of the foure which diuide
the Ilande equally) and afcendethe to the mountaynes of Cibaua, where the greatefte plentie of golde
is founde: Owte of the which alfo the ryuer Demahus fpringeth: and ioynynge with the fpringes ofi the
ryuer of Naiba, (being an other of the foure which diuideth the Ilande towarde the fouth fea) fauleth to
an other banke of the ryuer of faynt Dominicke. Bainoa, begynneth at the confines of Caiabi, and
reacheth euen vnto the Ilande of Cahini which lieth neare vnto the fea bankes of the north fyde of the
Ilande where wee fayde that they erected the fyrft colonie or habitacion. The prouince of Guaccaiarima,
occupieth the remanent towarde the weft- This they named Guaccaiarima, bycaufe it is the extreme or vtter-
moft parte of the Ilande. For larima in theyr language fignifieth the tayle or ende of any thynge : And Gua,
is an article whiche they vfe often tymes in the names of thynges : And efpecially in the names of theyr kynges:
as Guarionexius, and Guaccanarillus. In the prouince of Caizimu, are thefe regions: Higtiei, Guanama,
Reyre, Xagiia, Aramana, Arabo, Hazoa, Macorix, Caiacoa, Guaiagua, Baguanimaho and the rough mountaynes
of Haiti. Here let vs fpeake fume what of theyr afpirations which they vfe otherwyfe then the Latins doo.
>C8
The thyrcte Decade.
169
It is to bee noted that there is no afpiration in theyr vowels, which hath not th[e]effecte of a confonant. So
that they pronounce theyr afpirations more vehemently then wee do the confonant. f. Ye, all fuche woordes
as in their tonge are afpirate, are pronounced with lyke breath and fpirite as is. f. fauing that herein the neather
lyppe is not moued to th[e]uppermoft. teethe. With open mouthes and (hakynge theyr brefles, they breath
out thefe afpirations, ha, he, hi, ho, hit, as the Hebrewes and Arabians are accuflomed to pronounce theyrs. I
fynde alfo that the Spanyardes vfe the lyke vehemence in the afpirations of thofe woordes whiche they haue
receaued of the Moores and Arabians which pofTeiTed Spaine, and continued there many yeares : As in thefe
woordes: Almohadda, whiche fignifieth a pyllowe or bolfler: Alfo Almohaza, that is, a horfe combe: with
dyuers fuch other woordes whiche they fpeake in maner with panting brefles and vehement fpirite. I haue
thought it good to reherfe thefe thynges, bycaufe amonge the Latines it often tymes foo chaunceth that onely
the accent or afpiration, chaungeth the fignification of the woorde : as hora, for an houre, and ora for the plurale
number of this woorde os, which fignifieth the mouth : Alfo ora, which fignifieth regions or coaftes. The lyke
alfo chaunceth in the diuerfitie of the accente, as occido I kyll, and occido I faule. Euen fo in the language of thefe
Cmple men, there are many thynges to bee obferued. But let vs nowe returne to the defcription. In the
prouince of Huhabo, are thefe regions : Xamana, Canabacoa, Cuhabo, with many other, the names wherof I haue
not yet learned. The prouince of Caihabo, conteyneth thefe regions : Magna, and Cacacubana. Th[e]inhabi-
tantes of this region, haue a peculyar language much differinge from the common language of the Iland, and
are cauled Macoryxes. There is alfo an other region cauled Cubana, whofe language dififereth from the other.
Lykewyfe the region of Baiohaigua, hath a dyuers toonge. There are alfo other regions, as Dahabon, CybaJw,
and Manabaho. Cotoy is in the myddle of the Ilande. By this runnethe the ryuer Nizaus: And the montaynes
cauled Mahaitin, Hazua, and Neibaymao, confine with the fame. In the prouince of Bamoa, are the regions of
Ma^ana, lagohaincho, Bauruco, Dabiagua, and Attibuni, fo named of the ryuer: Alfo Caunoa, Buiaici,
Dahabo7iici, Maiaguariti, Atiei, Maccazina, Guahabba, Anniuici, Marten, Guaruco, Amaguei, Xaragua, Yaguana,
Azzuei, lacchi, Honorucco, Diaguo, Camaie, and Neibaimao. In Guaccaierima the lall prouince, thefe regions
are conteyned : Mauicarao, Guahagua, Taquenazabo, Nimaca, Bainoa the leffe, Cahaymi, lamaizi, Manabaxao,
Zauana, Habacoa, and Ayqueroa. But let vs entreate fumwhat of the particulars of the regions. In the
prouince of Caizcimu, within the great goulfe of the beginnynge, there is a greate caue in a hoUowe rocke
vnder the roote of a hygh mountayne, about twoo furlonges from the fea. The enterie of this caue is not
much vnlyke the doores of a great temple, beinge very large and tumynge many wayes. Andreas Moralis the
fhyp niafter, at the commaundement of the gouernoure, tempted to fearche the caue with the fmauleft veffels.
He fayth that by certeyne priuie wayes, manye lyuers haue concourfe to this caue as it were to a fmke or
chanell. After th[e]experience hereof, they ceafed to maruaile whither other ryuers ranne whiche commynge
fourefcore and tenne myles, were fwalowed vp, fo that they appeared no more, nor yet fell into the fea by any
knowen wayes. Nowe therfore they fuppofe that ryuers fwalowed vp by the holowe places of that flony moun-
tayne, faule into this caue. As the fhipmafler entered into the caue his fhippe was almofl fwalowed. For he
faith that there are many whyrlepooles and ryfinges or boylinges of the water, which make a violent conflicte and
horrible rorynge one encounteryng the other. Alfo many huge holes and holowe places : So that what on the
one fyde with the whirle pooles, and on the other fide with the boyling of the water, his (hyp was long in maner
tofled vp and downe lyke a baule. It greatly repented hym that he had entered, yet knewe he no way how to
come forth. He now wandered in darkeneffe, afwel for the obfcureneffe of the caue into the which he was farre
entered, as alfo that in it were thicke cloudes engendered of the rnoifl. vapours proceading of the conflicte of the
waters whiche continually faule with great violence into the caue on euery fyde. He compareth the noyfe of
thefe waters, to the faule of the famous ryuer of Nilus from the montaines of Ethyope. They were al fo deafe,
that one could not here what an other faid. But at the length with great daunger and feare, he came foorth of
the caue as it had byn owte of hel. Aboute three fcore miles diflante from the chiefe citie of faincte Dominicke,
there are certeyne hyghe montaynes vppon the toppes wherof is a lake or (landynge poole inacceffible, neuer
yet feene of them whiche came latelye to the Ilande, bothe by reafon of the roughneffe of the montaines, and
alfo for that there is noo pathe or open waye to the toppes of the fame. But at the length the fhyppe maifler
beinge conducted thether by one of kynges, afcended to the toppes of the montaines and came to the poole.
Hee faith that the coulde is there of fum force. And in token of wynter, hee founde feme and bramble buflhes,
whiche two, growe onely in coulde regions. Thefe montaynes, they caule Ymizui Hibahaino. This poole is of
frefhe water three myles in compaffe, and wel replenyffhed with diuerfe kindes of fyffhes. Many fmaule riuers
or brookes faule into it. It hath no paffage owte, bycaufe it is on euery fyde enclofed with the toppes of
montaynes. But lette vs nowe fpeake of an other poole whiche may well bee cauled a fea in the mydlande,
and bee coompared to the Cafpian or Hircanian fea in the fyrme lande of Afia : with certeyne other lakes and
pooles of freffhe water.
I«9
The pronunciation
of the Hebrewes
and Arabians
The Moores and
Arabians possessed
Sp.iyne
Howe the
aspiration
changeth the
signification of
wordes
Dyuers languages
in the Ilande
A greate caue in
the rocke of a
mountayne-
A daungerus
enterprise
Riuers deuoured
of caues.
129
Whirlepooles
and conflicte
of waters.
Clowdes ill the
caue.
The Cataractes
of Nilus
A standynge
poole in the toppc
of a hygh
mountayne.
Feme and bramble
busshes, growe
only in coulde
regions.
The Caspian and
H ircanian sea.
lyo
The thyrde Decade.
C The eyghte booke of the thirde decade.
A great lake of
sou re and sake
water.
Swalowinge
goulfes.
Sea fysshes in
lakes of the
midlande
The deuourynge
fysshe cauled
Tiburonus.
The r^uers that
faule mto the lake
Caspium.
CC [two hundred]
sprynges within
the space of a
furlonge.
A myracle.
The Indian
language.
130
A kyng stricken
dumme and lame
by a myracle.
Such as are
drowned in the
lake are not cast
vp ageyne.
The Ilande
Guarizacca in
the myddest of
the poole.
A lake of salt
and freshe water.
A lake of fresshe
water
A lake of ten
myles in length
He prouynce of Bainoa beynge thrife as bygge as the three fyrfl, that is, Caizcimu, Vliabo,
and Caihabo, includeth a valley named Caiouani, in the whiche there is a lake of falte, foure,
and bytter water, as wee reade of the fea cauled Ca/pium, lyinge in the firme lande betwene
Sarmatia and Hinania. We haue therfore named it Cafpium, althoughe it not bee in the
region of Hircatiia. It hath manye fwalowinge goulfes, by the whiche, bothe the water of the
fea fpringeth into it, and alfo fuche as faule into it from the mountaines, are fwalowed vppe.
They thyncke that the caues therof, are fo large and deepe, that great fyffhes of the fea paffe
by the fame into the lake. Emonge thefe fyffhes, there is one cauled Tiburonus whiche cutteth a man in funder
by the myddefl at one fnappe with his teethe, and deuoureth hym. In the ryuer Hozama, runnynge by the
chiefe citie of fayncte Dominicke, thefe Tiburoni do fumtymes coome from the fea and deuoure manye of
th[e]inhabitauntes : Efpecially fuche as do dayly ploonge them felues in the water to th[e]intent to keepe their
bodyes verye cleane. The ryuers whiche faule into the lake, are thefe. From the Northe fyde, Guaninicabon :
From the Southe, Xaccoei: from the Eafle, Guannabo: And from the Wefl, Occoa. They faye that thefe ryuers
are great and continuall : And that befyde thefe, there are. xx. other fmaule ryuers whiche faule into this Cafpium.
Alfo on the Northe fyde within a furlonge of the lake, there are aboue twoo hundreth fpringes, occupyinge
lykewife aboute a furlonge in circuite, the water wherof is coulde in foomer, frefhe alfo, and holfome to bee
droonke. Thefe fprynges make a ryuer that can not bee waded ouer, whiche neare at hande ioynynge with the
other, fauleth into the lake. Here mufle wee (laye a whyle. The kynge of this regyon founde his wyfe
praying in a chapel builded by the Chriflians within the precincte of his dominion, and required her
coompanie to fatiffye his flefhely lufle. His wyfe reproued hym, and put hym in remembraunce to
haue refpecte to the holye place. The woordes whiche fhee fpake to hym, were thefe: Teitoca, Teitoca:
whiche is as muche to faye, as, bee quyet, bee quyet: Techeta cynato guamechyna: That is, god wyl bee
greatly angerie. Guamechyna, fygnifyeth god, Techeta greatly, Cynato angrie. But the hufbande halynge her
by the arme, fayde : Guaibba, that is, go : Cynato macabuca guamechyna : That is : what is that to me if god be
angerye? And with thefe woordes as he profered her violence, foodenlye he became dumme and lame. Yet
by this myracle beynge llriken with repentaunce, he euer after ledde a relygious lyfe : In fo muche that from
thenfe foorthe hee woolde neuer fuffer the chappell to bee fwepte or decked with any other mannes hande.
By the fame myracle, manye of th[e]inhabitauntes and all the Chriflians beyng moued, reforted deuoutly to the
chappell. They take it in good parte that the kynge fuffered the reuenge of that reproche. Lette vs nowe
retoume to Cafpiutn. That falte lake is toffed with flormes and tempefles : And oftentymes drowneth fmaule
(hyppes or fyffher boates, and fwaloweth them vppe \vith the maryners : In fo muche that it hath not byn harde
of, that any man drowned by fhyppewracke, euer ploonged vppe ageyne, or was cafle on the fhore, as commonly
chaunceth of the deade bodyes of fuche as are drowned in the fea. Thefe tempeiles, are the deintie banquetes
of the Tiburones. This Cafpium, is cauled Hagueigabon. In the myddefl hereof, lyeth an Ilande named
Guarizacca, to the whiche they reforte when they go a fyflhynge : But it is not cultured. There is in the fame
playne, an other lake nexte vnto this, whofe water is myxte of falte and frefhe : And is therfore nother apte to
bee droonke, nor yet to bee refufed in vrgente neceflytie. This conteineth in length, xxv. miles, and in breadth
eight myles : In fumme places alfo nyne or ten. It receaueth manye ryuers whiche haue no paffage owte of
the fame, but are fwalowed vppe as in the other. Water fpringeth out of the fea into this alfo : but in no great
quantitie, whiche is the caufe that it is fo commyxte. In the fame prouynce towarde the Wefte fyde, there is
an other lake of frefhe water, not farre diftante from Cafpius. This th[e]inhabitauntes caule lainagua. The
iame falte lake, hath on the North fyde therof, an other named Guaccaa. This is but lyttle : as not pafl three
or foure myles in breadth, and one in length. The water of this, maye well bee droonke. On the fouthe fyde
of the falte lake, there lyeth an other named Babbareo, of three myles in length and in maner rounde. The
water of this is freflie as of the two other. This lake bycaufe it hath no paiTage owte nor yet anye fwalowynge
goulfes, conueyeth the fuperfluous waters to the fea if it be encreafed with the flreames whiche faule fumtimes
more abondantly from the montaines. This is in the region of Xamana in the prouince of Bainoa. There
is an other cauled Guaniba, lying betwene the Eafl. and the South nere vnto the fyde of Cafpius. This is ten
myles in length and almofle rounde. There are furthermore many other fmaule flandyng pooles or lakes
difparfed here and there in the Hand, whiche I wyll lette paffe lefle I Ihulde bee tedious in remainyng to longe
The thyrde Decade.
171
in one thynge. I wyll therfore make an ende with this addition, that in all thefe, great plentie of fyflie and
foule is nouryffhed. All thefe lakes lye in a large playne, the whiche from the Eafl reacheth into the Weft, a
hundreth and twentie myles : beyng of breadth, xviii. rnyles where it is naroweft, and. xxv. where it is largefl.
Lookyng toward the Weft, it hath collaterally on the lefte hande the montaines oi Daiguani: And on the ryght
hande, the montaines of Caigua, fo cauled of the name of the vale it felfe. At the rootes of the montaines of
Caigua toward the North fyde, there lyeth an other vale much longer and larger then that before named. For
it conteineth in length, almofte two hundreth myles : And in bredth. xxx. wher it is largeft, and about xx. wher
it is naroweft This vale in fumme parte therof, is cauled Magiana : In an other place, Igrcamu, and elles
where, Hathathki. And forafmuche as wee haue here made mention of this parte of the vale named Hathathiei,
wee wyll fumwhat digrefle from the difcourfe of this defcription, and entreate of a thinge fo ftraunge and
maruelous, that the lyke hath not byn hard of. So it is therfore, that the kyng of this region named Carama-
texius, taketh great pleafure in fyffhinge. Into his nettes chanced a younge fyfhe of the kynde of thofe huge
monfters of the fea whiche th[e]inhabitours caule Manati, not founde I fuppofe in owre feas nor knowen to
owre men before this tyme. This fyfhe is foure footed, and in fhape lyke vnto a tortoyfe althoughe fhee be not
couered with a fhel, but with fcales: And thofe of fuch hardneffe and couched in fuche order, that no arrowe can
hurte her. Her fcales are byfet and defend with a thoufand knobbes. Her backe is playne, and her heade vtterly
lyke the heade of an oxe. She lyueth both in the water and on the lande ; She is flowe of mouynge : of condition
meeke, gentell, aflbcyable and louing to mankind and of a maruelous fence or memorie as are the elephant and the
delphyn. The king noriffhed this fyfhe certeine daies at home with the breade of the countrey, made of the roote of
Iitcca and Panycke with fuche other rootes as men are accuftomed to eate. For when fhee was yet but younge, he
caft. her into a poole or lake neare vnto his palaice there to bee fedde with hande. This lake alfo receaueth
waters and cafteth not the fame foorth ageine. It was in tyme pafte cauled Guaurabo : But is nowe cauled the lake
of Ma7iati after the name of this fyfhe whiche wandered fafelye in the fame for the fpace of xxv. yeares, and
grewe excedyng byg. What fo euer is written of the Delphines of Baian or Arion, are muche inferior to the
dooinges of this fyfh : which for her gentle nature they named Matum, that is gentle or noble. Therefore when
fo euer any of the kynges familyers, efpecially fuche as are knowen to her, reforte to the bankes of the lake and
caule Matum, Matum, then fhe (as myndefuU of fuche benefites as flie hath receaued of men) lyftethe vp her
heade and commeth to the place whither fhe is cauled, and there receaueth meate at the handes of fuche as
feede her. If any defirous to paffe ouer the lake, make fignes and tokens of theyr intente, fhe boweth her felfe
to them, therewith as it were gentelly inuitynge them to amount vppon her, and conueyeth them fafely ouer.
It hath byn feene that this monftrous fyffhe hath at one tyme fafely caryed ouer tenne men finginge and playinge.
But if by chaunce when fhe lyfteed vp her heade flie efpyed any of the Chriftian men, ftie woolde immediatly
ploonge downe ageyne into the water and refufe to obey, bycaufe (he had once receaued iniury at the handes of
a certeyne wanton younge man amonge the Chriftians, who hadde cafte a ftiarpe darte at her, although fhe were
not hurte by reafon of the hardenes of her (kynne beinge roughe and ful of fkales and knobbes as we haue
fayde. Yet dyd fhe beare in memorie th[e]iniurie fhe fufteyned, with fo gentell a reuenge requitynge
th[e]ingratitude of hym which had delte with her fo vngentelly. From that day when fo euer fhe was cauled by
any of her familiers, fhe woolde fyrft looke circumfpectly about her, leaft any were prefent appareled after the
maner of the Chriftians. She woolde oftentymes play and wreftle vppon the banke with the kynges chamberlens :
And efpecially with a younge man whom the kynge fauoured well, beinge alfo accuftomed to feede her. Shee
woolde bee fumetymes as pleafaunt and full of play as it had byn a moonkey or marmafet : And was of longe
tyme a great comfort and folace to the hole Hande. For no fmaule confluence afwell of the Chriftians as of
th[e]inhabitantes, had dayly concourfe to beholde fo ftraunge a myracle of nature, the contemplation wherof was
no leffe pleafaunt then woonderfull. They fay that the meate of this kynde of fyfflie, is of good tafte : And that
many of them are engendered in the feas therabout. But at the length, this pleafaunt playfelowe was lofte, and
caried into the fea by the great ryuer Attibimicus, one of the foure which diuide the Hande. For at that tyme
there chaunced fo terrible a tempeft of wind, and rayne, with fuch fluds enfewing that the like hath not lighdy
byn hard of By reafon of this tempeft, the ryuer Attibuniais fo ouerflowed the bankes, that it fylled the hole
vale and myxt it felfe with all the other lakes. At which tyme alfo, this gentell Matum and pleafaunte
companyon, folowynge the vehemente courfe and faule of the fluddes, was therby reftored to his oulde moother
and natyue waters, and fence that tyme neuer feene ageyne. Thus hauynge digreffed fufficiently, let vs nowe
coome to the fituation of the vale. It hathe collaterally the mountaynes of Cibaua and Caiguam which
brynge it to the South fea. There is an other vale beyonde the mountaynes of Cibaua towarde the North.
This is cauled the vale of Guarionexius, bycaufe that before the memorie of man, the prediceffours and
aunceftours of kyng Guarionexius to whom it is defcended by right of inheritaunce, were euer the lordes
of the hole vale. Of this kynge, we haue fpoken largely in the fyrft narration of the Hande in the
fyrft Decade. This vale is of length from the Eaft to the Weft, a hundreth and fourefcore myles: And of
A playne of a
hundreth and
twentie miles
A playne of two
hundreth myieb in
length.
The maruelous
fysshe Manati.
131
A monster of the
sea fedde with
mans hande.
A fyshe caryeth
men ouer the lake
A maruelous
thynge.
The jyuer
Attibunicus.
The situation cf
the great vale.
The mountaynes
of Cibaua and
Caiguam.
The greate vale
of Guarionexius,
172
The thyrde Decade.
132
Mountaynes.
Vales.
Hylles.
Playnes.
Ryuere.
Golde in all
mountaynes, and
golde and fysshc
in all ryuers.
Salte bayes.
Howe the Ilande
is diuided with
mountaynes.
Golde.
The rytiers haue
theyr increase
from the caues cf
the mountaynes
No hurtful or
raueninge beast
in the llande.
The autours
excuse.
breadth from the South to the North, thirtie myles wher it is naroweft, and fiftie where it is brodefte. It
begynneth from the region Canabocoa by the prouinces of Huhabo and Caiabo : And endeth in the prouince
of Bainoa and the region of Marietta. It lyeth in the myddeft. betwene the mountaynes of Cibaua,
and the mountaynes of Cakotiai and Cazaaibima. There is no prouince nor any region, which is not notable
by the maieflie of mountaynes, frutefulnes of vales, pleafauntnefle of hylles, and delectablenes of playnes, with
abundaunce of fayre ryuers runnynge through the fame. There are no fides of mountaynes or hylles, no ryuers,
which abound not with golde and delycate fyffhes, except only one ryuer which from th[e]originall therof, with
the fprynges of the fame breakynge foorth of the mountaynes, commeth owt falte and fo contynueth vntyll it
peryfhe. This ryuer is cauled Bahuan : and runneth through the myddle of the region Magjiana in the prouince
of Bainoa. They fuppofe that this ryuer hathe made it felfe awaye vnder the grounde by fume paflages of
playfler or falte earthe. For there are in the llande many notable falte bayes, wherof we wyl fpeake more
hereafter. We haue declared howe the llande is diuided by foure ryuers and fyue prouinces. There is alfo an
other particion, whiche is this. The hole llande confyfleth of the tops of foure mountaines which diuide it by
the myddefl from the Eafl to the wefle. In all thefe is abundance of nooryfhynge moyfture and greate plentie
of golde : of the caues alfo of the whiche, the waters of al the riuers (into the which the caues emptie them
felues) haue theyr originall and increafe. There are lykewyfe in them horryble dennes, obfcure and darke vales,
and myghtie rockes of (lone. There was neuer any noyfome beafle founde in it : Nor yet any rauenynge foure
footed beafle. No lyon, no beare no fierce tygers, no craftie foxes, nor deuouring woolfes. All thynges are
bleffed and fortunate : And nowe more fortunate, for that fo many thoufandes of men are receaued to bee the
fheepe of Chriftes flocke, all theyr Zemes and Images of deuylles being reiected and vtterly out of memorie.
If I chaunce nowe and then in the difcourfe of this narration to repeate one thynge dyuers tymes or otherwife
to make digreffion, I mud defyre yowre holynes therwith not to bee offended. For whyle I fee, heare, and
wryte thefe thinges, mee feemeth that I am herewith fo affected, that for vetye ioy I feele my mynde flirred as
it were with the fpirite of ApoUo as were the Sibylles, whereby I am enforced to repeate the fame ageyne :
Efpecially when I confyder howe farre the amplitude of owre religion fpreadeth her wynges. Yet amonge thefe
fo many bleffed and fortunate thynges, this one greeueth me not a lyttle : That thefe fimple poore men neuer
brought vp in labour, do dayly peryfhe with intoUerable trauayle in the golde mynes : And are therby brought
to fuche defperation, that many of them kyll them felues, hauynge no regarde to the procreation of chyldren.
In fo much that women with chylde, perceauynge that they fhall brynge foorth fuch as fhalbe flaues to the
Chriflians, vfe medecines to deflroy theyr conception. And albeit that by the kynges letters patentes it was
decreed that they fhulde bee fet at lybertie, yet are they condrayned to feme more then feemeth conuenient for
free men. The number of the poore wretches is woonderfuUy extenuate. They were once rekened to bee
aboue twelue hundreth thoufande heades : But what they are nowe, I abhorre to rehearfe. We wyll therefore
let this paffe : and return e to the pleafures of Hifpaniola. In the mountaynes of Cibaua, which are in maner
in the myddefl of the llande in the prouince of Caiabo (where we fayd to bee the greatefl plentie of natyue
golde) there is a region named Cotohi, fituate in the clowdes, enuironed with the toppes of hyghe mountaynes,
and well inhabited. It confifleth of a playne of. xxv. myles in length, and. xv. in breadth. This playne is
hygher then the toppes of other mountaynes : So that thefe mountaynes, maye feeme to bee the chiefe and
progenitours of the other. This playne fuffereth alterations of the foure tymes of the yeare: as the Sprynge,
Soomer, Autumne, and wynter. Here the herbes waxe wythered, the trees loofe theyr leaues, and the medowes
become hore : The whiche thynges (as we haue fayde) chaunce not in other places of the llande, where they
haue only the Spring and Autumne. The foyle of this playne bryngeth foorth feme and bramble buffhes
bearynge blacke berries or wylde rafpes, which two are tokens of coulde regions. Yet is it a fayre region : for
the coulde therof is not very (harpe : neyther dooth it aflicte th[e]inhabitantes with frofle or fnowe. They argue
the frutefulnes of the region by the feme, whofe flalkes or fleames are bygger then a fpere or iauelen. The
fydes of thofe mountaynes are ryche in golde. Yet is there none appoynted to dygge for the fame, bycaufe it
flialbe needefull to haue apparelled myners, and fuch as are vfed to labour. For th[e]inhabitantes lyuynge
contented with lyttle, are but tender : And can not therfore away wth labour or abyde any coulde. There are
two ryuers which mnne through this region, and faule from the toppes of the prefent mountaynes. One of thefe
is named Comoiayxa, whofe courfe is towarde the Wefl, and fauleth into the chanell of Naiba. The other is
cauled Tirecotus: which mnnynge towarde the Eafl, ioyneth with the ryuer of lunna. In the llande of Creta
(nowe cauled Candie) as I paffed by in my legacie to the Soldane of Alcayr or Babylon in Egypte, the
Venetians toulde me that there laye fuche a region in the toppes of the mountaynes of Ida, whiche they affirme
to bee more fmtefull of wheate come then any other region of the Hand. But forafmuch as once the Cretenfes
rebelled agenfl the Venetians, and by reafon of the (Ireight and narowe way to the toppes therof, longe defended
the region with armes againfl th[e]auctoritie of the Senate, and at the length beinge forweryed with warres,
rendered the fame, the Senate commaunded that it fhulde bee lefte deferte, and the flreightes of th[e]enter-
By what meanes
the people of the
Hand are gretly
consiuned.
The plesures of
Hispaniola.
The region of
Cotohi, situate in
the Clowdes.
A playne in the
toppes of
mountaynes
The hygher, the
coulder.
Moderate coulde
in the mountaynes.
Ferne of
maruelous bignes
GoUa
133
Th[e]inhabitantes
of Hispaniola can
abyde no labour
nor coulde.
The Hand ol
Creta or Candie,
vnder the
dominion of the
Venetians.
The thyrde Decade.
^3
aunces to bee (lopped, lefle any fliulde afcende to the region without their permiflyon. Yet in the yeare of
Chrifte M. D. ii. lycence was graunted to the hufband men to tyll and manure the region, on fuche condition
that no fuche as were apte to the warres, myght enter into the fame. There is alfo an other region in Hifpaniola
named Coto/iy after the fame name. This diuideth the boundes of the prouinces of Vhabo and Caiabo. It
hath mounta)'nes, vales, and plaines. But bycaufe it is baren, it is not muche inhabited. Yet is it richefl. in
golde : For the originall of the abundaunce of gold, beginneth here : In fo muche that it is not gathered in
fmaule graines and fparkes as in other places : but is founde hole, maffie, and pure, emonge certaine fofte
flones and in the vaines of rockes, by breakynge the ftones wherof, they folowe the vaynes of golde. They
haue founde by experience, that the vayne of golde is a lyuinge tree : And that the fame by all wayes that it
fpreadeth and fpringeth from the roote by the fofte pores and paflages of the yearth, putteth foorth branches
euen vnto the vppermoft part of the earth, and ceafeth not vntyl it difcouer it felfe vnto the open ayer : At
whiche time, it fheweth foorth certaine bewtifull colours in the fleede of floures, rounde flones of golden earth
in the fleede of frutes, and thynne plates in fleede of leaues. Thefe are they whiche are difparcled throughout
the hole Ilande by the courfe of the ryuers, eruptions of the fpringes owte of the montaines, and violent faules
of the fluddes. For they thincke that fuch graines are not engendered where they are gathered : efpecially on
the dry land : but otherwife in the riuers. They iay that the roote of the golden tree extendeth to the center
of the earth and there taketh norifhement of increafe. For the deaper that they dygge, they fynd the trunkes
therof to be fo muche the greater as farre as they maye folowe it for abundaunce of water fpringing in the
montaines. Of the braunches of this tree, they fynde fumme as fmaule as a threde, and other as bygge as a
mannes fynger accordynge to the largeneiTe or flraightnefle of the ryftes and clyftes. They haue fumetimes
chaunced vpon hole caues fufleyned and borne vp as it were with golden pyllars : And this in the wayes by the
whiche the branches afcende : The whiche beynge fylled with the fubflaunce of the truncke creapynge from
beneath, the branche maketh it felfe waye by whiche it maye pafle owte. It is oftentymes diuided by encoun-
terynge with fum kynde of harde flone. Yet is it in other clyftes noorifflied by the exhalations and vertue of
the roote. But now perhappes yowe will aflce me what plentie of golde is brought from thenfe. Yowe fhall
therfore vnderflande that onely owte of Hifpaniola, the fum of foure hundreth and fumtymes fyue hundreth
thoufande ducates of gold is brought yearely into Spayne : as may be gathered by the fyfthe portion dewe to
the kynges Excheker, which amounteth to the fum of a hundreth and fourfcore, or fourefcore and ten thoufande
Caflellanes of golde, and fumtymes more. What is to bee thought of the Ilande of Cuba and SanHi lohannis (others
wife cauled Burichena) beyng both very ryche in golde, we wyll declare further hereafter. To haue fayde thus
muche of golde, it fhall fuffyce. Wewyll nowe therfore fpeake fumwhat of falte wherwith wee may feafon and referue
fuche thynges as are bought with golde. In a region of the prouince oi Bainoa, in the montaynes of Daiaguo,
about twelue myles diflant from the falte lake cauled Cafpius, there are falte bayes in the montaynes in a maner as
hard as floones, alfo clearer and whiter then criflall. There are lykewyfe fuche falte bales whiche growe woon-
derfully in Laletania (now cauled Catalonia) in the territorie of the duke of Cadona the chiefe ruler in that region.
But fuche as knowe theym bothe, affyrme that thefe of Bainoa are mofle notable. They faye alfo that this can not
be clefte without wedges and beatelles of Iron. But that of Laktana, maye eaflye bee broken as I my felfe haue
proued. They therfore compare this to fuche floones as may eafely bee broken : And the other to marble. In the
prouince of Caizimu, in the regions of Iguanama, Caiacoa, and Guariagua, there are fprynges whofe waters are
of maruelous nature, beynge in the fuperfytial or vppermoofle parte, frefhe ; In the myddefl, myxte of falte and
frefhe : And in the lowed parte, falte and fower. They thincke that the falte water of the fea, iffheweth owte
foftely, and the frefhe, to fpringe owte of the mountaines. The one fauleth downe and the other ryfeth : and are
not therfore fo vniuerfally myxt wherby the one may vtterly corrupt th[e]other. If any man laye his eare to the
grounde neare to any of thefe fpringes, he fhal perceaue the ground there to bee fo hoUowe, that the rebound3mg
noyfe of a horfeman comminge may be harde for the fpace of three myles, and a foote man one myle. In the
lafle region towarde the fouthe named Guaccaiarima, in the lordfhyp of Zauatia, they fay there are certeyne
wyld men whiche lyue in the caues and dennes of the montaynes, contented onely with wilde fruites. Thefe
men neuer vfed the companye of any other : nor wyll by any meanes becoome tame. They lyue without any
certaine dwellynge places, and with owte tyllage or culturynge of the grounde, as wee reade of them whiche in
oulde tyme lyued in the golden age. They fay alfo that thefe men are withowte any certaine language. They
are fumtymes feene. But owre men haue yet layde handes on none of them. If at any tyme they coome to
the fyght of men, and perceyue any makynge toward them, they flye fwifter then a harte. Ye they affyrme them
to bee fwifter then grehowndes. What one of thefe folytarie wanderers dyd, it is worth the hearyng. So it is
that owr men hauyng granges adioyning nere vnto the thicke wods, certen of them repaired thither in the
mooneth of September in the yeare. M. D. xiiii. In the meane tyme, one of thefe wylde men came leapynge
owte of the woodde. And approchynge fumwhat toward them with fmyling countenaunce, foodenly fnatched
vppe a childe of therfe beynge the foonne of the owner of the graunge, whiche he begotte of a woman of the
Pure and massie
golde in the
region of Cotoy.
The vaine of golde,
is a lyuynge tree.
These colers or
floures are cauled
Marchasites,
Pyrites.
The roote of the
golden tree.
The braunches of
the golden tree.
Caues susteyned
with pyllers of
golde.
The stones of the
golde mynes.
What gold is
brought yerely
from Hispaniola
into Spayne.
Salte of the
mountaynes, very
hard and cleare.
134
Salt as hard as
stones.
Sprynges of salt,
fres-she and sower
water.
Holowe caues in
the grounde
Certeyne wyld mei
lyuing in caues
and dennes
Men without a
certeyne language
Men as swift as
greihounds
A wyld man
runneth away
with a chylde
174
The thyrde Decade.
Pitchc of ihe
rocke.
Pitche of two
kyndes of tree*.
The pine tree.
The tree Copeia.
The leafe of a tree
in the stecde of
paper.
They heleue that
leaues do speake.
A pretie stone.
135
Ilande. He ranne awaye with the childe, and made fygnes to owre men to folowe hym. Many folowed afwel
of o\vre men as of the naked inhabytantes, but all in vayne. Thus when the pleafaunt wanderer perceaued that
the Chriflians ceafed to purfue hym, he lefte the childe in a croffe waye by the whiche the fwyneheardes were
accuftomed to dryue the fwyne to their paflure. Shortly after, a fwynehearde founde the chyld and brought
hym home to his father yet tormentynge hym felfe for forowe, fuppofynge that wylde man to haue byn one of
the kynde of the Canibales, and that his foonne was nowe deuowred. In the fame Ilande they gather pytche
whiche fweateth owte of the rockes, beynge muche harder and fourer then the pitche of the tree : and is therfore
more commodious to calke or defende fliyppes ageynfle the woormes cauled Bromas, wherof wee haue fpoken
largely before. This Ilande alfo bryngeth foorth pitche in two kyndes of trees, as in the Pyne tree and an other
named Copeia. I neede not fpeake of the pyne tree, bycaufe it is engendered and knowen in maner euery
where. Lette vs therfore fpeake fumwhat of the other tree cauled Copeia : Pitche is lykewyfe gathered of it as
of the pyne tree: althoughe fumme faye that it is gathered by dillyllyng or droppyng of the woode when
it is burnt. It is a flraunge thynge to here of the leafe thereof: and how neceffary prouifion of nature is
fhewed in the fame. It is to be thought that this is the tree in the leaues wherof the Chaldeans (beynge the
fyrfte fynders of letters) expreffed their myndes before the vfe of paper was knowen. This leafe is a fpanne
in breadth and almofl round. Owtc men write in them with pynnes or nedles or any fuche inflrumentes
made of metall or woodde, in maner as well as on paper. It is to bee lawghed at what owre men haue
perfwaded the people of the Ilande as towchynge this leafe. The fymple foules beleue that at the com-
mandement of owre men, leaues do fpeak and difclofe fecreates. They were brought to this credulitie
by this meanes. One of owre men dwellynge in the citie of Dominica the chiefe of the Ilande, delyuered
to his feruaunte (beyng a man borne in the Ilande) certayne rofled connies, (whiche they caule Vtias
beynge no bygger then myfe) wyllynge hym to carie the fame to his frende whiche dwelte further within the
Ilande. This meffenger, whether it were that he was therto conftrayned through hunger, or entyfed by appetite,
deuoured three of the counnies by the waye. He to whome they were fente, writ to his frynde in a leafe howe
manye he receaued. When the mayfler had looked a whyle on the leafe in the prefence of the feruaunt, he
fayde thus vnto hym. Ah foonne, where is thy faythe? Coulde thy gredye appetyte preuayle fo muche
with the as to caufe the to eate the connies commytted to thy fydelytie? The poore wretche trembelynge and
greatlye amafed, confeffed his faute : And therwith defyred his mayfler to tell hym howe he knewe the treweth
therof This leafe (quod he) whiche thou browghtefl. me, hath toulde me all. Then hee further rehearfed vnto
hym the houre of his coommynge to his frende, and lykewyfe of his departynge when hee retoumed. And thus
they meryly deceaue thefe feely foules and keepe theym vnder obedyence : In fo muche that they take owre men
for goddes, at whofe coommaundement leaues doo difclofe fuche thynges as they thyncke moofle hyd and
fecreate. Bothe the fydes of the leafe receaueth the formes of letters euen as dooeth owre paper. It is thycker
then double parchement, and meruelous toughe. While it is yet floryffhynge and newe, it (heweth the letters
whyte in greene. And when it is drye, it becommeth whyte and harde lyke a table of woodde : but the letters
wexe yelowe. It dooeth not corrupte or putrifye: nor yet loofeth the letters thoughe it bee wette: nor by any
other meanes excepte it bee burnte. There is an other tree named Xagua : the iuife of whofe foure apple
beynge of a darke redde coloure, flayneth and coloureth what foo euer is touched therwith : And that foo
fyrmely, that noo waffhynge canne take it awaye for the fpace of twentie dayes. When the apple is full ripe, the
iuife loofeth that flrength. The apple is eaten, and of good tafl. There is aUb an herbe whofe fmoke (as we
haue reherfed the like before of a certen woodde) is deadly poifon. On a tyme when the kynges affembled
together and confpired the deflruction of owre men, whereas they durfle not attempte th[e]enterprife by open
warre, theyr diuife was, priuilye to lay many bundels of thofe herbes in a certeyne houfe, whiche fhortly after
they intended to fet on fyer, to th[e]intent that owre men makynge hafle to quenflie the fame, myght take theyr
death with the fmoke therof. But theyr purpofed practyfe beinge bewrayed, th[e]autours of the diuife were
punyffhed accordyngly. Nowe (mode holy father) for as much as yowre holynefle wryteth that what fo euer we
haue written of the newe worlde, dooth pleafe yowe ryght well, wee wyll reherfe certeyne thynges owte of order,
but not greatly from owre purpofe. Of the fettynge the rootes of Maizium, Agis, lucca, Baiiatas, and fuch other
beinge theyr common foode, and of th[e]ufe of the lame, we haue fpoken fufficiently before. But by what meanes
they were fyrlle applyed to the commoditie of men, we haue not yet declared. We nowe therefore entende to
cntreate fumwhat hereof.
Ignorance causeth
admiration.
The leafe wherin
they wryte.
A stronge colour
of the iuise of an
apple.
An Herbe whose
smoke is poyson.
«T4
The thyrde Decade.
175
H The nynth booke of the thyrde Decade.
HEY faye that the fyrile inhabitours lyued contented with the rootes of dates, and Magueans,
which is an herbe muche lyke vnto that which is commonly cauled Sengrene or Orpin. Alfo
the rootes of Guaiegans, whiche are rounde and greate muche lyke vnto puffes of the earth or
muffheromes. They did lykewife eate Guaieros, lyke vnto perfeneppes : Cibaios lyke nuttes,
Cabaioes and Macoanes, lyke vnto onions, with dyuers other fuche rootes. They fay that
after many yeares, a certeyne Boition, that is, a wyfe oulde man, fawe vppon the bankes fyde,
a bufhe lyke vnto fenel : and tranfplantyng the roote therof, brought it from wyldenes to a
better kynde, by nooryffhynge it in gardens. This was the begynnynge of lucca, which at the fyrfle was deadely
poyfon to all fuche as dyd eate therof rawe. But for as muche as they perceaued it to bee of pleafaunte tafle,
they determyned many wayes to proue the vfe therof: And at the length founde by experience that beinge fodde
or fryed, it was leffe hurtefuU: by whiche meanes alfo, they came to the knowledge of the veneme lyinge hyd in
the iufe of the roote. Thus by dryinge, faltynge, feafonynge, and othenvyfe temperynge it, they brought it
to theyr fine breade which they caule Cazabbi, more delectable and holfome to the flomacke of manne then
breade made of wheate, bycaufe it is of eafyer digeflion. The fame is to bee vnderfloode of other rootes and
the grayne of Maizmm whiche they haue chofen for their chiefe meate amonge the feedes of nature, as we reade
howe Ceres the doughter of Saturnus, gathered wheate and barley (with fuche other come as are nowe moft. in
vfe amonge men) in Egypte of certeyne graynes taken owt of the mudde dryuen from the mountaynes of
Ethiopia by th[e]increafe of the ryuer Nilus, and lefte in the plaine at fuch tyme as Niliis reforted ageyne to
his chanell. For the which facte, we reade that the antiquitie gaue diuine honour to Ceres, who fyrfl norilhed
and increafed fuch chofen feedes. There are innumerable kyndes of Ages: the varietie wherof, is knowen by
theyr leaues and floures. One kynde of thefe, is cauled Gteanaguax. This is whyte boothe within and without
An other named Guaraguei is of vyolet colour without and white within. The other kyndes of Ages, they caul
Zazaueios. Thefe are redde without and whyte within. Squiuetes, are whyte within and without Tunna, is all
together of vyolet coloure. Hobos is yelowe booth of fkynne and inner fubftance. There is an other named
Atibunieix: The flcynne of this is of violet colour, and the fubflance whyte. Aniguamar, hath his fkynne alfo of
vyolet coloure, and is whyte within. Guaccaracca, hath a whyte Ikynne, and the fubflance of vyolet colour. There
are many other which are not yet brought to vs. But I feare me leafl in the rehearfall of thefe, I (hal prouoke
the fpurres of malicious perfons ageynfl me which wyll fcome thefe owr doinges for that we haue wrytten of
many fuch fmaule thinges to a prince occupyed in fuche weyghty affayres, as vnto yowre holynes vppon whofe
ftiulders refleth the burthen of the hole Chriflian worlde. But I wolde afke of thefe malycious enuyers of
other mens trauayles, whether Plinie and fuch other famous wryters, when they dyrected and dedicated fuch
thinges to kynges and princes, entended only to profyte them to whom they confecrated the frute of theyr
knowleage. They fumtymes intermyxte famous thynges mth obfcure thynges, lyght with heauie, and greate with
fmaule, that by the foortheraunce of princes, theyr vniuerfall pofleritie myght enioye the fruition of the know-
leage of thynges. At other tymes alfo, beinge intent about particular thinges, and defyrous of newe thynges,
they occupyed them felues iu the fearchinge of particular tractes and coafles, with fuche thynges as nature
brought foorth in the fame, by this meanes to coome the better to more abfolute and vniuerfal knowleage. Let
theym therefore contemne owre doinge : And wee wyll laugh to fcome, not theyr ignoraunce and flothfulnes,
but pernicious curioufnes : And therewith hauynge pitie of theyr frowarde difpofitions, wyll commit theim to the
venemous ferpentes of whom enuie tooke his fyril originall. It fliall in the meane tyme abundantly contente
vs that thefe thynges do pleafe yowre holynes : And that yowe doo not difpife o\vre fimple veflures wherwith
we haue only weaued togyther and not adoumed, gathered and not defcribed fuch mamelous thynges in the
gamyfhynge wherof, nature hath fufficiently (hewed her cunnynge. Owre defyre is none other but herein for
yowre fake to doo owre endeuoure that thefe thynges maye not peryfhe. Let euery man take hereof what
lyketh hym bed. Of the flieepe or bullocke foulde in the market, nothynge remayneth in the euenynge, bycaufe
the fhulder pleafeth one, the legge an other, and the necke an other. Ye, fume haue mofl phantafie to the
bowels, and fume to the feete. Thus hauynge enough wandered, lette vs returne to owre purpofe and declare
with what woordes they falute the kynges chyldren when they are fyrfl bome : or howe they apply the begyn-
nyng of theyr lyues to the end ; And why their kynges are cauled by many names. Therfore when the kynge
hath a fonne bome, fuch as dwel neare about his pallaice or vyllage, repayre to the queenes chamber, where
The kyndes of
frutes wherwith
the[e]inhabitantes
lyued fyrst.
Necessilie the
moother of all
artes.
136
The fine breade
Cazabbi, made of
the rootes of
lucca.
Howe Ceres fyrst
founde wheate an(f
barly in Egypte.
The rootes of ages
The autours
excui-e.
riiuic
176
The thyrde Decade.
By what names
they salute the
kynges chyldren
when they are
home.
The names and
tytles of the
Romane
Emperours.
137
Howe they make
iheyr testamentes
So dyd Erea[t]
Alezanoer
The kynges wyues
and concubines
are burycd with
hym.
They burie theyr
iewels with them.
A dreame of an
other lyfe after
this.
Where it rayneth
but seldome.
Where it raj'neth
much.
Variable motions
of the elementcs.
The colonies and
vyllages which the
Spanyardes haue
buylded
The other Ilandes
about hispaniola.
The Ilandc
Arethusa.
A sprynge
ninnyng vnder the
sea fro me
hispaniola to
Arethusa.
138
The Hand of
Sancti lohannis
The ILmdc of
Cuba.
one faluteth the newe bome chylde with one name, and an other with an other name. God (aue the
thowe fhyninge lampe fayth one: An other cauleth him bryght and cleare. Sume name him the
victourer of his enemies: and other fume, the puiflaunt conquerour defcended of bludde royall, and
biyghter then gold, with dyuers other fuche vayne names. Therfore lyke as euery of the Romane emperours
was cauled Adiabenicus, Parthicus, Armeniais Dacicus, Gothicus, and Germanicus, accordynge to the titles
of theyr parentes and aunceflours, euen fo by th[e]impofition of names inuented by other kynges, Beuchicus
Anaca\ii\:hoa the lord of the region of Xaragua (of whorae and of the wyfe woman Anachaona his fyfler,
we haue fpoken largely in the fyrfle Decade) was cauled by all thefe names folowynge: Tureigua Hobin:
whiche is as muche to faye, as, a kynge fhynynge as bryght as laton. Starei, that is, bryghte: HuUw^
hyghneffe: Duiheynequm, a ryche fludde. With all thefe names and more then fortye other fuche, dooeth
kynge Baichius magnifye hym felfe as often as he commaundeth any thynge to bee doone or caufeth any
proclamation to bee made in his name. If the cryer by neglygence leaue owte any of thefe names, the king
thynketh it to founde greatly to his contumely and reproche. The lyke is alfo of other. Howe fondely they
vfe them felues in makynge their teflamentes, we wyll nowe declare. They leaue th[e]inheritaunce of their
kyngedomes to th[e]eldefl. foonnes of their eldefl fyflers. If fhee fayle, to th[e]elde{l of the feconde fyfter and
fo of the thirde if the fecond alfo faile. For they are owte of doubte that thofe children coome of their bludde.
But the children of their owne ■wyues, they counte to bee not legitimate. If there remayne none of their fyflers
children, they leaue th[e]inheritaunce to their broothers. And if they faile, it defcendeth to their owne foonnes.
Lafle of all, if al thefe faile, they affygne it to the woorthieft, as to hym that is of greatell power in all the Ilande,
that he may defende their fubiectes from their auncient enemyes. They take as many wyues as them lyfleth.
They fuffer the beft. beloued of the kynges wyues, and concubynes to bee buryed with hym. Anachaona the
fyfler of Beuchius the kyng of Xaragua, being a woman of fuche wifedome and cunnynge that in makynge of
rhymes and balettes Ihee was counted a prophetiffe emonge the befte, commaunded, that emonge all the wyues
and concubynes of the kinge her brother, the fayrerefl (whofe name was Guanahattabenechind) fhulde be buried
alyue with him, and two of her waytyng maydes with her. Shee woolde alfo haue appointed dyuers other to
that offyce, if fhee had not byn otherwife perfwaded by the prayers of certeyne fryers of faincte Fraunces order
whiche chaunced then to bee prefente. They faye that this GiianaJiattabenechina had none in all the Hand
comparable to her in bewtie. She buried with her all her iewelles and twentie of her befl. omamentes. Their
cuflome is, to place befyde euery of them in their fepultures, a cuppe full of water and a portion of the fyne breade
of Cazabbi. In Xaragua, the regyon of this kynge Betuhius, and in Hazua, parte of the regyon of Caiabo, alfo
in the fayre vale of falte and frelhe lakes, and lykewife in the region of Yaquino in the prouynce of Baitwa, it
rayneth but feldome. In al thefe regyons are foffes or trenches made of oulde tyme, wherby they conueye the
waters in order to water their fyeldes, with no lefle arte then doo th[e]inhabitours of newe Carthage, and of the
kyngedome of Murcien in Spartaria for the feldoome faule of rayne. The region of Maguana, deuydeth the
prouynce of Bainoa from Caiabo, and Zauana from Guaccaiarima. In the deepe vales, they are troubled with
raine more often then nedeth. Alfo the confynes of the chiefe citie named faincte Dominike are moifter then
is neceflary. In other places, it rayneth moderately. There are therfore in the Ilande of Hifpaniola, dyuers
and variable motions of the elementes, as we reade the lyke of manye other regions. Of their colonies or
mantions which the Spaniardes haue erected in this Ilande we haue fpoken fuffycientelye beefore. They haue
fence that tyme buylded thefe vyllages : Portiis Plates, Partus Regalis, Lares, Villanoua, Azuam, and Saluaierra.
Hauynge fayde thus muche of the Ilande of Hifpaniola the moother and ladye of the other Ilandes, and as it
were Tethys the mode bewtifull wyfe oiNeptunus the god of the fea, let vs nowe entreate fumwhat of her Nymphes
and faire Nereides whiche waite vppon her and adoume her on euery fyde. Wee wyll therfore begynne at the
neareft cauled the newe Arethufa, foo named of the fontayne Aret/iufa in the Ilande of Sicilie. This is famous
by reafon of a fprynge : but otherwyfe vnprofytable. Owre men named it of late, Duas Arbores, bycaufe it hath
onely twoo trees groynge in it: nere vnto the whiche is a fountaine that commeth from the Ilande ol Hifpaniola
throughe the fecreate paffages of the earth vnder the fea, and breaketh foorth in this Ilande, as the ryuer
Alpheus in Achaia runneth vnder the fea from the citie of Elide, and breaketh foorth in the Ilande of Sicilie in
the fountayne Arethufa. That the fountayne of this newe Arethufa hath his original from the Ilande of
Hifpaniola, it is manifefl. hereby, that the water ifflle^vynge owte of the fountayne, bryngeth with it the
leaues of many trees whiche growe in Hifpaniola, and not in this Ilande. They faye that the fountayne
hath his originall from the rjoier Yiamiroa in the region of Guaccaiarima confynynge with the land of Zauana
This Ilande is not paRe a myle in circuite, and commodious for fyfflier men. Directly towarde the Eafle (as it
were the porter kepynge the enterie to Tethys) lyeth the Ilande of San5li lohannis (otherwyfe cauled Burichena)
wherof wee haue fpoken largely before. This aboundeth with golde : and in fruitefull foile, is equall with her
mother Hifpaniola. In this are many colonies or manfions of Spaniardes, whiche applye them felues to
gatherynge of golde. Towarde the weft, on the Northe fyde, great Ctiba (for the longeneffe therof, longe
17«
The thyrde Decade.
177
fuppofed to be the continent or fyrme lande) wardeth owre Tethys on the backe halfe. This is muche longer
then Hifpaniola : And from the Eafle to the Wefte, is diuyded in the myddeft with the circle cauled Tropicus
Cancri. Hifpaniola and the other lyinge on the South fyde of this, are included almoft in the mydde fpace
betwene the fayde Tropyke and the Equinoctiall lyne, whiche many of the oulde ^vriters fuppofed to bee
vnhabitable and defert by reafon of the feruent heate of the foonne in that clyme as they coniectured. But
they were deceaued in their opinion They affyrme that rytcher golde mynes are founde in Cuba then in
Hifpaniola. They faye alfo that euen nowe while I wryte thefe thynges, there is golde gathered together ready
to the meltyng, amountynge to the quantitie of a hundreth and fourefcore thoufande Caflellans of gold, an
argument furely of great rychelfe. Jamaica is more towarde the Southe then thefe : And is a pleafaunte and
fruitefull Ilande, of foyle apte for come, grafles, and fettes, it confyfteth of onely one mountayne. Th[e]inhabi-
tauntes are warrelyke men and of good wytte. Colonus compared it to Sicilie in bygneffe. They whiche of
late fearched it more exactely, faye that it is fumwhat leffe : but not muche. It is thought to be without gold
and precious floones, as the like was fuppofed of Cuba at the begynnynge. The Ilande of Guadalupea (fyrfte
named Caraqueira) lyinge on the Southe fyde of Hifpaniola, is foure degrees nearer the Equinoctiall. It is
eaten and indented with two goulfes (as wee reade of great Britanye nowe cauled Englande, and Caledonia
nowe cauled Scotlande) beinge in maner two Ilandes. It hath famous portes. In this they founde that gumme
whiche the Apothecaries caule Animce Album, whofe fume is holfome ageynfl reumes and heauyneffe of the
heade. The tree whiche engendereth this gumme, beareth a fruite muche lyke to a date, beinge a fpanne in
length. When it is opened, it feemeth to conteyne a certayne fvveete meale. As owre hufbande men are
accuflomed to referue cheflenuttes and fuche other harde fniites all the wynter, foo do they the dates of this
tree, beynge muche lyke vnto a fygge tree. They founde alfo in this Ilande, Pyne trees of the belle kynde,
and fuche other deyntie dyffhes of nature, wherof wee haue fpoken largely before. Ye, they thyncke that
th[e]inhabitauntes of other Ilandes, had their feedes of foo many pleafaunt frutes from henfe. For the Cani-
bales beinge a wylde and wanderynge people, and ouer runnynge all the countreys aboute them to hunte for
mannes fleflie, were accuftomed to brynge home with them what fo euer they founde llraunge or profytable in
any place. They are intractable, and wyll admytte no flraungiers. It fhall therfore bee needefull to ouercoome
them with great poure. For as well the women as men, are experte archiers, and vfe to inueneme their
arrowes. When the men go foorthe of the lande a man huntynge, the women manfully defende their coafles
ageynfl fuche as attempte to inuade the fame. And hereby I fuppofe it was thought that there were Ilandes
in the Ocean, inhabited onely with women, as Colonus the admirall hym felfe perfwaded me, as I haue fayde in
the fyrfte decade. This Ilande hath alfo frutefull mountaynes and playnes, and notable ryuers. It nouryffheth
honye in trees, and in the caues of rockes, as in Palma one of the Ilandes of Canarie, honye is gathered emong
the briers and bramble bufflies. Aboute. xviii. myles Eafteward from this Hand, lieth an Hand which owr men
named Defiderata, beynge. xx. myles in circuite and verye fayre. Alfo aboute ten myles from Guadalupea
towarde the Southe, lyeth the Ilande of Galanta, beynge thirtie myles in circuite and playne. It was fo named
for the neatenefle and bewtifulnes therof. Nyne myles diftant from Guadalupea toward the Eaft, there are fyxe
fmaule Ilandes named Todos SaiiHos or Barbala. Thefe are full of rockes and barren : Yet neceffarye to bee
knowen to fuche as vfe to trauayle the feas of thefe coafles. Ageyne, from Guadalupea. xxxv. myles towarde
the Northe, there is an Ilande named Monffcrratus, conteynynge in circuite fortye myles, hauynge alfo in it a
mountayne of notable heyght. The Ilande named Antiqua, diftante from Gtiadalupea thirtie myles, is aboute
fortye myles in circuite. Diegus Colonus the foonne and heyre of Chriflopher Colonus, tould me that his wyfe
(whome he lefte in the Ilande of Hifpaniola at his comming into Spaine to the courte) did write vnto hym, that
of late emonge the Ilandes of the Canibales, there is one founde whiche aboundeth with golde. On the lefte
fyde of Hifpaniola towarde the Southe, neare vnto the hauen Beata, there lyeth an Ilande named Partus Bellus.
They tell maruelous thynges of the monfters of the fea aboute this Ilande, and efpecially of the tortoyfes. For
they faye that they are bygger then greate rounde targettes. At fuche tyme as the heate of nature moueth
theym too generation, they coome foorthe of the fea; And makynge a deepe pytte in the fande, they laye three
or foure hundreth egges therin. When they haue thus emptied their bagge of conception, they putte as muche
of the fande ageyne into the pytte, as maye fuffyce to couer the egges : And foo reforte ageyne to the fea,
nothynge carefull of their fuccelTyon. At the daye appoynted of nature to the procreation of thefe beaftes,
there creapeth owte a multitude of tortoyfes, as it were pyfTemares fwarmynge owte of an ante hyll : And this
onely by the heate of the foonne withowte any helpe of their parentes. They faye that their egges are in
maner as bygge as geefe egges. They alfo coompare the flefhe of thefe tortoyfes, to be equall with veale in
tafte. There are befyde thefe, innumerable Ilandes the whiche they haue not yet fearched : nor yet is it greatly
neceffarye to fyfte this meale fo fynely. It maye fuffyce to vnderftond that there are large landes and many
regyons whiche fhal hereafter receaue owre nations, tounges, and maners : and therwith embrafe owre relygion.
The Troyans dydde not foodenly replenyfhe Afia, the Tyrians Libia, nor the Greekes and Phoenices Spayne.
Eden. Q 177
HabiLtble regionsi
vnder the
Equinoctiall.
The ryche golde
mynes of Cuba.
The Hand of
Jamaica.
The Hand of
Guadalupea.
England and
Scotlande,
The gumme
cauled Anime
album.
Dates.
Pine trees.
The Canibales.
Whereby it was
thought that there
were Ilandes of
Hony in trees
and rockes.
The Ilande
desiderata.
The Ilande
Galanta.
The Ilandes of
Todos Sanctos or
Barbata.
The Ilande
monsserratus.
139
The Itande
Antiqua.
The Ilande
Portus BeUus
Great Torloyses.
The generation of
Tortoyscs.
The egges of
Tortoyses,
Innumerable
Ilandes.
Troians.
Tirians.
Greekes.
Phenitian^i.
178
The thyrde Decade.
The North
Ilandcs.
The Ilandes of
the south sea.
The Hand of
pearlcs.
Wylde beasts
must be tamed
with the rod.
As touchynge the Ilandes which lye on the north fyde of Hifpaniola, I haue let pafle to fpeake. For
albeit they are commodious for tyllage and fyffhynge, yet are they lefte of the Spanyardes as poore and of
fmaule value. We wyll nowe therefore take owre leaue of this owlde Tethis mth her moyfl and watery
Nymphes : And receaue to owre newe acquaintance the bewetifuU ladye of the South fea rychely crowned with
great pearles, the Ilande of Dites beinge ryche both in name and in treafure. In my epiftell booke whiche I
fente vnto yowre holynes this lafl yeare, I declared howe Vafchus Nunnez Balboa the capitayne of them whiche
paffed ouer the daungerous mountaynes towarde the South fea, learned by report that in the profpect of thofe
coaft.es there laye an Ilande aboundynge with pearles of the greateft. forte : And that the kynge therof was ryche
and of great power, infeftynge with warres the other kynges his bortherers, and efpecially Chiapes and
Tumacchus. We declared further howe at that tyme it was lefte vntouched by reafon of the ragynge tempeft.es
whiche troubled that South fea three moonethes in the yeare. But it is nowe better knowen to owre men, who
haue nowe alfo brought that fierce kynge to humanitie : and conuerted hym from a cruell tyger to one of the
meeke ftieepe of Chriftes flocke fanctifyed with the water of baptifme with all his famelie and kyngedome. It
fliall not therefore bee from o\vre purpofe to declare by the gouemaunce of what capitaines or by what meanes
thefe thynges were fo happely atchyued.
C The tenth booke of the thyrde Decade.
An expedition to
the Ilande of
Dites in the south
sea
The Hand of
Margaritea.
Os Dracouis.
Paritu
140
A conflict
The kynge of the
Ilande of Dites
submitteth
himselfe.
The kynges
pallaicc.
A hundreth and
ten pounde weight
of pearJes.
T the arryuall of Pdrus Arias the newe gouemour of Dariena, he gaue commaundment that
one Gafpar Moralis fliuld take in hande th[e]expedition to the Ilande of Dites. He there-
fore tooke his vyage fyrft to Chiapes and Tumacchus kynges of the South, whom Vafchus
beefore had concyled and left fryndes to the Chriftians. They frendely and magnifycally
enterteyned owr men who prepared them a nauie of the kynges boates to pafie ouer into this
Ilande, which they caule Dites and not Margarita or Margaritea, although it abounde with
pearles which in the latin tonge are cauled Margarita. For the fyrft cauled an other
by this name, which lyeth next to the mouth of Os Draconis in the region of Paria, in the which alfo
is founde greate plentie of pearles. Gafpar brought with hym onely threefcore armed men to the Ilande,
for that he coulde conuey ouer no greater number by reafon of the fmaulenes and narownes of theyr boates
or barkes which they caule Culchas, made of one hole piece of tymber as we haue fayde before. The
kynge of the Ilande came foorth ageinft them fiercely with cruell and threatenynge countenaunce, and with
a great bande of armed men cryinge in maner of a larome and in token of the battayle, Guazzauara, Guazzauara,
which is as much to faye as, battayle ageynft the enemie : And is as it weare a watch worde to giue th[e]onfet,
wherwith alfo they threwe theyr dartes. For they haue not th[e]ufe of bowes. They were fo obftinate and
defperate that they affayled owre men with foure Guazsauaras, that is, battayles. At the length owre men with
certeyne of Chiapes and Tumacchus men (being eoulde enemies to this kynge of the Ilande) gotte the vpper
hande by reafon they affayled the kynge foodenly and vnwares. Yet was he determyned to affemble a greater
power, and once ageyne to attempt the fortune of warre, but that he was otherwyfe perfuaded by the kinges his
bortherers which counfayled him to gyue ouer and fubmyt hym felfe : fumtyme by th[e]exemple of them felues
and other threatenynge the deftruction of his flooryfliynge kyngedome : And otherwhyles declarynge vnto hym
the humanitie and gentelnes of owre men, by whofe frendfhip he might obteyne honoure and quyetnes to hym
and his : wyllyng hym furthermore to confider what chaunced vnto them which the yeare before refyfted and
aduentured the hafarde of the battayle as dyd thefe kynges, Poncha, Pocchorrofa, Quareqtia, Chiapes, and
Tumaccus with fuch other. By thefe perfuafions, the king fubmytted hym felfe and came freendely to o^vre men
whom he conducted to his palaice which they fay to be marueloufly adoumed and princelyke. As foone as they
entered into the pallaice, he brought foorth a bafket of curious woorkemanfliyp and full of pearles which he
gaue them. The fumme of thefe pearles amounted to the weyght of a hundreth and ten poundes after, viii.
vnces to the pounde. Beinge ageyne rewarded of owre men with fuch tryfles as they brought with them of
purpofe, as garlandes of Chriftall and glaffe and other counterfet ftones of dyuers colours, with lookyng glaffes
alfo and laton belles, and efpecially two or three Iren hatchets (which they more efteme then great heapes of
gold) he thought hym felfe abundantly recompenfed. They laughe owre men to fcorne that they wyll departe
with fo great and neceffarie a thyng for any fumme of golde : affyrmynge an axe or hatchet to bee profytable for
manye vfes of men : and that golde ferueth onely for wanton pleafures, and not to be greatly neceffary. Beynge
therfore ioyfuU and gladde of the frendefliyppe of owre men, he tooke the capitaine by the hand and brought
The thyrde Decade.
179
him with certeine of his familiars to the highed towre of his palaice, from whenfe they myght profpecte the
mayne fea. Then cadyng his eyes about hym on eueiy fide, and lookynge towarde the Eafle, he fayde vnto
them. Beholde here lyeth open before yowe the infynite fea extended beyond the foonne beames. Then
tournyng hym toward the Southe and Wefle, he fygnyfied vnto them that the lande which laye before their eyes, the
toppes of whofe great montaynes they myght fee, was exceadynge large. Then coommynge fumwhat nearer, he
fayde: Beholde thefe Ilandes on the ryght hande and on the lefte, whiche all obeye vnto owre empyre, and are
ryche, happye, and bleifed, if yowe caule thofe landes bleffed whiche abounde with golde and perle[s]. Wee haue
in this Ilande lyttle plentie of golde : But the deepe places of all the feas aboute thefe Ilandes, are full of perles :
wherof yowe fhall receaue of me as many as yow wyll requyre, fo that ye perfyfle in the bonde of frendefliyppe
whiche yowe haue begunne. I greatly defyre yowre frendefhyppe, and woolde gladlye haue the fruition of
yowre thynges, whiche I fette muche more by then myllyons of perles. Yowe fliall therfore haue no caufe to
double of any vnfaythfulneffe or breache of frendefhyppe on my behalfe. Owre men gaue hym lyke frendly
woordes : and encouraged hym with many fayre promyffes to doo as he had fayde. When owre men were nowe
in a redyneffe to departe, they couenaunted with hym to paye yearely to the greate kynge of Caftyle a hundreth
pounde weyghte of perles. He gladlye agreed to their requeft, and tooke it for no great thyng : nor yet thought
hym felfe any whitte the more to becoome tributarie. With this kynge they founde fuche plentie of hartes and
Connies, that owre men flondynge in their houfes myght kyll as manye as them lylle with their arrowes. They
lyue heare verye pleafauntly, hauynge greate plentie of al thynges neceffary. This Ilande is fcarfely fyxe
degrees diRant from the Equinoctiall lyne. They haue the fame maner of breade made of rootes and
the graine of Maizium, and wyne made of feedes and fruites, euen as they haue in the region of Comogra and
in other places afwell in the Ilandes as in the firme lande. This kynge is nowe baptifed with all his familye
and fubiectes. His defyre was at his baptifme, to bee named Petrus Arias after the name of the gouemour.
When owre men departed, he accompanied them to the fea fyde and furnyfflied them with boates to retourne
to the continent. Owre men diuided the perles emonge them, referuyng the fyfte portion to be delyuered to
th[e]offycers of the kynges Excheker in thofe partes. They faye that thefe perles were maruelous precious,
faire, oriente, and exceadynge bygge : In fo muche that they broughte manye with theym bygger then hafell
nuttes. Of what price and value they myghte bee, I confyder by one perle the which Paulus prediceffour to
yowre holines, bowght at the fecond hand of a marchant of Venece for foure and forty thoufande ducates. Yet
emonge thofe whiche were brought from this Ilande, there was one bought euen in Dariena for a thoufande and
two hundreth Callelans of golde. This was almofl as bygge as a raeane walnutte : And came at the length to
the handes of Petrus Arias the gouernoure, who gaue it to that noble and faithefull woman his wyfe, of whofe
maner of departure with her hufbande, wee haue made mention before. Wee mufle then needes thinke that
this was verye precious which was bowght fo deare emonge fuche a multitude of perles where they were not
bought by one at once, but by poundes and at the leafl by ounces. It is alfo to be thought that the Venecian
marchaunte boughte his for no great fum of mony in the Eail parts. But he fould it the dearer for that he
chaunced to lyue in thofe lafciuious and wanton dayes when men were gyuen to fuche nyfe and fuperfluous
pleafures, and mette with a marchaunt for his purpofe. But lette vs nowe fpeake fumwhat of the (helfyffhes in
the whiche perles are engendered. It is not vnknowen to yowre holyneffe, that Ariflotell, and Plinie his
folower, were of dyuers opinions as concernynge the generation of perles. But thefe Indians and owre men,
refl. onely in one affertion, not affentyng to them in any other : as eyther that they wander in the fea, or that
they moue at anye tyme after they are borne. They wyll therfore that there bee certayne greene places as it
were medowes in the bottome of the fea, bryngynge foorthe an herbe muche lyke vnto thyme, and affyrme that
they haue feene the fame : And that they are engendered, noryffhed, and growe therin, as wee fee th[e]increafe
and fucceffion of oyflers to growe aboute them felues. Alfo that thefe fyfflies delyteth not in the conuerfation
or coompanye of the fea dogges : Nor yet to bee contented with onely one, twoo, or three, or at the mofle
foure pearles : Affyrmyng that in the fyfihynge places of the kynge of this Ilande, there was founde a hundreth
pearles in one fyfhe, the whiche Gafpar Moralis the capitayne hym felfe, and his coompanions, diligently
numbered. For it pleafed the kynge at their beynge there and in their prefence, to commaund his diuers to
go a fyffhynge for thofe kynde of fyfflies. They compare the matrices of thefe fyfflies, to the places of concep-
tion in hennes, in the whiche their egges are engendered in great multitudes and clullers : And beleue that
thefe fyfflies brynge foorth their byrth in lyke maner. For the better profe wherof, they faye that they founde
certaine pearles coommynge foorthe of their matreces, as beynge nowe coome to the tyme of their full rypeneffe,
and moued by nature to coome owte of their moothers wombe openynge it felfe in tyme conuenient. Lykewife
that within a while after, they fawe other fuccede in lyke maner. So that to conclude, they sawe fum coom-
mynge foorthe, and other fumme yet abydinge the tyme of their perfection i whiche beyng complete, they
alfo became loofe and opened the matrice. They perceaued the pearles to bee inclofed in the myddefl. of
their bellies, there to be noriflhed and increafe as an infante fuckynge his moothers pappes within her wombe,
The kynges
woordes.
Ilandes rychin
golde and pearles.
C. [hundred]
pounde weyght of
perles yerely for
a tribute.
Plentie of hartes
and cunnies.
141
Wyne of frutcs
and sedes
The kynge is
baptised.
The fyft part of
perles due to the
kynge.
Byg perles.
A perle for a pope.
An other perle of
great price.
Nise and
superfluous
pleasures.
Dyuers opinions ol
the generation of
pearles.
Herbes in the
bottome of the sea.
A hundreth perles
in one shell fysshe.
The matrice of the
perle fysshe.
The byrth of
perles.
i8o
The thyrde Decade.
142
Where the
byggest, meane,
and least pearl es
are engendred
Sea crabbes
The sea muscles
wherein perles are
engendred.
The regions of the
East syde of the
goulfe of Vraba.
The region of
Caribana.
The original of
the Cambales.
The vylages of
Caribana.
Manhunters.
143
Bookcs.
Loke in the
begynnyng of the
booke of the landes
lately foilnde.
before hee moue to coome foorthe of her priuye places. And if it chaunce any of thefe flielfyfflies to be founde
fcatered in the fande of the fea (as I my felfe haue feene oyfters difparcled on the ftiores in diuers places of the
Ocean) they affyrme that they haue byn violently dryuen thither from the bottome of the fea by force of
tempeftes, and not to haue wandered thither of them felues. But, that they becoome white by the clearenefle
of the mornynge dewe, or waxe yelowe in troubled wether, or otherwyfe that they feeme to reioyce in faire
wether and cleare ayer, or contrary wyfe to bee as it were aftonifflied and dymme in thunder and tem-
peftes, with fuche other, the perfecte knowledge hereof is not to bee looked for at the handes of thefe
vnlearned men whiche handell the matter but groffely, and enquire no further then occafyon ferueth. Yet do
they affyrme by th[e]experience and induflrie of the dyuers, that the greatefl pearles lye in the deepefl places,
they of the meane forte hygher, and the lead hygheft of all and nearer to the brymme of tlie water. And faye
therfore that the greatefl. do not wander : but that they are created, nouryffhed, and increafe in the deepefl
places of the fea, whether fewe, dyuers, and that but feeldome dare aduenture to diue fo deepe to gather them,
afwel for feare of the fea crabbes whiche wander emonge thefe perle fyfhes to feede of them, and for feare of
other monfl.ers of the fea, as alfo lefle their brethe fhuld fayle them into long remayninge in the water. And
this they faye to bee the caufe why the owldefl, and therfore byggefl fea mufcles, inhabyte the deepefl places
from whenfe they are not lyghtly moued by tempeftes. Furthermore, howe muche the bygger and oulder thefe
fyfhes are, they fay that in their larger matrices, the greater number and bygger pearles are founde : And that
for this caufe, there are fewer founde of the byggefl. forte. They thyncke alfo, that when they fyrfte faule from
their fyffhes in the deepe places, they are deuoured of other fyffhes, bycaufe they are not yet harde. Ageyne,
the fmaulefl differ from the byggefl in a certayne fwellynge or impoflumation whiche the Spaniardes caule a
tympane. For they denye that to be a pearle which in oulde mufcles cleaueth faft to the fhel : But that it is a
warte, whiche beynge rafed from the fhell with a fyle, is rounde and bryght but onely of one fyde, and not
precious, beynge rather of the nature of the fyfhe it felfe, then of a pearle. They confeffe that they haue feene
certayne of thefe mufcles cleauynge on rockes : Yet thefe but fewe, and nothynge woorthe. It is alfo to bee
thought that the pearle fyfflies or fea mufcles whiche are founde in India, Arabie, the redde fea, or Taprobana,
are ruled in fuche order as the afore named famous autours haue written. For their opinion herein is not vtterly
to bee reiected, forafmuche as they were learned men and trauayled longe in the ferchynge of thefe thynges.
But wee haue nowe fpoken fuflfyciently of thefe fea fyffhes and of their egges which the fonde nyfenes and
wantonnelfe of men haue made dearer then the egges of hennes or geefe. Lette vs therfore entreate fumwhat
of other particular thynges whiche are coome to owre knowledge of late. We haue elles where largely defcribed
the mouthes of the goulfe of Vraba, with fundrye and variable regions diuided with the manyfolde goulfes of
that fea. But as concernynge the Wefl coafles in the whiche owre men haue buylded houfes and planted their
habitations on the bankes of Dariaia, I haue no newe matter to write. Yet as touching the Eaft partes of the
goulfe, I haue learned as foloweth. They faye that the vnyuerfal lande of the Eafl region of the goulfe from
the comer therof farre reachynge into the fea, and from the extreame or vtter mofle mouthe of the fame
receauynge the waters of the fea whiche faule into it, euen vnto Os Draconis and Faria, is by one generall name
cauled Caribana, of the Caribes or Canibales whiche are founde in euery regyon in this tracte. But from whenfe
they had their particular originall, and howe leauynge their natiue foyle, they haue fpredde their generation fo
farre lyke a pefliferous contagion, we wyll nowe declare. Therfore from the fyrfte fronte reachynge foorth into
the fea (in whofe tracte we faid that Fogeda faftened his foote) toward the corner, about nyne myles diftant,
there lyeth a vyllage of Caribana named Futeraca. Three myles diflant from this, is the vyllage of Vraba, of the
whiche it is thoughte that the hole goulfe tooke his name, bycaufe this vyllage was once the heade of the
kyngedome. Aboute fyxe myles from this, is Feti. Nyne myles from Feti, is Zerema : And about twelue myles
from this, Sorache. Owre men founde all thefe vyllages full of people, all the whiche gyue them felues onely to
manhuntynge. In fo muche that if they lacke enemyes ageynft whom they maye keepe warre, they excerife
crueltie ageynft them felues, and eyther fleye one the other, or elles dryue the vanquyffhed to flyghte. Whereby
it is apparante that by thefe their continuall warres, and dryuynge the one the other owte of their countreis,
this infection hath gonne fo farre not onelye on the fyrme lande, but alfo into the Ilandes. I was alfo aduertifed
of an other thynge the whiche to my iudgement, feemeth woorthye to bee putte in memorye.
One Corrales a iudge in caufes of lawe amonge the Spanyardes of Dariena, fayth that on a tyme walkyng
abrode with his booke in his hande, he met by the waye with a fugityue which had fledde from the great landes
lyinge farre toward the wefte, and remayned here with a Kynge wyth whom he was enterteyned. When this
man perceaued the lawier lookynge on his booke, marueylynge thereat, he came runninge vnto him, and by
interpretours of the kynge whgm he ferued, fpake thus vnto him : Haue yowe alfo bookes wherin yowe may
referue thynges in perjDetual memorye? And letters wherby yowe maye declare yowfe mynde to fuche as are
abfent? And herewith defyred that the booke might bee opened vnto hym, fuppofyng that he fhulde therein
haue founde the letters of his owne countrey. But when he fawe theim vnlyke, he fayde further that in his
The thyrde Decade.
i8i
countrey there were cities fortified with waules and gouerned by lawes : and that the people alfo vfed apparell.
But of what religion they were, I dyd not leame. Yet had owre men knowleage both by the woordes and
fignes of this fugitiue, that they were circumcifed. What nowe thinke yowe hereby (mofl holy father) Or
what do yowe diuine may come hereof when tyme fhall fubdue al thefe vnder yowre throne? Let vs nowe
entermyngle certeyne fmaule thynges amonge thefe great matters. I haue not thought good to pretermitte that
which chaunced to lohannes Solyjlus, who, to fearche the South fyde of the fuppofed continent, departed with
three (hippes from porte loppa (not farre diftante from the Ilandes of Gades or Cales in the Ocean) the fourth
day of the Ides of September in the yeare. M. D. xv. Or what fucceffe lohannes Pontius had, whom the newe
gouemour Petrus Arias appoynted to vanquiflie and deflroy the Caribes or Canibales, deuourers of mans flefhe.
Alfo to what ende the vyages of the other capitaynes came, whiche were fent foorth dyuers wayes at the fame
tyme : As Gonzalus Badaiocitis, Francifcus Bezerra, and Valleius. lohannes Solicius tooke the matter in hande in
an euyll houre. He fayled beyonde the poynt of faynt Augufline, (which they caule Cabo. S. Augujlint) toward
the South fyde of the fuppofed continent beyonde the Equinoctiall lyne. For (as we haue fayde before) that
poynt reacheth Southwarde to the feuenth degree of the South pole cauled the Antartike. He proceaded in
that viage fyxe hundreth leagues : And founde the lande from the poynte to extende fo farre towarde the South
beyonde the Equinoctiall, that he came to the thirtie degree of the South pole. As he fayled thus forwarde,
hauynge nowe on his backe halfe the flarres named Caput Draconis, (that is, the dragons heade) and the regions
of Paria lyinge northwarde frome hym, and profpectynge towarde the pole Artyke, he chaunced to faule into
the handes of the fylthye Canibales. For thefe craftie foxes feemed to make fignes of peace, when in theyr
mindes they conceaued a hope of a daintie banquet : And efpying their enemies a farre of, beganne to fwalowe
theyr fpettle as their mouthes watered for greedines of theyr pray. As vnhappye Solyfius defcended with as
many of his coompanie as coulde enter into the boate of the byggefl. (hippe, foodenly a great multytude of
th[e]inhabitantes burRe foorth vppon them, and flew them euery man with clubbes, euen in the fyght of theyr
felowes. They caried away the boate, and in a moment broke it al to fytters. Not one man efcaped. Theyr
furye not thus fatiffied, they cutte the flayne men in pieces euen vppon the fliore where theyr felowes might
beholde this horrible fpectacle from the fea. But they being flryken with feare through this exemple, durfl not
coome foorth of theyr fhyppes, or diuife howe to reuenge the death of theyr Capitaine and coompanyons. They
departed therefore from thefe vnfortunate coafles : And by the waye ladynge theyr fliippes with brafell returned
home ageyne with lofle and heauie chere. Of thefe thynges I was aduertyfed of late by theyr owne letters.
What they haue els doone, I fhal haue more particular knowleage hereafter. lohannes Pontius was alfo repulfed
by the Canibales in the Ilande of Gtmdalupea beinge one of the chiefe Ilandes of theyr habitacion. For when
they fawe owre men a farre of on the fea, they ley in ambufhe foodenly to inuade them when they fliulde
coome alande. Owre men fent foorth a fewe foote men and with them theyr laundrefles to wafflie theyr
fhertes and fheetes. For from the Ilande of Ferrea beinge one of the Ilandes of Canarie (euen vnto
this Ilande, for the fpace of foure thoufande and twoo hundreth myles) they had feene no lande where
they myght fynde any frefflie water : for as muche as in all this large fpace, the Ocean is without Ilandes.
At theyr commynge therfore to lande, the Canibales affayled them, caried awaye the women, and put
the men to fuche diflrefle that fewe of them efcaped. By reafon wherof, Pontius being greately difcomfited,
durfle not inuade the Canibales, fearynge theyr venemed arrowes which thefe naked manhunters can direct mofl.
certenly. Thus good Pontius faylyng of his purpofe, was fayne to gyue ouer the Canibales, whome (beinge fafe
and vnder the houfe roufe) he threatened to vanquyfhe and deflroy. Whether he went from thenfe, or what newe
thynges he founde, I haue as yet no further knowleage. By thefe myffortunes, Solyfius lofle his lyfe, and Pontius
his honour. Let vs nowe fpeake of an other whofe enterpryfe came to lyke purpofe the fame yeare. lohannes
Aiora borne in the citie of Corduba, a man of noble parentage, fent in fteade of the Lieuetenaunt (as we haue
fayde) more couetous of golde then carefuU of his charge or defyrous of prayfe for well deferuynge, fought
occafions of querelynge ageynfl. the kynges and fpoyled many, violently extortynge golde of them ageynft ryght
and equitie : And further handeled them fo extremely, that of frendes they became mofl cruel enemies : In fo
much that they ceafed not with defperat myndes by all meanes they coulde to fley owre men openly or priuilye.
By reafon wherof it is coome to paffe, that where before they bartered quyetly exchanginge ware for ware, they
are nowe fayne to doo all thynges by force of armes. When he had thus exacted a great quantitie of golde of
them (as it is fayd) he fledde priuilie and tooke away a fhyppe with him by ftelth as the common rumoure
goeth : Nor yet hetherto haue we hard whyther he went or where he is arryued. Sum fufpect that Petrus
Arias the gouemour fhulde confente to his departure bycaufe this lohannes Aiora is brother to Gonfalus Aiora
the kynges hifloriographer, a man booth lerned, and expert in the difcipline of warre: and fo much the
gouernours frend, that thefe two amonge a fewe, may be counted exemples of rare amitie. I my felfe alfo am
greately bounde vnto theym bcthe and haue longe enioyed theyr frendefliippe. Yet rtial I defyre them bothe
to pardone me in declarvnee niv uhantafie herein, that in all the turmoyles and tragicall affayres of the Ocean,
Q 3 i8i
Circumcised
people.
What chaunced to
the Capitaines
whiche the
fouemour sent
yuers wayes.
Looke decade iii.
liber, vi
The vyage of
lohannes Solisius.
Cap. S. Augusiim
lohn Solysius is
slaine of the
Canibales.
The fiercenes of
the Canibales.
Brasell.
lohannes Pontius
is repulsed by the
Canibales.
144
The vyage of
lohannes Aiora.
Looke decade iii.
liber, vi.
The Icwde
behauour of lohr
Aiora.
1 82
The thyrde Decade.
The variaDlc
fortune
of Gonsalus
Badaiocius.
Cerabaro. Decade,
iii. li[b]. iiii
The South sea-
A leaque
conteyneth foure
myles by sea and
but three by lande.
The golden region
of Coiba Dytes.
Sande myxte with
golde.
Howe theyr
blaues are marked
in the face.
145
Golde.
A fruteful region
left desolate by
ciuile discorde.
Kynge Periquete.
y. Michael.
Kynge Totonoga-
Six thousand
Ca.steUans of
golde.
Kyng Taiacuru.
viii. thousand
pesos of gold
Kynge Pananonie
Kyng Tabor.
Kynge CheilL
iiiL thousande
pesos of gold
Salte.
Kyng Anata.
XV. thousande
pesos of gold
Theyr maner of
warre.
nothynge hath fo muche difpleafed me as the couetoufnes of this man who hath fo diflurbed the pacified myndes
of the kynges. Nowe emonge thefe troubelous chaunces, let vs rehearfe the variable fortune of Gonfalus
Badaiocius and his felowes, whofe profperous begynnynges, ended with vnfortunate fuccefle. Gonfalus therfore
in the moneth of May in the yeare of Chrifle M. D. xv. departed from Dariena mth fourefcore armed men,
directynge his vyage towarde the Sonthe, and reflynge in no place vntyll he came to the region of Cerabaro
which owre men named Gratia Dei, diflant from Dariena about a hundreth and fourefcore myles : for they
caule it threefcore leaques. He fpente certeyne dayes here in Idelnefle: for he coulde neyther by fayre
meanes nor by foule, allure the kynge of the regyon to coome to hym. While he laye thus idelly, there came to
hym other fyftie men fente home Dariena vnderthe gouemaunceof capytayneZ(?(/(7«iW/.f Mercado who departed from
Dariena in the calendes of Maye, to th[e]intent to fearch th[e]inner partes of thofe regyons. When they mette
together, they determyned after confultation, to paffe ouer the montaynes lyinge towarde the Southe, euen vnto
the Southe fea latelye founde. Beholde nowe a wonderfull thynge : That in a lande of fuche maruelous longi-
tude in other places, they founde it here to bee onely aboute fyftie myles didant to the Southe fea: for they
counte it xvii. leaques. as the maner of the Spanyardes is to reken, and not by myles. Yet faye they that a
leaque confyfleth of three myles by lande and foure by fea as wee haue noted before. In the toppes of the
mountaynes and turnynge of the waters, they founde a kynge named luana, whofe kyngedome is alfo named
Coiba as is the regyon of kynge Careta, of whome we haue made mention elles where. But for as muche as
the regyon of this luana, is rycher in golde, they named it Coiba Dites, that is, Coiba the rych. For, wherfo-
euer they dygged the grounde, whether it were on the drye lande or in the weate chanelles of the ryuers, they
founde the fande whiche they cafle foorthe, myxte with golde. luana fledde at the coommynge of owre men,
and coulde neuer bee brought ageyne. They fpoyled all the countrey neare aboute his palayce. Yet had they
but lyttle golde : for hee had caryed all his (luffe with hym. Here they founde certeyne flaues marked in the
faces after a flraunge forte. For with a fharpe prycke made eyther of bone, or elles with a thome, they make
holes in their faces : and foorthwith fprinkelynge a pouder theron, they moifle the pounced place with a
certeyne blacke or redde iuife, whofe fubllaunce is of fuche tenacitie and clammineffe, that it wyll neuer weare
awaye. They brought thefe flaues away with them. They faye that this iuife is of fuch fliarpnelfe and putteth
them to fuche payne, that for extreeme doloure they haue no (lomacke to their meate certaine dayes after. The
kynges whiche take thefe flaues in their warres, vfe their helpe in feekynge for golde and in tyllage of the
grounde, euen as do owre men. From the pallaice of luana, folowynge the courfe of the water aboute tenne
myles towarde the Southe, they entered into the dominion of an other kynge, whome owre men named the
oulde man, bycaufe hee was oulde, not paffynge of his other name. In the regyon of this k)Tige alfo, they
founde golde in all places bothe on the lande and in the ryuers. This region is verye fayre and fruteful! : and
hath in it many famous ryuers. Departynge from henfe, in fyue dayes iomeye they came to a lande lefte
defolate. They fuppofe that this was deflroyed by ciuile difcorde for as muche as it is for the moofle parte
fruiteful, and yet not inhabited. The fyfth daye, they fawe two men commynge a farre of. Thefe were laden
with breade of Maizium, whiche they caryed on their (hulders in fackes. Owre men tooke them : and vnder-
(loode by them that there were twoo kynges in that tracte : The one was named Periquete, whoe dwelte neare
vnto the fea. The others name was Totonoga. This Totonoga, was blynde and dwelte in the continent The
twoo men whiche they mette, were the fyffhers of Totonoga, whome he had fente with certayne fardelles of
fyfhe to Periquete, and had ageyne receaued breade of hym for exchaunge. For thus do they communicate
their commodities one with an other by exchaunge, without th[e]ufe of wycked money. By the conductinge of
thefe twoo men, they came to kynge Totonoga dwellynge on the Wefle fyde of fayncte Michaelles goulfe in the
Southe fea. They had of this kynge, the fum of fyxe thoufande Caflellans of golde bothe rude and artifycially
wrought Emonge thofe groumes of rude or natyue golde, there was one founde of the weyghte of two
Callellans, whiche argued the plentiful! rychenefle of the ground. Folowing the fame coaftes by the fea fyde
toward the Weft, they came to a kynge whofe name was Taracuru, of whome they had golde amountynge to
the weyght of eight thoufand Pefos. Wee haue fayde before that Pefus is the weyghte of a Caftelane not
coyned. From henfe they wente to the dominion of this kynges brother named Pananome, who fledde at their
commynge, and appered no more afterwarde. They faye that his kyngdome is ryche in golde. They fpoyled
his pallaice in his abfence. Syxe leaques from henfe, they came to an other kyng named Tabor. From thenfe
they came to the kyng of Cheru. He frendly enterteyned owre men, and gaue them foure thoufande Pefos of
golde. He hatha in his dominion many goodly falte bayes : the region alfo aboundeth with golde. About
twelue myles from henfe, they came to another kyng cauled Anata, of whome they had. xv. thoufande Pefos of
golde whiche he had gotten of the kinges his bortherers whom he had vanquilThed by warre. A great part of
this golde was in rude forme bycaufe it was molten when he fet the kynges houfes on fyer whom he fpoyled.
For they robbe and fley the one the other, fackynge and fyryng their villages, and waftinge their countreys.
They keepe warre barbaroufly and to vtter deftruction, executinge extreeme crueltie ageinft them that haue
The thyrde Decade.
183
the ouerthrowe. Gonfalus Badaiodus with his felowes, wandered at lybertie vntyll they came to this kyng:
And had gathered great heapes of gold of other kinges. For, what in braflettes, coUers, earinges, brefle plates,
hehnettes, and certeine barres wherwith women beare vppe their brefles, they had gathered together in gold
the fum of fourefcore thoufande Caflellans, whiche they had obteyned partly by exchaunge for owre thinges
where they founde the kinges their frendes, and otherwife by forceible meanes where they founde the contrary.
They had gotten alfo forty flaues whofe helpe they vfed both for cariage of their vitailes and bagagies
in the fleade of moiles or other beafles of burden, and alfo to relieue fuche as were fycke and forweried
by reafon of their longe iomeys and hunger. After thefe profperous viages, they came by the dominion
of kynge Scoria, to the palaice of a kynge named Pariza; where (fearyng no fuch thing) Pariza enclofed
them with a great armye, and aflliyled them flraggelyng and vnwares, in fuche forte that they had no
leafure to put on their armure. He flewe and wounded about fyftie, and put the refydue to flyght. They
made fuche had, that they had no refpect eyther to the gold they had gathered, or to their flaues : but
lefte all behynde them. Thofe fewe that efcaped, came to Dariena. The opinion of all wyfe men as
concemynge the varyable and inconflant chaunces of fortune in humane thinges, were falfe, if al thinges
fliuld haue happened vnto them profperoufly. For fuch is the nature of this blynde goddeffe, that fhe
oftentimes delyteth in the ouerthrowe of them whom flie hath exalted : and taketh plefure in confounding hygh
thinges with lowe, and the contrary. Wee fee this order to bee impermutable, that who foo wyll applye hym
felfe to gather rootes, fhall fumtymes meete with fweete lyquerefle, and other whiles with foure cockle. Yet wo
vnto Pariza : for he fhall not longe fleape in reft. The gouernour him felfe was of late determined with three
hundreth and fyftie choife fouldiers to reuenge the death of owr men : But where as he by chaunce fell fycke,
his poure went forward vnder the conducting of his Lieuetenant Gafpar Spinofa, a ludge in cafes of lawe in
Dariena. At the fame time other were fent foorth to the Ilande oi Dites to exacte the portion of pearles lymited
to the king for his tribute. What flial fuccede, tyme will bring to owre knowleage. The other two, attempted
th[e]inhabitantes beyonde the goulfe, Francifcus Bezerra paffyng ouer by the comer of the goulfe and the
mouthes of the ryuer oi Dabaiba, with two other capitaines and a hundreth and fyftie fouldiers well appointed,
went to make warre vppon the Canibales euen in Caribana their owne chiefeft dominion, toward the vyllage of
Turufy, wherof we haue made mention before in the comming of Fogeda. They brought alfo with them diuers
engens of warre : as three pieces of ordinaunce whofe fhot were bygger then egges : Likewife forty archers, and.
xxv. hagbutters to th[e]intent to reache the Caniballes a farre of, and to preuent their venemed arrowes. But
what became of hym and his company, or where they arriued, we haue yet no parfecte knowleage. Certaine
which came of late from Dariena to Spaine, reported that at their departure, they oi Dariena flode in great feare
leaft they alfo were toflfed with fum miffortune. The other capitaine Valleius, obteyned the fore parte of the
goulfe. But he paffed ouer by an other waye then dyd Bezerra. For he tooke the beginning of Caribana, and
Bezerra the ende. Valleius returned ageine. But of the three fcore and ten men whiche he conueighed ouer
with hym, hee lefte fortye and eyght flaine emonge the Canibales. Thefe are the newes whiche they bringe
that came lafte from Dariena.
There came to me the day before the Ides of October in this yeare. M. D. xvi. Rodericus Colmenares (of
whom we haue made mention before) and one Francifcus Delapuente. This Francifcus, was one of the vnder
capitaines of this bande, whofe chiefe capitaine was Gonfalus Badaiocius who hardly efcaped the handes of
kyng Pariza. Thefe twoo capitaines therfore, Roderiais and Francifcus who departed from Dariena immediatly
after the miffortune whiche befell to Badaiocius and his companye, do both affirme, the one that he hath harde,
the other that he hath feene, that in the Southe fea there are diuers Ilandes lying weflwarde from the Hand of
Dites and faincte Michaels goulfe, in many of the which are trees engendred and nouriffhed which bring foorth
the fame aromaticall fruites, as doth the region of Collocutea. This lande of Collocuiea, wirh the regions of
Cochinus and Camemorus, are the chiefe marte places from whenfe the Portugales haue their fpices. And hereby
do they coniecture that the land where the frutfulnefl"e of fpyce begynneth, fhulde not be farre from thenfe. In
fo much that many of them whiche haue ouerrunne thofe coafles, do onely defyre that leaue may be graunted
them to fearche further, and that they wil of their owne charges frame and furnifhe fliippes and aduenture the
viage to fearche thofe Ilandes and regions. They thinke it beft that thefe (hippes fhulde bee made and prepared,
euen in faincte Michaels goulfe : And not to attempte this vyage by fainte Auguftines point, which waye were
both longe and diifyculte, and ful of a thoufande daungers, and is faide to reache beyonde the forty degree of
the pole Antartike. The fame Francifcus, being partener of the trauailes and daungiers of Gonfalus, faithe
that in ouer runninge thofe landes, he founde great heardes of hartes and wylde bores : and that he toke many
of them by an arte which th[e]inhabitauntes taught him : whiche was to make pittes or trenches in their walkes,
and to couer the fame with bouwes. By this meanes alfo they deceaue al other kindes of mid and foure footed
beaftes. But they take foules after the fame maner that we do : As ftocke doues with an other tame ftocke doue
brought vp in their houfes. Thefe they tye by a flrynge, and fuffer them to flye a lyttle emong the trees. To
.83
Fourescore
thousand
Castellans of
golde.
Kyng Scoria.
Kyng Pariza.
Gonsalus
Badaiocius hath
the ouerthrow and
is spoyled of great
ryches of golde.
146
The Inconstancie
of fortune.
The expedition of
Fraunces Bezarra
ageynst the
Canibales.
Gunnes.
Valeius repulsed
of the Canibales.
The Ilandes of the
south sea.
In this sea ly[e]
the Ilandes of
Molucca, most
frutefull of spices.
Collocutea.
Cochinus and
Camemorus, from
whense the
Portugales haue
theyr spyces.
He meaneth by
the streight of
Magellanus.
Howe they take
hartes and wylde
bores.
Stocke doues
1 84
The thyrde Decade.
147
Theyr maner of
foulynge.
Popingiayi
Ciisely Uk<
es are
.en.
A straunge kynde
of foulynge.
Fysshes and
wormes
engendered of
slime
Foules.
Gourdes of the
Iree.
Later opinions of
the swift course
of the Ocean
towarde the West.
The continent or
firme land.
148
The vyages of
Diegus Colonus.
The vyage from
the new tandes to
Spayne.
the which as other birdes of their kind refort, they kil them with their arrowes. Otherwyfe they take them with
nettes in a bare place pourged from trees and bufhes : and fcateryng certeyne feedes rounde about that place, in
the myddefte whereof they tye a tame foule or byrde of the kynde of them whiche they defyre to take. In lyke
maner do they take popingiayes and other foules. But they fay that popingiayes are fo fimple, that a great
multitude of them wyll flye euen into the tree in whofe bouwes the fouler fytteth : and fwarme about the tame
chatterynge popingiaye, fufferynge them felues to bee eafely taken. For they are fo without feare of the fyght
of the fouler, that they tary whyle he cart, the fnare about theyr neckes, the other beinge nothynge feared hereby,
thoughe they fee hym drawe them to him with the fnare, and put them in the bagge which he hath about hym
for the fame purpofe. There is an other kynde of foulynge, heretofore neuer harde of, and pleafaunt to confyder.
We haue declared before howe that in certeyne of the Ilandes, and efpecially in Hifpaniola, there are dyuers
lakes or flandynge pooles. In fume of thefe (beinge no deaper then men may wade ouer them) are feene great
multytudes of water foules : as wel for that in the bottome of thefe lakes, there growe many herbes and weedes,
as alfo that by reafon of the heate of the fonne pearceinge to the naturall place of generation and corruption, where
beinge doubled in force by reflection and preferued by moyfter, there are engendered of the flymines of the
earth and water, and by the prouidence of the vniuerfall creator, innumerable lyttle fyffhes, with a thoufande
fundry kyndes of frogges, wormes, knattes, flyes and fuch other. The foules which vfe thefe lakes, are of dyuers
kyndes: As duckes, geefe, fwannes, feemewes, guiles, and fuch other. We haue fayde alfo that in theyi
orchardes they noryfhe a tree which beareth a kynde of greate gourdes. Of thefe gourdes therefore well
(lopped lealle any water (hulde enter in at theyr ryftes and caufe them to fmke, they cad many in the fhalowe
pooles : where, by theyr continuall wanderynge and wauerynge with the motions of the wynde and water, they
put the foules owte of fufpection and feare. The fouler in the meane tyme, difguyfmge hym felfe as it were with
a vifour, putteth a great gourde on his head much lyke to a helmet, with two holes neare about his eyes, his
face and hole heade befyde beinge couered thenvith. And thus entereth he into the poole euen vnto the chynne.
For beinge from theyr infancie excercifed in fwymmynge and accuflomed to the waters, they refufe not to
continue therein a longe fpace. The foules thynkynge this gourde to be one of the other that fwymme vppon
the water, the fouler goeth foftly to the place wher he feeth the greatefl flocke of foules : And with waggynge
his heade, counterfectinge the mouing of the wauerynge gourdes, drawethe nere to the foules : where foftely
puttynge foorth his ryght hande, he foodenly fnatcheth one by the legges and plungeth her into the water where
he putteth her into a bagge whiche he hath with hym of purpofe The other foules fuppofmge that this dyued
into the water of her owne motion to feke for foode (as is their maner) are nothyng moued hereby, but go
forwarde on their waye as before, vntyll they alfo faule into the fame fnare. I haue here for this caufe entered
into the declaration of theyr maner of huntynge and foulynge, that by thefe more pleafaunt narrations I may
fumwhat mytigate and aflwage the horrour conceaued in yowre (lomake by the former rehearfall of theyr bluddy
actes and cruell maners. Lette vs nowe therfore fpeake fumwhat ageyne of the newe and later opinions as
concemynge the fwyfte courfe of the fea towarde the weft, about the coaftes of Paria : alfo of the maner of
gathering of golde in the golde myne of Dariena, as I was aduertifed of late. And with thefe two quyet and
peaceable thynges, we wyl make an ende of the tragical affayres of the Ocean : and therwith byd yowre holynes
fare wel. So it is therfore, that Andreas Moralis the pylot, and Ouiedus (of whom we haue made mention
before) repayred to me, at my houfe in the towne of Matrite, As we met thus togyther, there arofe a contention
betwene them two, as concem)mge this courfe of the Ocean. They both agree that thefe landes and regions
perteynynge to the dominion of Caftile, doo with one continuall tract and perpetuall bonde, embrafe as one hole
firme lande and continent al the mayne lande lyinge on the north fyde oi Cuba and the other Ilandes, beinge alfo
northweft both from Cuba and Hifpaniola. Yet as touchynge the courfe of the water, they varie in opinion.
For Andreas, wyll that this vyolent courfe of water bee receaued in the lappe of the fuppofed continente
which bendeth fo much and extendeth fo farre towarde the North, as we haue faid : And that by the obiect or
refiftance of the lande fo bendynge and crookynge, the water fhulde as it were rebounde in coompaffe, and by
force therof be dryuen about the north fyde of Cuba and the other Ilandes excluded without the circle cauled
Tropims Cancri, where the largenes of the fea maye receaue the waters faulynge frome the narowe ftreames,
and therby repreffe that inordinate courfe, by reafon that the fea is there very large and great. I can compare
his meanynge to nothynge more aptely then to the fwyfte flreame commyng foorth ot a mylle and faulyng into
the myl poole. For in al fuche places where waters runne with a vyolent faule through narowe chanels, and
are then receaued in large pooles, they are foodenly difparcled and theyr violence broken : So that wheras before
they feemed of fuch force as to ouerthrowe all thynges beinge in theyr waye, it can not then be perceaued
which way they runne. The Admiral him felfe Diegus Colonus, foime and heyre to Chrijlophorus Colonus the
fyrfl. fynder of thefe landes (who had nowe in commyng and goinge, foure tymes paffed throughe thefe feas)
beinge demaunded of me what he founde or perceaued in faylynge too and fro, anfwered that there was muche
diflicultie in retumynge the fame way by the which they go. But wheras they fyrft take the waye by the mayne
184
The thyrde Decade.
185
fea towarde the North before they directe theyr courfe to Spayne, he faythe that in that tract, he felt the fliippe
fumtymes a lyttle dryuen backe by the contrary courfe of the water. Yet fuppofeth that this chaunceth onely
by the ordinarie flowynge and reflowynge of the fea : And the fame not to be enforced by the circumflection or
courfe of the water reboundynge in compaffe as we haue fayde. But thinketh rather, that this mayne lande or
fuppofed continent, (hulde fumwhere bee open : And that the fayde open place, (houlde bee as it were a gate,
enteric, or (Ireyght, diuydyng the North partes of that lande from the South: by the which alfo, the Ocean
nmnynge towarde the Weft, may by the rotation or impulfion of the heauens, bee dryuen about the hole earth.
Otiiedus agreeth with Andreas Moralis as touchynge the continuall adherence and clofenes of the fayde con-
tinente. Yet neyther that the waters fliulde fo beate ageynft the bendynge backe of the Weft lande, or bee in
fuche forte repulfed and dryuen into the mayne fea. But faith that he hath diligently confydered, that the
waters runne from the deepeft and myddeft of the maine fea, towarde the Weft. Alfo that faylinge nere vnto the
fhore with fmaule velTelles, he founde the fame waters to returne ageine towarde the Eaft. So that in the fame
place, they runne together with contrary courfe, as we oftentimes fee the lyke to chaunce in riuers wher by the
obiecte of the bankes, diners whirlepooles and tumynges aryfe in the water. By reafon wherof, if any chaffe,
ftrawe, woodde, or any other thyng of lyght fubftance be cafte in any fuche places in ryuers, it foloweth that al
fuch as runne with the water in the myddeft of the chanell, precede well forwarde : But fuche as faule into the
bendynge goulfes and indented margentes of the crooked bankes, are caryed ouerthwarte the chanell, and fo
wander about vntyll they meete with the ful and directe courfe of the ryuer. Thus haue we made yowe
partener of fuche thinges as they haue gyuen vs, and writen their dyuers opinions. We wyll then gyue more
certeyne reafon, when more certeyne truth (halbe knowen. We muft in the meane tyme, leane to opinions
vntil the day coome appointed of god to reueale this fecreate of nature, with the perfecte knowleage of
the pointe of the pole ftarre. Hauyng fayd thus muche of the courfe of the Ocean, a briefe declaration of
the golde mynes of Dariena, fhall clofe vppe owre Decades and make an ende of owre trauayles. Wee haue
fayde, that nyne myles diftante from Dariena, are the fydes of the hylles and the drye playnes in the whiche
golde is gathered bothe on the drye lande, and alfo on the bankes and in the chanelles of ryuers. Therfore to
al fuch as are wyllynge to gather golde, there is of ordinarie cuftome appointed to euery man by the furuoiers of
the mjTies, a fquare plotte of grounde conteyning twelue pafes, at the arbitriment of the choofer, fo that it bee
not grounde already occupied, or lefte of other. The portion of grounde beinge thus chofen (as it were
aflygned of the augures to buylde a temple) they inclofe their flaues within the fame, whofe helpe the Chriftians
vfe in tyllynge of their grounde and gatherynge of golde, as we haue faide. Thefe places appointed vnto them,
they keepe as longe as them lyfte. And if they perceaue tookens of lyttle golde, they requyre an other plotte
of ground of twelue pafes to be affigned them, leauyng the firft in commen. And this is th[e]order which the
Spaniardes inhabitinge Dariena obferue in gatheryng of golde. I fuppofe alfo that they vfe the lyke order in
other places : How be it, I haue not yet enquired fo farre. It hath byn proued that thefe twelue pafes of
grounde, haue yelded to their choofers, the fumme of fourefcore Caftellans of gold. And thus leade they theyr
lyues in fulfyllynge the holy hunger of golde. But the more they fyll their handes with fyndynge, the more
increafeth their couetous defyre. The more woodde is layde to the fyer, the more furioufly rageth the flame.
Vnfaciable couetoufneffe is no more diminiffhed with increafe of rychefle, then is the drineffe of the dropfye
fatilFyed with drinke. I lette pafTe manye thynges wherof I intende to write more largely in tyme conuenient,
if I fliall in the meane feafon vnderftande thefe to be acceptable vnto yowre holynefle : my dewtie and obfer-
uaunce to whofe autoritie, hath caufed me the gladlier to take this labour in hande. The prouidence of the
etemall creatour of all thynges, graunt j'owre holyneffe many profperous yeares.
The contrary
course of waters.
The poynt of the
pole star.
The golde mynes
of Dariena, and
the maner of
gatherynge golde.
149
Owre inclosiers
wooide leaue no
such commens.
A uri sacra Fames
The dropsie of
couetousnes.
•8s
i86
Loke Decide iii.
Liber, x
Cities fortifyed
with waules.
The Hand of Cuba
or Femandina.
The Spaniards of
Cuba attempt new
vyage&
The west angle of
Cuba.
Note
The Hand of
lucatana.
A great citie well
buylded.
Temples.
Humane people.
150
Cunnyng
artifycers.
Appareled people.
€[ The laste booke of Peter Martyr of Angleria,
OF THE LANDES AND ILANDES LATELY FOUNDE:
AND OF THE MAKERS OF THE INHABITAVNTES OF THE SAME.
Haue partli declared before in mi decades how certeine fugitiues
which came owt of the large Weft landes arriued in the confynes of
Dariena: And howe that marueylinge at the bookes of owre men,
they declared that they fumtyme dwelte in regions whofe inhabi-
tauntes vfed fuche inftrumentes and were ruled by politike lawes.
Alfo that they had cities fortified with waules, and faire pallaces
with ftreates well paued, and common places whyther mar-
chauntes refort as to the burfe or ftreate. Thefe landes, owre men
haue nowe founde. Therfore who were th[e]autours hereof, or
what fuccefle they had herein, who fo defireth to know with the
conditions of flraunge regions and the maners of the people, let
hym giue diligent attendance to fuch thynges as folowe. Of the
Hand of Cuba (nowe cauled Femandina, lyynge nexte vnto Hif-
paniola on the weft fyde, and yet fumwhat fo bendynge towarde
the Northe that the circle cauled Tropicus Cancri deuideth
it in the myddefte, wher as Hifpaniola is diftante from
the Tropike and declinyge certen degrees toward the Equi-
before. In this Hand of Femandina, there are nowe fyxe townes
SanBiago of faynt lames the patrone of the Spanyardes. In
in the mountaynes and ryuers : By reafon wherof they are
But fhortely after that I had finifhed my fayde
mm
noctial line) we haue fpoken fumwhat
erected. Wherof, the chiefe is named
this, there is natiue golde, found both
daylye occupied in gathering and digging the fame,
bookes, thre Spanyardes that were the moft auncient citizens of Cuba, as Francifats Femandes of Corduba,
Lupus Ocho, and ChriJIophorus Moranies, determined to feeke newe landes, as the myndes of the
Spanyardes are euer vnquiet and geuen to attempte great enterprifes. They fumylhed at their owne charges,
three of thofe fhyppes whiche they caule Carauels. And hauynge fyrfte lycence of Diegus Velafquen the
gouernour of the Ilande, they departed with a hundreth and ten men from the Weft angle of Cuba. For this
angle is mofte commodious to relieue (hyppes and to make prouifion for frefhe water and fuell. Thus they
fayled continually fyxe dayes and a halfe, betwene the Weft and the South, contented onely with the fyght of
the heauen and the water: durynge whiche tyme, they fuppofe that they fayled not paft threefcore and fyxe
niyles. For they ley at anker all nyght where fo euer the faulynge of the foonne tooke the day light from them,
leafte by wanderynge in vnknowen feas, they myght chaunce to be caft vppon rockes or fandes. But at
the length they chaunced vppon a great Ilande named lucatana, whofe beginn)Tig th[e]inhabitauntes caule
Eccampi. Owre men went to the citie ftondynge on the fea fyde, the whiche for the bygnes therof,
they named Cayrus or Alcair. Th[e]inhabitauntes enterteined them very frendly. When they were entered
into the citie, they marueyled to behold the houfes buylded lyke towres, magnifycall temples, ftreates
well paued, and great exercife of bying and fellyng by exchaunge of ware for ware. Their houfes are
eyther bylte of ftone, or of bricke and lyme, and artifycially wrought. To the fyrfte porches of their houfes
and fyrft habitations, they afcend by ten or twelue fteares. They are couered eyther with tyles, flates,
reades, or ftalkes of certeyne herbes. They gratified the one the other with mutual! gyftes. The bar-
barians gaue owre men many brooches and iewelles of golde, verye fayre and of cunnyng woorkmanfhyppe.
Owre men recompenfed them with veftures of fylke and woolle, counterfecte ftones, of coloured glafle and
chriftall, haukes belles of laton, and fuche other rewardes whiche they greatly efteemed for the ftraungenes of
the feme. They fette nowght by lookynge glaffes, bycaufe they haue certeyne ftoones muche brighter. This
nation is appareled after a thoufande faflhyons with veftures made of goflampyne cotten or bombage of dyuers
coloures. The women are couered from the girdle to the heele hauynge dyuers faffliions of vayles aboute their
heades and breftes, with great cautele leaft any parte of their legges or feete bee feene. They reforte muche
i86
*[0/ the Landes and Ilandes lately founde.'] The thyrde Decade.
187
to their temples : vnto the which the chiefe rulers haue the wayes paued from their owne houfes. They are
Idolatours and circumcifed. They occupie their maner of exchaunginge, with muche fydelitie. They vfe to
adourne the heares of their heades. Being demanded by th[e]interpretours of whom they receaued their circum-
cifyon, they anfwered that there once paffed an exceadynge fayre man by their cofles, who lefte them that in
tooken to remember hym. Other faye that a manne brighter then the foone, went emonge them and executed
that offyce. But there is no certentie hereof When o^vre men had remayned there certeyne dayes, they
feemed to bee moleflous to th[e]inhabitantes accordynge to the common fayinge. The longer a gefle tarieth,
the woorfe is his enterteynement. The whiche thynge owre men perceauyng, they made the more haft, awaye.
Beynge therfore prouided of all thynges neceflary, they tooke their vyage directly towarde the weft, by the
prouince whiche th[e]inhabitauntes caule Comi and Maiam. They ouer paffed thefe regions takyng onely freflie
water and fuel in the fame. The barbarians both men, women, and children flocked to the fea fyde, aflonyffhed
greatly to behold the huge bygneffe of the fhyppes. Owre men marueyled in maner no leffe to viewe their
buyldynges and efpecially their temples fytuate neare vnto the fea, and erected after the maner of towers. Thus
at the length hauyng fayled about a hundreth and ten myles, they thought it good to ley anker in a prouince
named Campechium, whofe chiefe towne confyfteth of three thoufande houfes. Th[e]inhabitauntes came
fwymmynge to the ftiyppes: marueylyng excedyngly at the maner of faylinge, and at the fayles and other
tackelynges But when they hard the thunder of the gunnes, fawe the fmoke, and fmelte the fauour of brimftone
and fyer, they fuppofed that thunderboultes and lyghtnynges had byn fente from god. The kynge receaued owre
men honorably and broughte them into his pallayce : where he feafted them well after his maner. They are
accuflomed to eate fleflie, and haue great plentie of beaftes and foules : as peacockes, and other whiche they
francke and feede in their houfes : Alfo dyuers kyndes of wylde foules of the mountaines, wooddes, and waters :
Likewife partriches, quailes, turtle dooues, duckes, and geefe. Of beaftes, they haue connies, woolues, lyons,
tigers, foxes, wylde boores, hartes, and hares. After this banquet, the kyng with his traine and famyUe brought
owre men into a brode croffe way where many ft.reates do meete. In this, they fhewed them as it were a great
and highe aulter buylded foure fquare of marble compacte together partly with the toughe cleye of Babilon
cauled Bitumen, and partly with fmaule ftoones. It had on euery fyde foure fteares. Vppon the altare was an
Image of a man made of marble ; and faft by it the Images of two beaftes of vnknowen ftiape, whiche feemed
as thoughe they wolde with yanynge mouthes haue tome in funder the bealy of the mannes Image. On the
other fyde ftoode a great ferpent compacte of the fayde toughe cleye and fmaule ftoones. This ferpent beynge
in length, xlvii. foote, and of the bygneffe of a large oxe, feemed to deuour a lyon of marble, and was al by
fparcled with freflie bludde. Harde by the altare, were thre poftes faftned in the ground, the which three other
trauerfed and were fufteined with ftones. In this place offenders were put to death : In token wherof they fawe
innumerable arrowes fteined with bludde, fum fcatered, fum lyinge on heapes, and fum broken : Alfo a great
number of mennes bones lying in a court or yarde nere vnto this funeftal place. Their houfes are here
alfo builded of lime and ftone. They named this king, Lazarus, bicaufe they arriued at this lande on faint
Lazarus day. Departing from henfe and directing theyr courfe ftyl toward the Weft for the fpace of xv. myles,
they came to a prouince named Aquanil, whofe chiefe towne is cauled Mofco, and the kynge thereof, Cupoton.
He behelde owre men with a frowarde countenaunce, and fought occafion to doo them fume priuie mifchiefe
whyle they fought for frefflie water. For he made fignes vnto them that on the further fyde of the nexte hyll,
they fliulde fynde fprynges of water, intendyng to haue affayled them in that narowe paffage. But by the
colouryng of theyr forheades (as they are accuftomed in theyr warres) and by the bearynge of theyr bowes and
other weapons, owre men perceaued theyr wylynes, and refufed to go any further. Yet a thoufande of the
Barbarians affayled theym vnwares and vnprepared. By reafon wherof, they were put to flyght, and dyuers of
them flayne in the chafe. Many that fledde towarde the (hippes, were entangeled in the mudde and maryfties
nere vnto the fhore. Twentie and two, were flayne with arrowes, and the refydewe for the moft parte, wounded.
Francifais Fernatides the gouernour of the nauie, receaued in this conflicte three and thirtie woundes. And in
maner none efcaped without hurt. If they had gonne to the hylles whiche were appoynted them, they had
byn flayne euery man. They therfore that efcaped, returned to the Ilande of Fernandina frome whenfe they
came, where they were receaued of theyr felows with heauie chere. But when Diegus Velqfqueri the gouernoure
of the Ilande, had intelligence hereof, he immediatly furnyftied a newe nauie of foure Caraueles with three
hundreth men. Of this nauie he appoynted lohn Grifalua his neuie, to be the gouernour: And affigned for
vnder capitaynes, Alphons[o] Auila, Frances Montegio, and Peter Aluarado. For the pylot he affigned Antonie
Alamino who had the regiment of the fyrft nauie. They attempted the fame vyage ageyne, but declyned
fumwhat more towf.rde the South about threfcore and tenne myles. Before they fawe any lande, they efpyed a
towre a farre of, by the viewe wherof, they came to an Ilande named Cozumella, from the whiche they fmelte fweete
[* Eden points out later on that William Powell, the printer, had wrongly carried the headline, TJu thyrde Dccnde, over this, a perfectly distinct book.
—{See p. 342.) We have therefore also inserted the true headline within brackets. — E. .\.j
187
Circumcised
Idolaters.
ComL
Maiam.
Campechium.
A towne of three
thousand howses.
Plentie of beastes
and foules.
Theyr Idoles and
Idolatry.
Houses of lyme
and stone.
151
The prouince
Aquinall.
Mosco.
The Spanyardes
are put to flyght
and many slayne
An other
expedition.
The TUnd of
Cozumella.
i88
The thyrde Decade. \0f the Landes and Ilandes lately founde.']
Swectc sauours.
A frutefull Ilandc
Towrcs and
temples.
Cozumella named
Sancta Crux.
Idoles lyke beares.
Idolatry.
Gentell people.
lucatana but fyue
myles from
Cozumella.
152
The Barbarians
make resistaiuce.
A conflicte.
The length of
lucatana.
The region of
Calilacam, ot
Oloan.
The ryuer
Grisalua.
Targets and brest
plates of gol de.
fauours proceadynge with the wynde, before they approched to the lande by the fpace of three myles. They
founde the Ilande to be fortie and fine myles in circuite. It is playne and of maruelous frutefull foyle. There
is alfo golde in it, but it is not engendered there, but brought thether from other regions. It aboundeth with
hony, fruites, and herbes : And hath alfo great plentie of foules and foure footed beafl.es. Theyr order and maner
of lyuyng, is in al thynges lyke unto theyrs of lucatana. Lykewyfe theyr howfes, temples, ftreates, and apparell.
In many of theyr houfes, are great pofles of marble after the maner of owre buyldynge. They founde there,
the foundations of certeyne owlde to^vres ruinate : And one efpecially with, xviii. fteares afcendynge to it, after
the maner of folemne temples. They marueyled greatly at owre fhippes and maner of faylynge. At the fyrft,
they wolde admyt no flraungers : but fhortly after, receaued them gentelly. Theyr chiefe ruler (whom owre men
fuppofed to bee a preefte) led them vp to the toppe of the towre, where they erected a banner and addicted the
Ilande to the dominion of the kynge of Caflyle, namynge it SanHa Crux, bycaufe they entered into the fame in
the nones of Maye beinge then the feafle of the holye croffe. They faye that it was cauled Cozumella of kynge
Cozmnellaus, whofe aunceflours were the fyrfl, that inhabited the Ilande. In the towre, they founde many
chambers fumyfhed with Images, made bothe of earthe and marble to the fimilytude of beares. Thefe they
caule vppon with a houlynge and lamentable fonge, perfumyng them with fweete odours, and otherwyfe
honourynge them as theyr domeflicall goddes They were alfo circumcifed. The kynge was in fayre apparel
made of goflampine cotton curioufly wrought. He was lame on the one foote by reafon that as he once exercyfed
hym felfe in fwymmynge, a deuourynge fyfhe cauled Tuberon, byt of al the toes, of one of his feete. He
entreated owre men very frendly and made them great chiere. After they had byn here thre dayes, they
departed. And faylynge ftyll towarde the Weft,e, they efpyed great mountaynes a farre of. But as they
drewe neare, they perceaued it to bee the Ilande of lucatana beinge diftant from Cozumella onely fyue
myles. Directynge therfore theyr courfe towarde the fouthe fyde of lucatana, they compafed it on that
fyde which lyeth neareft. to the fuppofed continent: Yet coulde they not fayle rounde about it by reafon
of the multitude of rockes, flialowe places, and fhelfes of fandes. Then Alaminus the pylot turned
his failes to the North fide wherof he had better knowleage. Thus at the length, they came to the
towne Campechium and kynge Lazarus with whom they had bin that attempted the fyrfl, vyage the yeare
before. At the fyrft, they were gentelly receaued, and requyred to refort to the towne. But fhortly
after, they repented that they had bydden them : and there vpon wylled them to flay about a flones caft from
the towne, and to proceade no further. When owre men defyred that they myght make prouifion for frefhe
water before theyr departure, they afligned them to a certeyne well which they had lefte behynde them.
Declaringe further, that it Ihulde be lawfull for them to take water there or els no wheare. Owre men refted
that nyght in the fyelde adioynynge to the well The which thynge the Barbarians fufpectinge, aflembled an
army of three thoufande men, and encamped not farre from them. Bothe partes pafled awaye the nyght
without fleepe. They fearynge leafte owre menne fhulde breake into the towne : And owre men, leaft the Bar-
barians fhulde inuade them foodenly, on the one parte with trumpettes, and on the other fyde with the noyfe of
timbrels kept them ftyll wakynge that were difpofed to fleape. At the fprynge of the day, the Barbarians
approched to owre mens campe and cauled for th[e]interpretours of Cuba, whofe language is much agreable
vnto theyrs. They had diuifed to lyghte a torche of frankenfence and to place the fame betwene bothe
th[e]armies to th[e]intent that if owre men dyd not depart before the torche were confumed, to ftande to theyr
perell. The torch was wafted and the matter came to hand ftrokes. They flewe onely one of owre men with
an arrowe bycaufe his target fayled hym. But many were wounded. After this conflicte, owre men reforted
to theyr ordinaunce which they had planted neare vnto the well. ^Vhen they had difcharged certeyne peeces,
the Barbarians fledde backe into the towne. Owre men were of fierce and greedy courage to haue purfued
them, but that Grifalua the gouernour wolde not fuffer them. From thenfe they proceaded to the laft ende of
lucatana, which they founde to reache more then two hundreth myles frome the Eaft to the Weft. Here they
founde a comodious hauen and named it Portus defideraius. From henfe they fayled to other landes, and came
to the region nexte to lucatana Weftwarde, whiche they double whether it be an Ilande or parte of the firme
lande : but thinke it rather to be annext to the continent. In this there is a goulfe which they fuppofe to be
incoompafed with bothe the landes. But of this, there is no certentie. Th[e]inhabitantes caule this region
Caluacam or otherwife Oloan. They founde here alfo a great ryuer whiche by his violente courfe and faule,
driueth freflie water two myles into the fea. This they cauled Grifalua after the name of the gouemoure.
The barbarians marueilyng at the huge greatneffe and mouynge of owre ftiyppes, came fwarmyng the bankes
on bothe fydes the ryuer, to the number of fyxe thoufande men armed with targettes and breft plates of gold,
bowes and arrowes, brode fwoordes of heauy woodde, and longe iauelens hardened at the endes with fyer:
Thus ftondynge in battayle raye to defende their cooftes, and with proude countenaunces forbyddinge owre
men to coome alande. Bothe parties watched al that nyght in armes. In the dawne of the day, owr men
efpied about a hundreth Canoas (whiche we haue faide to be their boates) full of armed men. Here alfo the
i88
[Of the Landes and Ilandes lately founde.'] The thyrde Decade.
189
language of th[e]interpretours of Cuba agreed well enowghe with thers. When they had admitted the peace
profered them by th[e]interpretours, al the Canoas llaied excepte one whiche approched toward the fliippes.
A certeyne ruler that was in this Canoa, demaunded of owre men what they fought in other mennes landes.
They anfwered, gold. And that, for permutation of other ware, and not of gift or vyolently. The Canoa
returned and the ruler certified the kyng hereof, who came gladlye to the fliyppes. When he had faluted the
gouemour, he cauled his chamberlen vnto hym, commaundynge him to bringe his armure and other ornamentes
of golde wherwith he armed Grifalua from the toppe of the heade to the foule of the foote : In fo muche that,
what fo euer any man of armes armed at all partes, is emong vs accuflomed to weare of Iren or fleele when he
commeth in to the fielde, all fuche kynde of furnitures made of golde and wrought with woonderfuU arte, the
kyng gaue to the gouemour. He recompenfed hym with veflures of fy[l]cke, clothe, lynen, and other of owre
thinges. In the beginning of this lucatana, when they fayled to Cositmella, they chaunced vppon a Canoa
of fyffher men to the number of nyne, fyffhyng with hookes of golde. They tooke them all prifoners. One of
them was knowen to this kyng, who promyfed the daye folowyng to fende the gouemour as muche golde for
his raunfome as the man hym felfe waied. But the gouemour denyed that he could releafe hym withowte the
confent of his felowes: And therfore kept hym llyll to proue what he could further knowe of hym. Departing
from henfe and faylynge flyll weRwarde, they founde a great goulfe in the which three fmaule Ilandes were
fytuate. Of thefe, they went to the byggeft. But oh abhominable crueltie ; oh mofl corrupted myndes of
men, and deuelyfhe impietie? Let euery godly man clofe the mouth of his (lomake left he be defturbed. They
offer younge children of bothe kyndes to their Idoles of marble and earth. Emonge their Idoles of marble,
there ftandeth a lyon hauynge a hole throwgh the necke, into the whiche they poure the bludde of the miferable
facrifyce, that it maye from thenfe runne downe into a fyncke of marble. Lette vs nowe declare with what
ceremonies they facryfyce the bludde of thefe pore wretches. They cutte not their throtes, but open the very
breftes of thefe felye foules and take owte their hartes yet pantynge, with the hotte bludde wherof, they anoynte
the lyppes of their Idoles, and fuffer the refydue to faule into the fynke. This doone, they burne the harte and
bowels, fuppofynge the fmoke therof to be acceptable to their goddes. Of their Idoles, one is made to the
fhape of a man, bowynge downe his heade and lookynge toward the fynke of bludde, as it were acceptyng the
offeringe of the flayne facrifyce. They eate the flefhe of the armes, thighes, and legges, efpecially when they
facrifyce an enemy taken in the warres. They founde a ftreame of congeled blud as thoughe it had mnne
from a bouchery. For this myfcheuous purpofe, they bringe thefe wretches from the nexte Ilandes. They
fawe alfo innumerable heades, and trunkes of bodies thus mangeled, befyde many other yet remaining hole and
couered with certeine mattes. All the tractes of thefe regions abounde with golde and precious ftones. One
of owre men wanderynge in the Ilande, chaunced to fynde two water pottes of alabafter artifycially wrought
and full of lyttle ftones of dyuers colours. They faye alfo that they founde a ftone of the value of two
thoufand Caftilans of gold, whiche they fent to the gouemour. This Ilande they named the Hand of facrifyce.
Th[e]inhabitauntes are circumcifed. There are alfo other Ilandes fytuate about this Col\f\uacana or Caluacam,
the whiche are inhabited onely with women lyuing without the coompanye of men after the maner of the
Amazones. But they that ponder the matter more wifely, thinke them rather to be certeyne women whiche
haue vowed chaftitie and profeffed a folytarie lyfe as the nunnes doo with vs, or as the virgins cauled Vejlales
or Bona Dece, were accuftomed to do amonge the gentiles in oulde tyme. At certeyne tymes of the yeare,
men of the other Ilandes reforte vnto them. But not for th[e]intent of generation, but moued with pitie to
helpe them to dreffe their gardens and tyll their grounde. The reporte goeth lykewife that there are other
Ilandes of corrupte women to whom men reforte for carnall copulation : And that they cutte of one of the
pappes of their women children leaft it ftiuld hinder their ftiootyng. Alfo that they kepe onely the women
children and fende awaye the men children. Owr men therfore drewe nere to the (hore of Colluacana where
they quyetly exercifed marchaundies with th[e]inhabitauntes. The kyng gaue them a great potte of gold :
Alfo braflettes, chaynes, brouches, with many other iewelles, and al of gold. Owre men ageyne on the other
parte fatiffyed him with fuch ftuffe as they had done other before. Here wolde they gladly haue planted a
newe colonie or habitation, but that the gouemour wolde not permytte them, wherat they gruged not a lyttle.
The houfes and other edifyes of this prouynce, are buylded like vnto towTes. It hath alfo. xv. great townes in
it Of thefe they affirme that they haue feene fum confifting of more then. xx. thoufande houfes, not ioyning
together, but defeuered with courtes and gardens. They haue alfo certeyne large market places encompafed
with waules, and ftreates well paued. Likewife fomaces and ouens made of lyme and bricke. Furthermore
al fortes of handy craftes men and very cunning artificers. This kinges name was Potanchanus : and the
region is cauled Palmaria. The towne where the king kepeth his court, conteineth. xv. thoufand houfes.
When they receaue any ftraungiers and make a leage of frendfhyppe with them, they are accuftomed with a
knife made of a fliarpe ftone, to let them felues bludde in the toonge, hande, arme, or fum other parte of the body:
And this euen in the fyght of them whom they admitte to frendftiyp, in token that they are ready to Ihedde
189
Armure of golde.
Experte artificers
Fysshe hokes of
golde.
153
The Ilandes of
Sacrifice.
Chyldren
sacrificed to
Idoles.
Their Idoles of
marble.
Gold and precious
stones.
A stone of great
price.
Ilandes of womea
Golde.
Houses lyke
towres,
XV. greate townes
in the prouince of
of Colluacana.
Townes of xx,
thousande houses
The region of
Palmaria.
A token of
frendship.
190
The thyyde Decade. {Of the Landes and Ilandes lately founde.']
Preestes.
154
Chastitie.
The punyshement
of adulteric
Marriage is
honoured.
Fastynge.
Kynge Ouandus.
Idoles, iewels, and
ouches of gold.
Gold in
mountaynes and
ryuers
Theyr raaner of
gatheryng golde.
Sweete s
A stone of great
price.
155
Other vinges from
Cuba or
Femaodiiia.
Many Hands
betwene Cuba and
the firme lande.
their bludde in their fryndes caufes. Their prieftes profeffe a vertuous lyfe, and Hue vnmaried. What it is to
haue to do with women, no man knoweth before he be maried. Fornication and adultery (which feldome
chaunce emonge them) they counte abhomination. The women are of maruelous chaflitie. Euery noble man
after that he haue had one wife, may haue as many concubines as hym lyfleth. But a maried woman taken in
adulterie, is foulde of her hufbande. But this onely to the prince : at whofe handes it fhal be lawfull for her
kynfefolkes to redeeme her. It is not lawfull for fuche as are not maried, to fytte at the fame table with them
that are maried, or to eate of the fame dylhe or drinke of the fame cup. In the moneth of Augufl and
September, they abfleine. xxxv. dayes not onely from fleflie wherof they haue great plentie, but alfo from fylhe
and al other thinges that lyue by bludde : And durynge thefe daies, lyue onely with herbes and frutes. They reken
twentie dayes to the moneth, and twentie monethes to the yeare. Owre men confumed certeyne dayes here
verye pleafauntly. When they departed, coaflynge flyll by the fame fhore, they came to an other kyng whom
they named Ouandus. When he had intellygence that owre men defired golde, he brought foorth certeyne
plates of molten gold. But when the gouernour fignified vnto him by th[e]interpretors that he defyred great
plentie of that metal, the day folowing he brought him a mannes Image of golde beinge a cubette in length:
Alfo a fanne of golde, and an Idole of one of his domeflicall goddes of curious woorkemanfhyppe. Likewyfe
garlandes of flones of fundry colours, with many brefle plattes, brooches, and other kyndes of ornamentes, and
all of golde. He gaue hym furthermore aboundaunce of delycate meates well ialted and poudred mth fpices.
■\Vhen he had required owre men to coome alande, he commaunded his feruauntes with all fpeede to prepare a
great multitude of branches of trees and to waite vppon owre men to his pallayce. As they went thus in order,
fum behynde and fum before on bothe fydes, they feemed fo to fliadowe owre men with the bouwes as thoughe
they had gonne in a continuall arbour. The kynge hym felfe hauynge a fepter in his hand, dyd fette them in
their arraye, and fumtyme flrike fuche as were negligent in bearyng their bouwes. They fhewed them felues
obedient in all thynges, and with graue countenaunce, humbled them felues to receaue his flripes. When he
was demaunded where he had fuche plentie of golde, he pointed with his fynger to the ne.Kt mountaynes, and to
the ryuers defcendyng from the fame. They are fo accuflomed to the riuers and exercifed in fwymming, that it
is al one to them to Hue in the water and on the lande. When they defyre to gather golde, they plunge theym
felues in the ryuers and brynge from the bottome therof, bothe their handes full of fande, whiche fyftynge from
hande to hande, they gather owte the graynes of golde. And by this meanes in the fpace of twoo houres, they
fyll a reede as bygge as a mannes fynger. Of the fweete fauours of thefe landes, many thinges myght be fpoken,
the whiche bycaufe they make rather to th[e]effeminatynge of the myndes of men, then for any neceffarye
purpofe, I haue thought befl to oniytte them. The kynge alfo gaue the gouernour a younge virgine of twelue
yeares of age, adourned with ryche and fayre iewelles. Of the flones whiche he had of this kynge, one was
valued at twoo thoufande Caflellans of golde. Thus at the length they departed from this kyng, laden with
golde and precious floones. Grifalua the gouernour, fente one of the Carauelles to his vncle Diego Velafquen
gouernour of the Hande of Cuba, with meflengers to delyuer hym the golde, iewelles, and other ornamentes.
The refydue in the meane tyme flyll folowed the tracte toward the WefL One of them in the whiche Frauncis
Montegius the vnder gouernour was caryed, fayled harde by the fhore : and the other twoo kept aloofe within
profpecte of the land. Th[e]inhabitauntes of thefe coafles alfo, no leffe marueylynge at the fhyppes then dyd
the other, came with twelue Canoas to Montegius, defyringe hym by th[e]interpretours to coome alande,
promyfynge in the name of their kynge, that hee fhoulde be honorably enterteyned. But Montegious anfwered
that hee coulde not affente to their requell bycaufe his coompanions were fo farre from hym. Yet dyd he gyue
them certayne of owre thynges flraunge vnto them, and thankes for their gentylnefTe. Shortly after efpyinge a
great towne they directed their courfe thither. Th[e]inhabitauntes prohibyted them to coome alande, and came
foorthe ageynfl them with bowes and quyuers ful of arrowes, brode fwoordes made of heauy woode, and
lauelens hardned at the ende with fier. They fhotte at owre men a farre of: And owre men difcharged
certeyne pieces of ordinaunce ageynfl them. The Barbarians aflonyffhed at the noyfe of the gunnes, fledde
amayne, and defyred peace. Here owre mens vytayles began to fayle them, and theyr fhyppes were broofed
with longe vyages. Hauynge therefore founde and doone thefe thynges whereof we haue fpoken, Grifalua
returned to the Hande of Fernandina well contented, but fo were not his companions. We mufle nowe diuerte
fumwhat from this matter, and fpeake of an other nauigation. And from thenfe wyll we retume to thefe landes
which owre men haue founde. So it is therfore, that Diegus Velafquen the gouernour of the Hand of
Fernandina, about the fame tyme that he had fent foorth this nauie of foure Caraueles, he prepared an other
nauigation of onely one Carauell and one brygantine with fortie and fyue men. Thefe exercifed vyolent handes
ageinfl th[e]inhabitauntes of thofe regions where they arryued, thynkynge that they myght forceably drawe them
to the dyggynge of golde bycaufe they were Caffranite Idolaters and circumcifed. There are at the fea fyde not
farre from the fuppofed continent, many lyttle Ilandes of molle fortunate and frutefull foyle, whereof three are
thus named : Guanapan, Guanguan, and Quitilla. Owte of one of thefe (which they named SanHa Marina) they
[Of the Laiides and Ilandes lately fotmde^^ The thyrde Decade.
191
violentely caried away three hundreth men and women which they thruft into the Carauell and returned
immediatly to Fernandiiia, leauynge the brigantine with. xxv. of theyr felowes to th[e]intent to hunt for more men.
The hauen where the Carauell fyrfte arryued, is cauled Carenas, beinge diflante from the angle of Cuba and the
chiefe citie of Santiago, two hundreth and fyftie myles. For this Ilande of Cuba, is very longe, reachyng in
length from the Eaft to the Weft, and fituate directly vnder the circle cauled Tropicus Cancri as we haue fayde
before. Now fhall you heare how fortune fought the reuenge of thefe pore wretches. Therfore as theyr kepers
went aland and few remained in the Carauel, they perceuing occafion miniftred wherby they myght recouer theyr
libertie, foodeynely fnatched vp owr mens weapons and flewe fyxe of them which yet remayned in the Carauel,
whyle the refidue lepte into the fea. And by this meanes the Barbarians poffeffed the Carauell which they had
foone learned to rule, and thus returned to theyr owne countreys. But they fayled fyrfte to the nexte Ilande
where they burnte the Carauell and caried away the weapons with them. From henfe they conueyed them
felues to theyr owne countreys with the Canoas of this Ilande. Heare in lyke maner they pryuilie affayled them
that were lefte with the brigantyne, and flewe many of them alfo. The refidue that efcaped, fledde to the
brigantine where they bewayled theyr felowes deathes and counted theyr owne efcape a victorie. On the ftiore
not farre from the place where they fuffered this miffortune, there is a tree, in the toppe wherof they fet vp a
croffe, and graued this infcription in the barke of the tree : Vannuis Aldarieci. There is a ryuer named Darien,
on the banke wherof ftandeth the chiefe citie of the fuppofed continent. The gouernour therfore hauing
inteUigence herof, fent with all fpeede two fliippes of warre well fumylhed, to the ayde of them that were lefte.
But they were wyfe to late. Yet folowynge the viewe of the crofle, they came to the fhore and redde the letters
grauen on the tree, but durfte not attempte fortune. Thus with all theyr hardie fouldiers departinge from henfe
with defpayre, they fayled to the nexte Ilande, out of the which they caryed away by violence fyue hundreth
men and women, fuppofynge lykewyfe that they myght lawfully fo doo bycaufe they were Idolaters and
circumcifed. But the like chaunce happened vnto them when they landed at Fernandina. For the Barbarians
efpyinge oportunitie, fette vppon the Spaniardes in one of the ftiippes with theyr owne weapons and flewe theyr
keepers. The refidue that efcaped, caftynge them felues into the fea, fwamme to the nexte carauell, and with
theyr felowes aflayled the carauell that was taken from them. This conflicte was fo fharpe, that for the fpace
of foure houres, it was doubtfull whether parte fhulde obteyne the victorie. The Barbarians both men and
women fought verye fiercely, afwell to recouer theyr libertie, as alfo to holde fafte the praye whiche they had
gotten. But in fine, the Spanyardes had the vpper hande by reafon they were more experte in handelynge of
theyr weapons and rulyng of theyr Carauell. The Barbarians beinge thus ouercoome, lepte into the fea : but
the Spanyardes tooke theym ageyne with the fliippe boates. About a hundreth of the Barbarians peryflied,
beinge partely drowned and partly flayne with the fwoorde ; And but fewe of the Spanyardes. Thefe thynges
thus pacified, the refydue of the Barbarians were caryed to the towne of Sanfliago and condemned to laboure
in the golde mynes. Shortly after they made owte a newe vyage to an other of the Ilandes, whiche lye there
about fo thicke, that they commonly caule the number of them Archipelagus, as they in owre fea of lonicum are
cauled Symplegades. Here owre men were cruelly handeled: and as many of them as came alande eyther
flayne or wounded. This Ilande they named Florida, bycaufe they arryued there on Eafter day whiche the
Spanyardes caule the floryfliynge day of the refurrection. They fay alfo that in this tracte they fawe. xxvi.
Tlandes which Colonus had ouerpafled : And the fame fo to lye aboute Hifpaniola and Cuba, as though they
warded them from the furie of the Ocean. In many of thefe they founde natiue golde of lyke goodnes to that
which is founde in Granatum. Th[e]inhabitantes alfo weare many iewels, and haue many Images of theyr
domefticall goddes made both of golde artificially wrought and alfo of woodde gylted. Francis Cheregatus
browght one of theyr Idoles with h3rm, wherby may bee confidered of what wytte and aptenes they are. It is
a maruelous thynge to fee what maner of rafers they haue, made of certeyne yelowe ftones cleare and
tranfparent lyke vnto Cryftal. With thefe they fliaue and carue as though they were made of fine fteele.
When the edges are blunte with longe exercife, they fliarpen them not with a whetftone, or powder, or any other
ftone, but temper them onely with water. They haue alfo a thoufande kindes of inftrumentes or tooles and
fuch other thynges of fyne deuife, which were to longe to rehearfe. Let vs therefore returne from whenfe we
haue digrefled, as to Cozumella, lucatana, Colluacana or Olloa, beinge al landes lately founde, and fo rich,
fruteful and pleafaunt, that they may in maner be compared to the earthly Paradyfe. Therfore, after that it
was knowen to owre men of howe greate momente thefe tractes were, the Spanyardes which inhabited the
Ilande of Cuba Anunctus beinge the gouernour of the Ilande fijmyflied a newe nauie of ten Carauelles and fyue
hundreth menne, with twoo fmaule brigantines, as it weare in the fteade of lyght horfemen or forerunners whofe
ayde they myght vfe as fcoutes to fearche the wayes for daunger of rockes and fhalow fandes or flielfes. They
fliipte alfo certeyne horfes, as fyue ftoned horfes and. xvi. mares apte for the warres. For their general!
gouernour and Admiral of the nauy, they elected Fernando Cortefius who at that tyme was the chiefe ruler of
the citie of Santiago. For vnder capitaines, they appointed Alfons Portucarerius, Francis Montegius, Alfons
Sancda^o the
chiefe citie of
Cuba.
The Barbarians
sley the Spaniarde.
with theyr owne
weapons.
The chiefe citie of
the supposed
continent.
The Spanyardes
are slayne ageyne
with theyr owne
wepons.
The barbarians are
slaine and put to
flyght.
156
Another vyage.
A rchipelagiis,
A multitude of
Ilandes.
xxvL Ilandesabout
Hispanic la and
Cuba.
Images of golde.
Rasers of stone.
Instrumcntes and
tooles.
Landes lyke vnto
the earthly
Paradyse.
An other v>'ac;e of.
X. Carauels and v.
hundreth men.
Horses and marc^
Fernando
Cortesius.
L
19-
The thyrde Decade. [Of the Landes and liandes lately founde.\
The Hand of
Cozumella.
Carpets and
sheetes.
Innumerable
bokcs.
Circumcised
Idolaters.
They Sacrifice
Chyldren
157
The Ilandes of
Distam and
Sestam.
Sacrifice of dogges.
They are soone
persuaded to owrc
religioiL
The picture of the
blessed Virguie
An otlicr vyage
Aquillaris, yii. _
yeares captiuc in
the Hand of
lucatana.
The shipwracke of
Valdiuia.
Auila, Aluerado Spatenfe, lohn Velafquen and Diegus Ordajfus. They flyll folowed the fame w)Tide from the
lad angle of Cuba toward the weft. As foone as Frauncis Femandes of Corduba, and then lohn Grifalua
came within profpecte of the Ilande of Sacrifyces (wherof we haue made mention before) foodenly a tempeft
of contrary wynde prohibited theym to take lande and droue them backewarde to Cozumella lyinge on the Eaft.
fyde of lucatana. This Ilande hath onely one hauen named fainte lohns porte. And hath in it, onely fyxe
townes. Alfo none other water then in welles and ceftems, bycaufe it lacketh riuers and fpringes by reafon
it is plaine, conteynynge onely. xlv. myles in circuite. At the coommynge of owre men, th[e]inhabitauntes
fledde to the thicke woods, and forfoke their townes for feare. Owre men entered into their houfes where they
founde plentie of vyttayles and many omamentes perteynynge to the fumyfhynge of their houfes, as hanginges
and carpettes of dyuers colours, fheetes alfo of goflampine cotton (whiche they caule Amaccas) and muche
apparell. They haue furthermore innumerable bookes, of the whiche with many other thinges fente to owre
newe Emperour, we wyll fpeake more largely hereafter. The fouldiers wandered about the Hand and
viewe[d] al thynges diligently, kepyng them felues ftyll in battell raye leaft they myght be fodenly inuaded.
They founde but a fewe of th[e]inhabitauntes and onely one woman in their coompanie. By th[e]inter-
pretours of Cuba and other whiche the Spaniardes tooke fyrft from lucatana, they perfwaded the woman
to caule the kynges that were abfente. They came gladly and made a leage of frendfhyp with owre men,
wherby they were reflored to their houfes and a great parte of their (luffe. They are circumcifed Idola-
tours, and facrifyce children of bothe kyndes to their Zemes, which are the Images of their familiar and
domefticall fpirites whiche they honour as goddes. When I enquired of Alaminus the pilote, alfo of
Frances Montegius and Portucarerius, from whenfe they had the children they offered in facrifyce, they
anfwered that they bowght them in the Ilandes thereaboute by exchaunge for golde and other of their trafycke.
For in al this fo large a fpace of land, the deuelylhe anxietie for the defyre of wicked money, hath not yet
oppreffed th[e]inhabitantes. They faye the fame alfo of the Ilandes lately founde, wherof two are named
Dijlam and Sejlam, whofe inhabitauntes go naked : and for fcarceneffe of children, facrifice dogges whiche they
nourifhe, afwell for that purpofe as alfo to eate as wee do connies. Thefe dogges are dumme and can not barke,
hauynge fnowtes lyke vnto foxes. Suche as they deftinate to eate, they geld while they are whelpes, wherby
they waxe very fat in the fpace of foure monethes. They referue al the bytches for increafe, and but fewe
dogges. Owre men difwaded them from thefe fuperflitions, declarynge how they were abhominable and detefted
of god. They were foone perfwaded and defyred a law whiche they myght folowe. Owre men therfore declared
vnto them that there was onely one god which made heauen and earth, the geuer of al good thynges, beyng of
one incomprehenfyble fubflaunce vnder triplicitie of perfon. As foone as they harde thefe woordes, they broke
their Zemes, and pared, fcraped, and waflied the pauementes and waules of their temples. Owre men gaue
them a painted picture of the bleffed vyrgine which they placed reuerently in their temple, and aboue it a croffe
to be honored in the remembraunce of god and man and the faluation of mankynde. They erected alfo an
other great crofle of woodde in the toppe of the temple, whyther they oftentymes reforte togither to honour the
Image of the vyrgine. Th[e]inhabitantes fignified by th[e]interpretours that in the Hand of lucatana not far
from them, there were feuen Chriftians captiues which in tyme pad were dryiien thither by tempefte. The Ilande
of Cozumella, is onely fyue miles diftant from lucatana. The gouernour Cortefius being aduertifed herof,
fumyfhed. ii. Carauels with fyftie men, wyllyng them incontinent to direct their viage thither and to make ferch
for thefe men. They toke with them thre interpretours of Cozumella (whofe language agreeth with theirs) with
letters to the Chriftians if any myght be found. He further declared vnto theym howe goodly a matter they
fhulde bringe to paffe if they coulde bringe away any of them. For he no wayes doubted but that by their
information, he fhuld be fully certified of the commodities of all thofe tractes, and the maners of th[e]inhabi-
tauntes. Thus they departed with commaundement to retourne within the fpace of fyxe dayes. But when they
had remayned there now. viii. days, and hard no woorde of their Cozumellane interpretours whome they had
fent alande with the meffage and letters, owre men returned to Cozumella without them, fufpectyng that they
were other flaine or deteyned. And where as the hole nauye was now determyned to depart from Cozumella
but that they were hyndered by contrary wynde, they fodenly efpied towarde the wefte a Canoa coommynge
from lucatana, and in it, one of the Chriftian captiues (named Hieronimus Aquillaris) who had lyued feuen
yeares in that Ilande. With what ioye they embrafed the one the other, the chance may declare. They were
no lefTe defyrous to heare, then he to tell of the myffortune whiche befell to hym and his coompanions. And here
it fhal not bee greatly from my purpofe breefely to rehearfe how the thynge chaunced. In my Decades I haue
made mention of a certayne noble man named Valdiuia, whome the Spanyardes whiche inhabited Dariena in
the fuppofed continente of the goulf of Vraba, fent to the Hand of Hifpaniola to Colonus the Admiral and viceroy
with the refidue of the Senate and counfel there (to whom perteyneth the redreffe and orderynge of all thinges
in thefe newe landes) to fygnifye vnto them in what extreme neceffitie and penurie they lyued. Vnhappy
Valdiuia therfore, takynge this matter in hand in an euell houre, was with a fudden and vyolent whirlewinde
{Of the Landes and Ilandes lately fotiiide^^ The thyrdc Decade.
193
dryuen vppon certayne quickefandes in the profpecte of the Ilande of laniaka, lyinge in the Soiithe fyde of
Hifpaniola and Cuba. Thefe blind and fwalowyng fandes, the Spaniardes caule vypers: And that by good
reafon, bycaufe in them many (hyppes are entangled, as the lycertes are implycate in the tayles of the
vipers. While the Carauell "thus wrefteled with the water, it was fo brufle in funder, that Valdiuia with
thirtie of his felowes, coulde fcarfely with muche difficultie defcende into the (hyppe boate: where, without
oers, and without fayles, they were caried awaye by the vyolence of the water. For (as we haue faid
before in owre Decades) the feas do runne there continually with a vyolent courfe towarde the Weft.
They wandered thus. xiii. dayes not knowyng whyther they went nor yet fyndynge any thyng to eate. Famen
confumed feuen of them whiche were cafte in the fea to feede the fyfhes. The refydue lykewife in maner
confumed by famen and faulynge from one calamitie into an other, were driuen to lucatana and fell into the
handes of a cruell kynge who flewe Valdiuia the gouemour with certayne of his felowes. And when hee had
fyrft facrifyced them to his Zetnes, fhortely after he eate them with his frindes of that confpiracie. For they eate
onely their enemyes and ftraungiers : And doo otherwife abfteyne from mannes flefhe. In this meane tyme,
while Hicronimus Aquillaris with fyxe of his felowes were referued to be facrifyced the thirde daye, they
brooke their bandes, efcaped the handes of that cruell tyranne, and fledde to an other kynge beynge his
enemye, who receaued them, yet onely as bondemen. It is a ftraunge thinge to heare of the moother of this
Aquillaris. For as foone as (he harde that her foonne was faulen into the handes of the nations that eate
mannes flefhe, (hee fell madde incontinent: So that when fo euer after, fhee fawe any meate roflyng at the
fyer, or onely ready fpytted to laye to the fyer, fhee ceafed not to crye out in this maner. O me mofte
wretched moother: Behold the members of my fon. But to retume to owre purpofe. When Aquillaris had
now receaued the gouernours letter fente by the Cozumellane meflengers, hee declared to the kynge his mayfter
(whofe name was Taxmarus) what was their erraunt thither, and wherfore they were fent : vfyng in the meane
tyme many large difcourfes in expreffynge the great poure and magnifycence of their kynge who had of late
arriued in thofe coafles. Alfo of their humanitie and gentilnefTe toward their frindes and fuche as fubmytted
them felues to them, and againe their rygour and fiercenefle ageynft fuche as ftoobernly eyther contemned them
or denyed their requeftes. With thefe woordes he broughte Taxmarus into fuche feare, that the maifter was
now fayne to defyre his feruaunt fo to handell the matter that they myght quyetly enter into his dominion as
his freendes and not as his enemies. Aquillaris promifed in their behalfe that they (huld not onely coome in
peace, but alfo to ayde hym ageynfl his enemyes if neede fhulde fo require. Whervppon hee difmifled
Aquillaris and with hym three of his familiers and coompanions. Thus they fayled together from Cozumella to
lucatana to the ryuer whiche they had founde before in the fyrfte vyage thither by the gouernance of Alaminus
the pilot. They found the mouthe of the ryuer ftopped with fande, as wee reade of the ryuer of Niliis in
Egipte when the wyndes (cauled EtejVi) blowe in fummer and efpecially in the canicular dayes. Therfore
where as they coulde not enter into the ryuer with the biggefte veiTelles (although it bee othervvife apte to
receaue great (hyppes) the gouemour caufed two hundreth men to be fette alande with the brigantynes and
(hyppe boates : wyllynge Aquillaris to offer peace to th[e]inhabitauntes. They demaunded what owre men
required. Aquillaris anfwered, vyttayles. There was a longe fpace of fande by the fyde of the towne, whither
they wylled them to reforte, promyfynge to brynge them vyttayles thither the daye folowynge. Owre men
wente and they came accordynge to their promiife and brought with them eyght of their hennes beynge as
bygge as peacockes, of brownyfhe coloure, and not inferiour to peacockes in pleafaunte taft. They brought
alfo as muche bread made of Maizium (whiche is a graine not muche vnlyke vnto panyke) as wolde fcarcely
feme tenne hungry men : And here with defyred them to depart. But when they perceaued that owre men
made no haft away, immediately there came a great coompanye of armed men towarde theym demaundyng
what they had to do thus to wander in other mennes landes. Owr men made anfwere by Aquillaris, that they
defyred peace, vyttayles, and golde for exchaunge of other thinges. They anfwered ageyne, that they wolde
nother peace nor warre with them. But threatned them to auoyde the lande excepte they woolde bee
diftroyed euery manne. Owre men fayde that they woulde not departe withowte fuffyciente vyttayles to
mayntayne their fouldyers.
They appoynted the day folowynge to brynge them more vytayles: but they brooke promefle. Yet
perceauing the fecond day that owre men were encamped on the fande and had repofed there that nyght,
they brought them as much more vytayles, and commaunded them in the name of theyr kynge to departe
Owre men fayde that they were defyrous to fee the towne, and to haue yet more ftore of vytayles. The Bar-
barians denyed theyr requeft, and therwith departed whifperynge and mutterynge amonge them felues. In the
meane tyme owre men were ftyll fo oppreffed with hunger that they were enforced to feeke for meate. The
goueniouie therefore fent his vnder capitaynes to lande with a hundreth and fyftie men. As they went difperfed
in dyuers companyes about the vyllages of the countrey, the Barbarians met with one of theyr bandes, and put
tliem to great diftreffe. But when theyr felowes beinge not farre from them, harde the noyfe of theyr alarome,
Eden. R 193
The quickesandes
cauled vyper&
The course of the
sea towarde the
west
158
Valdiuia is
sacrificed to
Idoles.
Howe Aquillaris
escaped
K ynge Taxmarus.
The motith of a
ryuer stopped with
sande.
Turicy hcn*i
159
A connicte.
194
The Barbarians
are put to flyght.
The great towne of
Potanchana or
Victoria.
A towne of xxw.
thousand Houses.
Gunnesand horses.
The man ai;d the
horse, thought to
be one beai^t.
Centaurus.
Palaices of
maruelous bygnes
and wel buylded.
They reccue owre
rcbgion.
160
A towne of a
thousand and fyue
hundred houses.
The thyrde Decade. \0f the Landes and Ilandes lately Jounde.\
they came with all poflible hade to theyr refcue. The gouemour on the other fyde, placinge his ordinance in
the brygantines and fliippe boates, approched to the (hore with the refidue of his fouldiers. The Barbarians
lykewife, beinge redy furnyfhed to the battayle, came runnynge to the fea fyde to diRurbe theym that they
fhulde not coome alande : And with theyr arrowes, wounded manye a farre of vnprepared. The gouemoure
difcharged aboute. xx. pieces of ordinaunce ageynfle them: With the flaughter and terrible thunder wherof, and
with the flame of fyer and fniel of brimflcne, they were fo aflonifhed and put to fuch feare, that they fled and
difparcled lyke wylde beafl.es : whom owre men perfuinge, entered the towne which th[e]inhabitantes forfooke
in maner for feare of theyr owne men whom they fawe fo difmayde. On the banke of this ryuer there is a
towne of fuch portentous byggenes as I dare not fpeake. But Alamimis the pylot, fayth that it conteyneth in
circuite fyue hundreth myles, and that it confifleth of. xxv. thoufande houfes. Sume make it fumwhat leffe:
But they all agree that it is exceadynge great and notable. The houfes are diuided with gardens, and are
buylded of lyme and ftone verye artificially and of cunnynge woorkemanfliippe. To theyr haules, chambers,
parlers, or other places of habitation, they afcende by tenne or twelue fteares : And haue certeyne fpaccs betwene
euery houfe: fo that it is not lawful for any to lade his neighbours waules with rafters or beames. Theyr houfes
are feparate one from an other by the fpace of three houfes : And are for the more parte couered with reede
and thetche: And many alfo with flate or other fl.one. The barbarians them felues confefled that they were
that day fortie thoufande men at the battayle, which were vanquifhed of a fewe by reafon of the newe and
vnknowen kynde of feyght with gunnes and horfes. For the gouemour had vnbarked. xvi. horfes which were
alfo at the battayle, and fo fiercely aflayled the Barbarians on the backehalfe, that they brake theyr array and
fcattered them as it had byn flockes of flieepe, ouerthrowing, woundynge, and kyllynge them on euery fyde.
Whiche thynge the feely wretches fo imputed to a miracle, that they had not the poure to occupie theyr wepons.
For wheras before they had neuer feene any horfes, they thought that the man on horfebqcke and the horfe,
had byn all one beafle, as the antiquitie dyd fable of the monfler Centaurus. Owr men poflefled the towne.
xxii. dayes where they made good chere vnder couert, whyle the owners of the houfes lay vnder the firmament
and durfl. not aflayle owre men who had placed them felues in the flrongefl. parte of the towne, where fume
kepte continuall watche (leaft, the Barbarians fliulde foodenly inuade theim) whyle other gaue them felues to
refl.e and fleepe. Th[e]inhabitantes caule this tov/nt Fotanc/iaua: But owre men for the victorie which they
obteyned here, named it Victoria. It is a maruelous thynge to confider the greatenes, magnificence and finenes
of the buyldinge of certeyne palaices they haue in the countrey to the which they reforte fumtymes for theyr
folace and paflyme. Thefe are curioufly buylded with many pleafaunt diuifes, as galeries, folars, turrettes,
portals, gutters with chambers boorded after the maner of owre waynfcotte and well flowred. Foure of owr
Spanyardes went into one of them of fuch greatnes, that they wandered in the fame for the fpace of foure houres
before they coulde fynde the waye owt. At the length by th[e]interpretours and certeyne captiues owre men
fent for the kynge and fuche rulers as were nexte vnder hym in autoritie, wyllyng them to fubmyt them felues and
to coome into the towne vnarmed. Gyuinge the meffengers further in commaundement to certifie them that in
their fo doinge, they wolde commen with them as concernynge conditions of peace, and reflore them theyr
towne. They came gladly, and entered euery man into his owne houfe vppon condition that they fliulde euer
thereafter abfleyne from fuch cerimonies and horrible facrifices of mans flefhe to deuils the mortal enemies to
mankynd, whofe Images they honoured. And to directe the eyes of theyr myndes to Chrifle owre god the maker
of heauen and earth, who was borne into this world of a virgin, and fuflered death on the crofle for the
redemption of mankynde. And fynally to profeffe them felues fubiectes to the great Chriflian kynge of Spayne.
They promyfed both, and were infl.ructed as farre as the fliortenes of tyme wolde pennitte. Beinge thus
refl.ored, they recompenfed owre men with many rewardes : Suppofynge fuche men to be fent from heauen,
which being fo fewe in number, durfl. attempte battayle ageynfl. fo great a multitude. They gaue owre men
alfo certeyne golde and twentie flaues. De])arting therefore from henfe, and coaflynge fl.yll alonge by the
fame (hore, they came ageyne to the goulfe whiche Alatninus the pylot founde before vnder Grifalua. This
they named Bian Sanlli lohatinis, that is, Saynt lohns goulfe: For Bian in the Spanyftie tonge fignifieth a
goulfe. Here th[e]inhabitantes reforted to them peaceably. Aboute a myle frome the fliore, was a towne of
a thoufande and fyue hundreth houfes fituate vppon a hyll. They profered owre men halfe the towne if they
wolde dwel with them for euer. This perhaps they dyd the rather eyther fearynge th[e]exemple of th[e]in-
habitantes of Potanchana, the fame wherof myght haue coome to theyr eares, or els hopynge that vnder the
fliadowe of fuche valiant menne, they myght obteyne ayde and fuccour ageynfl theyr enemies and bortherers.
For (as I haue fayde before) they dyftroye one an other with continuall warre for the defyre to inlarge theyr
dominions. Owre men refufed perpetuall habitacion, and accepted theyr frendely prefer for a tyme. As they
came alande, the people folowed them on euery fyde with bouwes in theyr handes which they helde ouer owre
mens heades to defende them from the rayne as though they had walked in a continual arbour. Here tney
encamped. And leart. the refidue lefte in the Ihippes, fliulde in the meane tyme waxe flothefuU with Idlenes,
\0f the Landes and Ilandes lately founde?\ The thynie Decade.
195
the gouernour gaue commaundement to Alaminus the pylot and Francis Montegius to fearch the weft, partes
of that lande, whyle he reUeued the wericd fouldiers and healed fuche as were wounded. To them that went
forward on this vyage, he affigned two brigantines with fiftie men. Vnto this goulfe, the courfe of the water
was gentyl enough and moderate. But when they had fayled a lyttle further towarde the Wefle, they founde
the fea runnynge with fo fwift a courfe as if it were a great ryuer faulynge from the tops of hygh mountaynes :
In fo much that in a fhorte fpace of tyme it caried them fiftie myles from theyr felowes. When they were now
entered into this violent ftreame of the water, they fawe on their left hand a large playne fea which mette with
the courfe of the other waters faulynge from the wefte. And lyke as two great ryuers that runne contrary
wayes, make a vehement conflycte where they meete, fo feemed the waters commyng from the Southe to refyil
thefe waters as enemyes that had entered into the ryght or pofleflyon of an other. On the contrary parte, they
fawe the lande reachynge farre bothe on the lefte hande and on the ryght. In this flrife betwene the waters,
they were fo tofled on bothe fydes and entangled with whirlepooles, that they longe wreft,led with owte hope
of lyfe. At the length with muche difficultie, tumynge the (lemmes or forpartes of their fhyppes ageynfl the
flreame from whenfe they came, and labourynge al that they myght with their oers and fayles, they coulde
fcarfely ouercoome the rage of the water : In fo much that where as they thought that they had in one nyght
fayled twoo myles, they founde that they were dryuen backe foure myles. Yet at the length with goddes
helpe, they ouercame this daungerous conflycte. They fpente. xxii. daies in this lyttle fpace of fea : And when
they were nowe returned to their felowes, declared vnto them that that ende was the land of CoUuacana whiche
they adiudged to be parte of the fuppofed continent. The lande whiche they fawe a farre of before their
fafe, they fuppofed eyther to be annexed to owre continent, or to bee ioyned to the large North regions
cauled Baccalaos, wherof we haue made mention in ovvr Decades in the vyage of Sebaftian Cabote.
This matter is yet doubtefull. But wee trufte it fhall once bee better knowen. While Alaminus and
Montegius fearched thefe fecreates, the kynge of the prouince (whofe name was Mtdtoxumani) fent owre
men by one of his chiefe offycers (beynge alfo his Lieuetenaunt of the fayde towne) many ryche and
goodly prefentes of golde, fyluer, and precious floones, fette and wroughte after a marueylous flraunge
deuyfe and with no leffe cunnynge woorkemanfhyp. Here they determined to fende meffengiers to owre
newe Emperour to knowe his pleafure that they myght in this prouince plant a newe colonic or habita-
tioiL And this dyd they withowte th[e]aduife of Diegus Velafqum the gouernour of the Hand of Cuba
Fernandina, who fyrfte fente them foorth with commaundement to returne ageyne after they had fearched thefe
regions and obteyned plentie of golde. While they confulted hereof, they were of dyuers opinions. But the
mofte part alleaged that in this cafe it was not requifyte to make the gouernour of their counfaile. Forafmuche
as the matter fhulde be referred to a higher ludge, as to the kyng of Spaine him felfe. When they were thus
agreed, they receaued vyttayles of the gentle kyng of the prouince, and affigned the place of their colonic twelue
myles from the fayde towne, in a fruteful and holfome foyle. For their generall gouernour, they elected
Cortefius the gouernour of the nauye, againft, his wyll as fum faye. For other magiflrates to goueme the citie
which they intended to build he choofe Portucarerius and Montegius of whome we haue made mention before.
They chofe alfo certeyne meffengiers to fende to the kyng by the conduction of Alaminus the pylot.
Furthermore, foure of the princes of this prouince offered them felues wyllyngly to go with owre men into
Spaine to th[e]intent to fee owre landes and that kynge whofe poure is foo great and whofe auctoritie reacheth
fo farre. They brought lykewife two women with them, which ferued and obeied them in all thinges after the
maner of theyr countrey. The people of this nation is of broune or yelowythe colour. Bothe the men and the
women haue pendauntes of gold and precious ft,ones hanginge at their eares. The men alfo, boore their nether
lyppes full of holes from the vppermofle parte of the lyppe euen vnto the nethermofte parte of the gumme. At
thefe they hange certeyne rynges and plates of golde and fyluer faft.ned to a fmaule and thynne plate lyinge
within betwene the lippe and the gumme. At the byggeft, hole in the myddeft. of the lip, there hangeth a
rounde plate of fyluer as brode as the coyne cauled a Corolyne, and as thicke as a mannes fynger. I do not
remember that euer I fawe any thynge that feemed more fylthy in myne eye. Yet do they thynke that there is
nothing more cumly vnder the circle of the moone. Wherby we may fee howe vainely mankynde wandereth
in his owne blyndneffe. The Ethiopian thincketh the blacke colour to be fayrer then the white: And the white
man thinketh otherwife. They that are pouled, thinke that more decent then to weare a bufh and they that
weare beardes, iudge it a defonnitie to be fhauen. As appetite therfore moueth, and not as reafon perfwadeth,
men runne after vanities : And euery prouynce is ruled by their owne fenfe, as writeth faint lerome. From
whenfe they haue their golde, we haue fpoken fufficiently before. But as owre men marueyled where they had
their fyluer, they fhewed them certayne highe mountaynes whiche are continually couered with fnowe fauynge
that at certeyne tymes of the yeare, the onely toppes are feene bare bicaufe the fnow is there molten by reafon
of the thicke and warme cloudes. The playnes therfore, or mylde, fofte, and pleafaunt mountaynes feerne to
brynge foorthe golde : And the rough craggye mountaynes with their coulde valleyes, are the places where fyluer
An other vyage of
two brygantincs
and fiftie men.
Where the sea
runneth swyftly
from the East to
the West.
A conflict betwene
the waters
commmg from the
west and from the
south.
A dangerous and
peinefull vyage.
The land of
CoUuacana.
The land of
Haccaleos or
baccalearum
Rych presentes of
golde and precious
stones.
161
; colo
This Cortesius
hath written a
booke of thefic
thinges
They weare rynges
and plates at ther
lyppes.
The dyuers
phantasies of muu.
Sylucr
Note where gold'
and syluer arc
engendered.
196
The thyrde Decade. {Of the Landes and Ilande<: lately founde7\
I thinke this laton
to be sum kynde
of pure copper, or
els copper that
holdeih golde- For'
laton is an artificial
metal, and hath no
naturall myna
Theyr bokcs
162
Theyr letters
What IS conteyned
in theyr bookcs.
Temples rychly
adoumed.
Prayer.
They sacryfice
chyldren and
captiues.
A wronge way to
faeauen
Blu^dy gods
VilU Ricca.
Siuilla Noua,
The force of an
owlde errour.
Theyr priests lyuc
chasL
Faggots of bones.
is engendered. They haue alfo laton, wherof they make fuch maces and hammers as are vfed in the warres.
Dyggynge mattockes alfo, and fpades : for they haue nother Iren nor fleele. But lette vs nowe fpeake of the
prefentes fente into Spayne to the kyng: and fyrlle of the bokes. Thefe procuratours therfore of the newe
colonie of the prouynce of Colluacana, emong other their prefentes, brought alfo a great number of bookes, the
leaues wherof are made of the inner ryndes or barkes of trees, thinner then eyther that of the elme or of the
falowe. Thefe they fmere or annoint with the pytche of molten Bitumen, and while they be fofte, extend them
to what forme them lyfteth. When they be coulde and harde, they rubbe them ouer with a certeyne playfler.
It is to bee thoughte that they beate the playfler into fine floure, and fo temperynge it with fum byndynge
moifler, to make a crude therwith vppon the leaues, wheron they wryte with any fliarpe inflrument, and blotte
the fame againe with a fpungs or fum fuche other thynge, as marchaunt men and noble mens (lewardes are
accuftomed to do with their wrytynge tables made of the woodde of fygge trees. The leaues of their bokes
are not fet in order after the maner of owres, but are extended many cubettes in length. The matters
whiche they wryte, are conteyned in fquare tables: Not loofe, but fo bounde togither with the toughe
and flexible cley cauled Bitumen, that they feeme lyke woodden tables whiche had byn vnder the handes
of cunnyng bokebynders. Which way fo euer the booke lyeth open, there are two leaues feene and two fydes
written, with as many lyinge hyd vnder them, excepte the booke be vnfoulded in length. For vnder one leafe
there are many leaues ioyned togyther. The formes of their letters are nothynge lyke vnto owres. But are
muche more crooked and entangeled, lyke vnto fyfhehookes, knottes, fnares, flarres, dife, fyles, and fuche other
muche lyke vnto the Egiptian letters, and written in lynes lyke vnto owres. Here and there betwene the
lynes, are pictured the (hapes of men and dyuers beaftes : And efpecially the Images of kynges and other noble
men. Wherby it is to be thought that in fuche bookes, the factes of their kynges are conteyned as wee fee the
lyke emonge vs howe owre printers expreffe the fumme of hiflories in pictures, that men may therby be the
more allured to bye fuche bookes. The couerynges of their bookes are alfo artifycially wrought and paynted.
When they are fliutte, they feeme to differre nothynge from owres in forme. In thefe bookes are furthermore
comprehended their lawes, rytes of ceremonies and facrifyces, annotations of Aflronomie, accomptes, compu-
tations of tymes, with the maner of graffynge, fowyng, and other thynges perteinyng to hufbandry. They
begynne the yeare from the goynge downe of the feuen flarres cauled Vergi/im or Pleiades: And counte theyr
monethes accordyng to the moones. They name a moneth, Tona, of the moone. For in theyr language, they
caule the moone Tona, they reken the dayes by the foonnes. Therfore as many dales as they name, they faye,
fo many foonnes. The foonne in their tonge, is cauled Tonatico. They deflribute the yeare (without any
reafon why) into twentie monethes : And the moneth into as many dayes. The temples whiche they frequent,
they adoume with golden hangynges and other ornamentes of golde and fyluer with precious flones intermixte.
At the fpringe of the daye, they perfume their temples with frankenfence and make their praiers before they
take in hande any other bufyneffe. But oh horrible crueltie. For th[e]inhabitauntes of all thefe tractes alfo,
doo facrifyce children to their Idoles in lyke maner as wee haue fayde before. At fuche tyme as the feedes
lye in the ground, and when the come begynneth to fhewe foorth the eare, they deflinate to their Zemes fuche
bondmen as they haue bought, or fuche captiues as they haue taken in the warres, which they facrifyce after
that they haue made them great chiere and decked them in precious apparell. Alfo before they facrifyce thefe
poore wretches, they lead them about the towne whyle al the people falute them humbly and reuerently,
affyrmyng that in fhorte fpace, they fhalbe receaued into the coompanye of the goddes. They honour their
Zemes with an other fharp kind of deuotion: For they lette them felues bludde, eyther in the tonge, lyps, eares,
legges, thyghes, or brefl, which they take in their handes and hurle it vppe towarde heauen, foo that with the
faule therof the pauement of the temple is all fparcled with bludde, wherby they thincke that their goddes are
well pleafed. From the newe colonie (cauled Villa Ricca) nyne myles diflante, there is a towne of xv.
thoufande houfes, whiche th[e]inhabitauntes caule Cemobal, but owre men named it Sybilla. The kynge of
this towne had fyue men whiche he referued to be facrifyced. Whom when owre men wold haue delyuered,
the kynge made humble requefl to them, fayinge that if they tooke awaye fuche men as he had confecrated to
be offered to the goddes, they fhulde brynge vtter deRruction to hym and all his kyngdome. For if owre
facrifyces (fayd he) do ceafe, owre Zemes wyll take fuche difpleafure with vs that they wyll fuffer owre come,
graffes, and fmtes, to bee confumed of woormes, fcortched with drowth, deftroyed with fluddes, or blafled with
lyghtnynge. Owre men perceauynge his emeftnefle herein, thought it belle to chofe the leafl euel, perceauynge
that it was yet no tyme to difquyet their myndes, and therfore fuffered them to exercife their accuflomed
ceremonies. And althoughe their priefl.es promyffe theym imraortall glorie, etemall felicytie, and perpetuall
conuerfation with the goddes after the flomiye dayes of this lyfe, yet do they with heauy countenaunces giue
eare to their promiffes, and had rather be fette at lybertie. Their priefl-es are named Quines in the plurell
number, and Qtiin in the fyngular. They leade a pure and chafle lyfe : And are honoured of the people with
feare and reuerence. They make fagots of the bones of their enemyes which they haue taken in the warres,
196
\0f the Landes and Ilandes lately founde.'] The thyrde Decade.
197
and hange vppe the fame at the feete of their Zemes, as tokens of the victories obteyned by their fauour. To
thefe they adde certayne titles and fuperfcriptions as teflimonies of the fame. This is (Iraunge and woorthy to
be noted, that when their children are a yeare oulde, the priefles in their temples with deuoute ceremonies and
murmurynge woordes, poure water in forme of a crofle vpon their heades with a cruet, wherby they feeme to
baptife them. Neyther do they as the lewes and Turkes, thinke their temples polluted if any of a (Iraunge
relygion bee prefent at their facrifyces and other folemnities. Wee haue nowe fpoken fuffycientely of their
bookes, temples, and fuperflitions. Lette vs nowe therfore coome to the other prefentes which were brought
to the kynge. Emonge thefe, there were twoo broode and rounde plates (whiche fumme haue named the
Images of the foonne and moone) the one of filuer and the other of gold in largenefle and roundnefTe muche
lyke to the (lones of hand mylles : yet but thynne, and in maner bothe of one of circumference, that is. xxviii.
fpannes in circuite.
That of golde is of the weyght of three thoufande and. viii. hundreth Caftellans, where as wee haue fayde
before that a Caftellane is a coyne of golde which weyeth more than a Ducate by a trient, that is the thyrde
parte of a pounde. In the center of this, was the Image of a kynge of halfe a cubette longe, fyttinge in a
t[h]rone and appareled to the knee, lyke vnto a maumette, with fuch countenaunce as owre paynters are wonte
to paynte fayries or fprites. About the Image, were the (hapes of trees and floures, fo that it feemed to fytte as
though it had byn in a fielde. The other of fyluer, was made to the fame fimilitude, beinge alfo in maner of
the feme weyght, and both of pure metall. They brought lykewyfe certeyne graynes of rude golde (that is,
fuche as was neuer molten) about the byggenes of fytches or the pulfe cauled lintels in token of plentie of natiue
golde. Alfo two cheynes of golde, wherof the one conteyned. viii. lynkes in the whiche were fet two hundreth
threefcore and twoo fayre and cleare redde flones, and yet no rubyes : furthermore, a hundrethe fourefcore and
three greene (lones, and yet no emerodes. NeuerthelefTe, thefe are in lyke edimation with them as the other are
with vs. At the edge of this cheine, there hange. xxvii. golden belles, hauynge betwene euery of them, foure
iewels of precious flones inclofed in golde, at euery of the which in lyke maner hange certeyne fpangels of golde.
The other cheyne confifteth onely of foure golden lynkes, befet rounde about with a hundreth and two redde
flones, and a hundreth threefcore and twelue greene (lones, with. xxvi. golden belles curioufly wrought and
placed in comely order. In the verye myddeft. of the cheyne, are ten great precious (lones inclofed in golde,
at the whiche alfo hange a hundrethe golden pendauntes of cunnynge woorkemanfhippe. They brought
furthermore twelue paire of lether bufkynnes of diuers colours, fumme imbrothered with gold and fumme with
fyluer, with plates and iewelles of golde and precious (lones inclofed, and at euery of them certayne golden
belles. Alfo certeyne myters befette with precious floones of dyuerfe colours, emonge the whiche fume are
blewe like vnto faphires. Of creftes, gerdles, and fannes made of fethers, I wotte not what I fhulde faye. But
fuerly if euer the wyttes and inuentions of men haue deferued honoure or commendacion in fuche artes, thefe
feeme mofle woorthy to bee had in admiracion. I do not maruaile at golde and precious flones. But am in
maner aflonyfhed to fee the woorkemanfhyppe excell the fubdance. For I haue with woonderynge eyes
behelde a thoufande formes and fimilitudes, of the which I am not able to wryte. And in my iudgement, I
neuer fawe any thing whofe bewtie myght fo allure the eyes of men. As they marueyled at the naturall bewtie
of the fethers of owre peacockes and pheafantes, fo dyd we no lefTe maruel at the artifycial bewtie of fuche
thinges as they make of fethers and quilles impaled with golde. For I fawe in manye of their woorkes, all
maner of natiue colours euen in the quilles wherof they make fuche indrumentes. They brought alfo two
helmettes gamyffhed with precious (lones of a white(he blewe colour. One of thefe is edged with belles and
plates of golde, and vnder euery bell tv\'o knobbes of golde. The other, befyde the (lones wherwith it is
couered, is lyke^vy^e edged with. xxv. golden belles and knobbes : and hath on the creft, a greene bird with
the feete, bylle, and eyes, of golde. Alfo foure fpeares muche lyke vnto troute fpeares or yele fpeares, the
woodde wherof is all couered with quilles of diuers colours marueiloufly wrethed with golden wyers and
plates intermyxte. Euery of thefe fpeares haue three pikes, whofe edges or teeth are all of precious (lones
made fade with wyers of golde. Of like workmanfliip they brought a great fcepter byfet with precious ftoones
and belles of gold, alfo a bradet of gold, and diowes made of a hartes fkynne, fowed and imbrothered with
golden wj'ers, with a white fole beneth. Furthermore a glafle of a bryght blewe done, and an other of white,
both enclofed in golde. Likewife a precious done of the kynde of them that are cauled Sphinges, inclofed in
golda Furthermore the heade of a great lyfarde, two great fhelles, two duckes, the (hapes of diuers other
byrdes, foules, and fyffhes, and all of maflie golde. Furthermore, xxiiii. rounde and fquare targettes, (hiekles,
and buckelers of golde, and fyue of fyluer. Alfo a triple crowne of plates and wyers of golde marueyloudye
wreathed with quilles and fethers of diuers colours, hauing on the fronte a plate of golde on the whiche is
grauen the Image of the Idole Zemes. About this Image, hange foure other plates like croffes of gold in the
whiche are grauen the heades of diuers beades, as lyons, tygers, woulues, and fuch other. They brought alfo
the fymilitudes of certeyne beades made fumme of roddes or twygges, and fum of woodde with the beades owne
R 2 .97
163
A fyeiin
baptism e.
of
The presentes sent
into Spayne to the
kynge.
Two Images of
gold and iylucr.
Two cheines of
gold mariiclously
bysct with precious
stones and iewels.
Euskyns.
Myters.
How can wc then
caul them beastly
or Barbarous.
If they had
changed their
gold for owre Ircn,
they had not so
soone byn subdued.
Quylles.
Helmets,
A byrde.
Speares.
A scepter.
A braselet
Shoocs,
164
Glasses.
Byrdes, foules, and
fysshcs of gold.
Targets, etc. of
gold.
A crowne of golde
Oosscs.
198
The thyrde Decade. \0f the Landes and Ilandes lately founde7\
Images of beastes.
Shietes.
Cloth of arras.
A souldyers clooke.
Rcgesters of the
thlejaffayres of
India.
Thfclautoritie of
the Lieuetenaunt.
The Span yard es
of Dariena.
Sancta Maria
Antiqua,
Petrus Arias
whom the
Spanyardes name
Pedrarias.
This- sea the
spanyardes caule
Mar del sur.
165
Contention
betwcne Vaschus
and Petrus Arias.
Petrus Arils
commandeth that
Vaschus be put
to death.
Vaschiii is
accused.
Vaschus is put to
death.
fkynnes theron, and garnyffhed with collers of laton belles. Lykewife diuers fhietes weaued of goflampyne
cotton of fundry colours, wherof two are rychely frynged with golde and precious (lones, and three other with
quilles and fethers intermyxte with goflampine cotton of fundrye colours and chekered lyke the panes of a
chefle horde. Sum are on the one fyde, of blacke, white, and redde colours : and on the other fyde, plaine
without any varietie. Other fum, are wrought in lyke maner with variable colours with a wheele or circle of
blacke in the myddeft intermyxte with fhyning fethers and fparkes of golde lyke flarres. They brought alfo
cloth of Aras or Verdure of marueylous workmanfhyppe. Likewife a fouldiers cloke fuche as their prynces
weare in the warres, with certeyne priuye coates of fence, and fundrye tirementes perteynyng to their heades,
with alfo many fuche other thynges more bewtifull to the eye then ryche or precious, wherof to entreate par-
ticularly, it flioulde be more tedious then profytable. I lette paffe here alfo to fpeake of many particular
nauigations and of the trauailes and daungers whiche they fufteyned in the fame, with the monilers and
fecreates of nature they fawe : whiche are all conteyned in the regeflers of owre Senate of th[e]affayres of India,
owte of the whiche I haue felected thefe fewe annotations, fuche as feemed to me mode meete to bee publiffhed.
Notwithflandyng thefe ryche and goodly prefentes, yet were they that brought them, and alfo Cortefius the
gouernour of the nauye and autour of erectinge their newe colonic in thofe remote regions, adiudged by the
Senate to haue doen ageinfl ryght and equitie, in that they attempted the fame withowte th[e]aduice of the
gouernour of the Ilande of Ciiba who fente them foorthe by the kynges auctoritie, where as they dyd other
thinges befyde their commyfiyon, ye althoughe they wente to the kynge, not fyrft knowynge his pleafure whom
the kyng had fubflitute his Lieuetenaunt in that Ilande. In fo muche that by his procuratour, he accufed
them before the Senate as fugitiue theeues and traytours. They on the other parte alleaged that they had dooen
the kyng better feruyce then he : And that they had fhewed fuffycient obedience in appealyng to the kyng as
the hygher ludge. But the gouernour required by the vertue of his commiffion and the kinges letters pattentes
that they myght be headed for their difobedience ageinfl hym whom they knewe to be autorifed by the
kynge. They ageine replied that they had not offended the kyng, but rather deferued rewarde for their great
dangiers and trauails. Bothe the rewarde and punifhment were deferred, and a daye appointed when bothe
parties ihoulde bee harde. Leete vs nowe therfore coome to the Spaniardes of Dariena, th[e]inhabitours of the
goulfe of Vraba in the fuppofed Continent. We haue fayde before that Dariena is a ryuer runnynge towarde
the Welle fyde of the goulfe of Vraba. On the banke of this ryuer, the Spaniardes planted theyr fyrfl colonic
or habitation after they had vanquiffhed k)mge Chemaccus. This colonic they named Satifla Maria Antiqua,
by reafon of a vowe whiche they made to the virgine Marie in the tyme of the battaile ageynft. Chemaccus. To
thefe (as wee haue made mention in the ende of owre decades) was Petrus Arias fente with a thoufande and two
hundreth men at the requell of Vafchus Nimnez Balboa, who was then the gouernour of Darie/ia, and the
fyrft. that found and difcoured the large South fea heretofore vnknowen. Wee haue alfo declared how at the arriual
of Petrus Arias the newe gouernour, he deuided his armye into Centurions, that is, capitaines ouer hundrethes,
whom hee fent foorth dyuers waies. What tragedies folowed hereof, I wyll abfolue in fewe woordes, bycaufe all are
horrible and vnpleafaunte. For fence we fynyfhed owre Decades, there hath byn none other then kyllynge,
fleyinge, murtherynge and accufinge. The kynge made Vafchus gouemoure but durynge his pleafure. His courage
was fuch, and his factes fo notorious, that he coulde not longe abyde the hautynes oi Petrus Arias. To bee breefe,
theyr faulynge owte and difcord confounded al thynges. lohn Cacedus the pulpitte fryer of the order of faynt
Frances, dyd his vttermofle endeuour to make them frendes, promyfynge vnto Vafchus the dowghter of Petrus
Arias to wyfe. But no meanes coulde be founde howe thefe two which bore the chiefe rule, myght bee brought
to agreement At the length the matter grewe to fuch extremitie, that Petrus Arias fyndynge occafion of
querelynge ageynft-e Vafchus, fent proceffe to the maieflrates of the towne, wherby he commaunded them to
flrangle Vafchus, and fyue other which were chiefe capitaynes vnder hym: Alleagynge that they and their
confetherates confpired to rebel in the South fea : And that Vafchus hym felfe for that intente, had buylded and
furnifhed foure Ihippes to fearch the fouth coafl.es of the fuppofed continent: Alfo that to his three hundreth
fouldiers and companions which he had with hym, he fliulde fpeake woordes of this effecte as foloweth. My
frendes, and felowes of my longe peynes and trauayles : Howe longe fhall we be fubiecte to the commaunde-
ment of other, fythe wee haue bydden the brunt and ouercumme th[e]enterprife for the whiche this newe
gouernour was fent with fo great a multitude? Who can any longer abyde his pryde and infolencie? Lette vs
therefore folowe thefe coafles whyther fo euer fortune fhall dryue vs : And among thefe fo many pleafaunt and
fruteful prouinces of this large lande, let us chofe one in the whiche wee maye with libertie fpende that portion
of owre lyues which yet remayneth. Who can fynde vs, or flialbe able to prefer vs vyolence? When thefe or
the lyke woordes were declared to Petrus Arias, he fente to the Southe partes for Vafchus, wylljnge hym by
the vertue of his commiffion to repayre to him foorthwith. Vafchus obeyed, and at his commynge was cafl.e in
pryfon : yet conft.antly denyinge that euer he entended any fuche thynge. Wytneffes were brought ageynfl hym,
and his wordes rehearfed from the begynnynge To conclude, he was iudged woorthy death, and was put to
198
[Of the Landes and Ilandes lately foimdc7\ The thyrde Decade.
199
execution. And this is the rewarde wherwith the blynde goddefle oftentymes recompenfeth fuch as haue
fufteyned great trauayles and daungiours to bee hyghly in her fauoure. I'etrus Arias leauynge his wyfe in
Dariena, embarked hym felfe in the fliippes left of Vafchus, to th[e]intent to fearche thofe coafles. But
whether he be returned or not, we haue yet no certeyne knoweleage. He hath alfo his fortune. Yet is there
an other gouernour affigned, whofe name is Lupus Sofa, the viceroye of the Ilandes of Canarie. What flomake
Pelrus Arias may haue yf he returne, let good men iudge. There was nothyng doone vnder hym woorthy
glorie. Surae thynke that he was at the begynnyng fo flacke and negligent in his office, and not feuere in
correctynge errours and miforders. But we wyll leaue him and rehearfe fumwhat wherof we haue byn lately
informed as touchynge the great and diepe ryuer of Dabaiba, the whiche for the greatnes and largenes therof,
owre men named Grandis, that is, great, as we haue noted in owTe Decades. This riuer fauleth into the
furthefl comer of the goulfe of Vraba by feuen portes or mowthes as dooth the ryuer oi Nilus into the Egyptian
fea, whofe large defcription yowe may alfo reade in owre Decades. That the mountaynes on euery fyde about
this ryuer, are rych in golde, we haue learned by th[e]information of th[e]inhabitauntes, of whom we made
diligent inquifition. Vafchus, and befyde hym other gouernoures and Lieuetenauntes, haue foure tymes entered
into this ryuer with theyr armyes in battayle array, and with dyuers kyndes of fliippes fyrfte for the fpace of
fortie myles, then fyftie, and at the lad fourefcore, at an other tyme alfo ouerthwarte the rj'uer. Oh fliamefuU
chaunce and deteflable couwardenes of owre men. A naked nation encounterynge with them that had apparell, the
armed ageynfle the vnarmed, had the ouerthrowe in maner in all conflictes, and were other all flayne or wounded.
They vfe inuenemed arrowes, and are fuche experte archers, that if they efpye any place of theyr enemie bare or
vnarmed, they wyll not lyghtly fayle to (Iryke him there. They vfe alfo manydartes, which in the tyme of the battayle
they hurle fo thicke a farre of, that they take the lyght of the fonne from theyr enemies as it were with a clowde. They
haue lykewife brode and longe fwoordes made of a heauie and harde kinde of woodde, wherewith they feyght fier-
cely neare at hande. Vafchus hym felfe receaued many woundes in encounterynge with them. And thus by reafon
of the fiercenes of thefe barbarians, the ryuer of Dabaiba is yet lefte vnfearched. We wil nowe fpeake fumwhat
more of the Hand of Hifpaiiiola (which the Spanyardes caule Spagnuold) the moother and chiefe of al other landes
or Ilandes wherof we entended to wryte. In it the Senate is now reflored, and fyue ludges affigned to giue lawes
to all the inhabitauntes of thofe tractes. But in fliorte tyme, they fhall ceafe gather}'nge of golde although there
bee greate plentie : by reafon they fliall lacke labourers and myners, forafmuch as th[e]inhabitauntes whofe helpe
they vfed herein, are brought to a fmaule number, confumed partly by warre, and many more by famen
that yeare that they dygged vp the rootes wherof they made theyr befle breade, and lefte of fowynge
theyr grayne of Maizium which is theyr common foode, fuppofmge hereby to haue dryuen owre men owte of
the Hande, who had vytayles fente them from Spayne. A great number of them alfo, dyed of newe and
flraunge difeafes which in the yeare of Chrifte a thoulande fyue hundreth and. xviii. confumed theym lyke
rotton fheepe.
And (to faye the truth) owtc mens vnfaciable defyre of gold, fo opprefled thefe poore wretches with
extreme labour and toyle, where as before they lyued pleafauntly and at lybertie, gyuen onely to playes and
paflymes as daunfynge, fyffhinge, foulynge, and huntyng of lyttle connies, that many of them periffhed
euen for verye anguyflie of mynde, the whiche (with their vnaccuflomed labour) are thynges of them felues
fuffycient to engender many newe difeafes. But the kynge and the Senate haue nowe determyned that they be
reduced to a people, and to gyue them felues onely to increafe, and tyllage of the ground : And that onely fuch
as are bought or taken owte of other regions, bee appointed to labour in the golde mynes. But it fliall fuffyce
to haue fayde thus muche of the pefliferous hunger of golde. Therfore to fpeake of other matters : It is a
marueylous thynge to confyder howe all thynges increafe and profper in this Hande. There are nowe. xxviii.
fuger preffes wherwith great plentie of fuger is made. The canes or reedes wherin the fuger groweth, are
bygger and hygher then in any other place : And are as bygge as a mans arme in the brawne, and higher then
the ilature of a man, by the halfe. This is more woonderfull, that where as in Valentia in Spaine (where a
great quantitye of fuger is made yearely) where fo euer they applye them felues to the great increafe therof, yet
doth euery roote bring foorthe not pafle fyue, or fyxe, or at the mode feuen of thofe reedes: wheras in Hifpaniola
one roote beareth twentie, and oftentymes thirtie. Foure footed beaftes and cattayle, are marueyloufly
increafed in this Hande. And albeit that the rauenynge hunger of golde hath hitherto greatly hyndered owre
men from tyllage of the ground, yet is there great plentye of wheate, whiche profpereth fo wel that it yealdeth
fumtyme a hundreth foulde: And this efpecially on the hylles or rydges of the mountaynes profpectynge towarde
the North. Vines do alfo increafe here with no lefle frutefulneffe. What fliuld I fpeake of the trees that beare
Cafsia fijlula, brought firR into this Hand from the other Ilandes neare vnto the fuppofed Continent, as we
haue noted in owr decades? There is nowe fuche plentie hereof, that after a fewe yeares we fliall haue a pounde
of the price that wee paye nowe for an ounce. Of the brefyle and mirobalane trees, with other innumerable
prerogatiues and benefites whiche nature hath plentifully giuen to this blefled Hand, we haue fpoken fuffyciendy
199
Petrus A riot.
Lufus Sosa.
The great ryuer of
Dabaiba or
Grandis
The goulfe of
Vraba.
The ryche
mountaynes of
Dabaiba.
Fierce and warlyke
people.
Dartca.
Swoordes of
heauie wood.
166
Hispaniola.
Ouiedus wryteih
that iher are nowe
V. monasteries.
Newe and strange
diseases.
The sugcr of
Hispaniola.
Suger of Valentia,
A token of
ni.iruelous
frutfulnes.
Cattayle.
Wheate.
Vines.
Cassia Jistula,
Brasyle.
MyrobalaneS
200
The thyrde Decade. [Of the Landes and Handes lately fotindc7\
in owr decades. Yet haue I thought good to repeate part of the fame, bycaufe I think that the wittes of many
readers haue diuerted from the weyght of great affaires, to the recordation of fuch pleafaunt
thynges. And yet do not fuche thynges as are fauery, engender tedy-
oufneffe, foe that a precious matter bee adourned
with a precious veflure.
dPl^J^.
201
167EXEMPLAR BVLLAE SEV
DONATIONIS, AVTORITATE
CVIVS, EPISCOPVS ROMANVS
Alexander eius nominis fextus, con-
cefsit et donauit Caftellae regibus
et fuis fuccefforibus, reglones
et Infulas noui orbis in
Oceano occidentali Hif-
panorum nauigationi-
bus repertas.*.
LEXANDER EPISCOPVS, feruus
feruorum Dei, Charifsimo in Chrido
filio Ferdinando Regi, et Charifsi-
mae in Chrido filise Elizabeth Re-
ginse Cadelte, Legionis, Aragonum,
SicilitE, et Granatae, illudribus, falu-
tem et Apodolicam benedictionem.
Inter caetera Diuinse maiedati beneplacita opera
et cordis nodri defiderabiha, illud profecto potifimum
exidit vt fides catholica et Chridiana religio nodris
prsefertim temporibus exaltetur ac vbilibet amplietur
ac dilatetur, animaruraque falus procuretur, ac barbaroe
nationes deprimantur et ad fidem ipfam reducantur.
Vnde cum ad hanc facram Petri fedem Diuina fauente
dementia (mentis hcet imparibus) euocati fueremus,
cognofcentes vos tanquam veros catholicos reges et
principes: quales Temper ftiifle nouimus, et a vobis
prseclare geda, toti pene orbi notifsima demondrant,
nedum id exoptare, fed omni conatu, dudio, et diU-
gentia, nullis laboribus, nullis impenfis, nuUifque par-
cendo periculis, etiam proprium fanguinem effundendo
efficere, ac omnem animum vedrum, omnefque conatus
ad hoc iam dudum dedicafse, quemadmodum recuper-
ate regni Granatae a tyrannis de Sarracenorum hodier-
nis temporibus per vos, cum tanta Diuini nominis
gloria fafla, tedatur. Digne ducimur non immerito,
et debemus ilia vobis etiam fponte, ac fauorabiliter
concedere, per quce huiufmodi fan<flum ac laudabile
ab immortali deo acceptum propofitum, indies fenien-
tiori animo ad ipfius dei honorem et Imperij Chrif-
tiani propagationem, profequi valeatis. Sane accepi-
mus quod vos qui dudum animum propofueratis aliquas
C THE COPPIE OF THE BULL
OR DONATION, BY TH[E]AU-
TORITIE WHEROF, POPE
Alexander the fyxte of that name,
gaue and graunted to the kynges of
Caftyle and theyr fucceffours the
Regions and Ilandes founde in
the Wefte Ocean fea by
the nauigations of the
Spanyardes.
jjLexander byfhoppe, the feruaunte of
the feruantes of God : To owre mode
deare beloued fonne in Chrid Kynge
Ferdinande, And to owre deare be-
loued doughter in Chryde Elyzabeth
Queene of Cadyle, Legion, Aragon,
Sicilie, and Granata, mod noble
Princes, Gretynge and Apodolical benediction.
Amonge other woorkes acceptable to the diuine
maiedie and accordynge to owre hartes defyre, this
certeinely is the chiefe, that the Catholyke fayth and
Chridian religion, fpecially in this owre tyme may in
all places bee exalted, amplified, and enlarged, wherby
the health of foules may be procured, and the Barbarous
nations fubdued and brought to the fayth. And there-
fore wheras by the fauoure of gods clemencie (although
not with equall defertes) we are cauled to this holy
feate of Peter, and vnderdandynge you to bee trewe
Catholyke Princes as we haue euer knowen you, and
as youre noble and woorthy factes haue declared in
maner to the hole worlde in that with all your dudie,
diligence, and indudrye, you haue fpared no trauayles,
charges, or perels, aduenturynge euen the fhedynge of
your owne bludde, with applyinge yowre hole myndes
and endeuours here vnto, as your noble expeditions
achyued in recoueryng the kyngdome of Granata from
the tyrannic of the Sarracens in thefe our dayes, doo
playnely declare your factes with fo great glorye of the
diuine name. For the whiche as we thinke you woor-
thy, fo owght we of owre owne free wyl fauorably to
graunt all thynges whereby you maye dayely with more
feruent myndes to the honoure of god and enlargynge
the Chridian empire, profecute your deuoute and laud-
171
202
infulas et terras firmas remotas et incognitas, ac per
alios hadlenus non repertas, quaerere et inuenire, vt
illarum incolas et habitatores ad colendum redemp-
torem noftrum et fidem catholicam profitendum re-
duceretis, hacflenus in expugnatione et recuperatione
ipfius regni Granatae plurimum occupati, huiufmodi
fandlum et laudabile propofitum veflrum ad optatum
finem perducere nequiuidis : Sed tamen ficut Domino
placuit, regno predi^lo recuperato, volentes defiderium
veflrum adimplere, diledlum filium Chriflophorum Col-
168 onum virum vtique dignum et plurimum commendatum
ac tanto negotio aptum, cum nauigijs et hominibus ad
fimilia inftrudlis, non fine maximis laboribus, ac peri-
culis, et expenfis deftinaflis vt terras firmas et Infiilas
remotas et incognitas, huiufmodi per mare vbi hacflenus
nauigatum non fiaerat, diligenter inquireret. Qui tandem
(Diuino auxilio fa6la extreraa diligentia in mari Oceano
nauigantes) certas infiilas remotifsimas et etiam terras
firmas quae per alios hadlenus repertae non fuerant,
inuenerunt. In quibus plurimae gentes pacifice viu-
entes, et (vt afleritur) nudi incedentes, nee carnibus
vefcentes, inhabitant: Et vt praefati nuncij veflri pof-
sunt opinari, gentes ipfe in Infiilis et terris praedi<5lis
habitantes, credunt vnum deum creatorem in CceIIs
efse, ac ad fidem catholicam amplexandum et bonis
moribus imbuendum, fatis apti videntur: Spefque
habetur, quod fi erudirentur, nomen Saluatoris Domini
noflri lefii Chrifti in terris et infiilis praedi(flis facile
induceretur. Ac prefatus Chriflophorus in vna ex
principalibus Infulis praedidlis, iam vnam turrim fatis
munitam, in qua certos Chriftianos qui fecum iuerant,
in cuftodiam et vt alias Infulas ac terras firmas remotas
et incognitas inquirerent pofuit, conflrui et aedificari
fecit. In quibus quidem Infulis et terris iam repertis,
aurum, aromata, et alise quamplurimse res prceciofae
diuerii generis et diuerfae qualitatis reperiuntur. Vnde
omnibus diligenter, et praefertim fidei catholicae exal-
tatione et dilatatione (prout decet Catholicos Reges et
Principes) confideratis, more progenitorum veflrorum
clarae memoriae Regum, terras firmas et infulas pras-
dicflas, illarumque incolas et habitatores, vobis diuina
fauente dementia fubiicere et ad fidem Catholicam
reducere propofuiRis.
Nos itaque huiufmodi veflrum fancflum et laudabile
propofitum plurimum in domino commendantes, ac
cupientes vt illud ad debitum finem perducatur, et
ipfum nomen faluatoris noflri in partibus illis induca-
tur, hortamur vos quamplurimum in domino, et per
able purpofe mofl acceptable to the immortall God. We
are credably informed that wheras of late you were de-
termyned to feeke and fynde certeyne Ilandes and firme
landes farre remote and vnknowen (and not heretofore
found by any other) to th[e]intent to bringe th[e]inhabi-
tauntes of the fame to honoure owre redemer and to
profeffe the catholyke fayth, you haue hetherto byn
much occupied in th[e]expugnation and recouerie of
the kyngedome of Granata, by reafon whereof yowe
coulde not brynge yowre fayde laudable purpofe to
th[e]ende defyred. Neuertheleffe as it hath pleafed
almyghty god, the forefayde kyngedome beinge reco-
uered, wyllyng t[o]accomplyflie your fayde defyre, you
haue, not without great laboure, perelles, and charges,
appoynted owre welbeloued fonne Chriflopher Colonus
(a mari certes wel commended as moRe worthy and
apte for fo great a matter) well furnyfhed with men and
fhippes and other neceflaries, to feeke (by the fea
where hetherto no manne hath fayled) fuche firme
landes and Ilandes farre remote and hitherto vnknowen.
Who (by gods helpe) makynge diligente fearche in the
Ocean fea, haue founde certeyne remote Ilandes and
firme landes whiche were not heretofore founde by any
other. In the which (as is fayde) many nations inhabite
lyuinge peaceably and goinge naked, not accuRomed
to eate flefhe. And as farre as yowre meffengers can
coniecture, the nations inhabitynge the forefayde landes
and Ilandes, beleue that there is one god creatoure in
heauen : and feeme apte to be brought to th[ejimbraf-
inge of the catholyke faythe and to be imbued with
good maners : by reafon whereof, we may hope that if
they well be inRructed, they may eafely bee induced
to receaue the name of owre fauiour lefu ChriR. We
are further aduertifed that the forenamed ChriRopher
hathe nowe builded and erected a fortreffe with good
munition in one of the forefayde principall Ilandes in
the which he hath placed a garrifon of certeine of the
ChriRian men that wente thyther with him : afwell to
th[e]intent to defende the fame, as alfo to fearche other
Ilandes and firme landes farre remote and yet vnknowen.
We alfo vnderflande, that in thefe landes and Ilandes
lately founde, is great plentie of golde and fpices, with
dyuers and many other precious thynges of fundry
kyndes and qualities. Therfore al thinges diligently
confidered (efpecially th[e]amplifyinge and enlarging
of the catholike fayth, as it behoueth catholike Princes
folowyng th[e]exemples of yo^vre noble progenitours
of famous memorie) wheras yowe are determyned by
the fauour of almightie god to fubdue and brynge to 172
the catholyke fayth th[e]inhabitauntes of the forefayde
landes and Ilandes.
Wee greatly commendynge this yowre godly and
laudable purpofe in owr lorde, and defirous to haue
the fame brought to a dewe ende, and the name of
owTe fauioure to be knowen in thofe partes, doo
exhorte yowe in owre Lorde and by the receauynge
of yowre holy baptifme wherby yowe are bounde to
203
facri lauacri fufceptionem, qua mandatis Apoflolicis
obligati eflis, et per vifcera mifericordiae Domini noflri
lefu Chrifli attente requirimus, vt cum expeditionem
huiufmodi omnino profequi et aflumere prona mente
orthodoxas fidei zelo intendatis, populos in huiufmodi
Infulis et terris degentes, ad Chridianam religionem
fufcipiendum inducere velitis et debeatis, nee pericula
nee labores vllo vnquam tempore vos deterreant, fimia
fpe fiduciaque conceptis quod Deus omnipotens cona-
tus veRros fceliciter profequetur. Et vt tanti negotij
prouintiam Apoflolicae gratiae largitate donati, liberius
et audacius aflumatis, motu proprio non ad veflram vel
169 alterius pro vobis fuper hoc nobis oblatae petitionis
inRantiam, fed de noRra mera liberalitate, et ex certa
fcientia, ac de ApoRoHcse poteRatis plenitudine, omnes
Infulas et terras firmas inuentas et inueniendas, de-
tedlas et detegendas verfus Occidentem et Meridiem,
fabricando et conRruendo vnam Hneam a polo Arcflico,
fcilicet Septemtrione, ad polum Antardlicum, fcilicet
Meridiem, fiue terras firms et infulae inuentae et in-
ueniendoe fint verfus Indiam aut verfus aham quam-
cunque partem quae linea diRet a qualibet Infularum
quae vulgariter nuncupantur de los Azores et Cabo
verde centum leucis verfus Occidentem et Meridiem.
Itaque omnes Infulae et terrae firmae repertae et re-
periendae, deteiflae et detegendje a praefata linea verfis
Occidentem et Meridiem, quae per alium Regem aut
Principem ChriRianum non fuerint aftualiter pofleffae
vfque ad diem natiuitatis Domini noRri lefu ChriRi
proxime praeteritum, a quo incipit annus praefens
Milleffimus Quadringenteffimus Nonogeflimus tercius,
quando fuerunt per nuncios et capitaneos veRros in-
uentae aliquse pr»di(5larum Infularum, Autoritate omni-
potentis Dei nobis in beato Petro concefsa, ac vicariatus
lefu ChriRi qua fungimur in terris, cum omnibus illatum
dominijs, ciuitatibus, caRris, locis, et villis, iuribufque
et iurifdicflionibus ac partinentijs vniuerfis, vobis here-
dibufque et fuccefforibus veRris (CaRelte et Legionis
regibus) in perpetuum tenore prsfentium donamus,
concedimus, et aflignamus: Vofque et haeredes ac
fucceffores praefatos illarum Dominos, cum plena, libera,
et omnimoda poteRate, autoritate, et iurifdiiflione,
facimus, conRituinius, et deputamus. Decernentes ni-
hilo minus per huiufmodi donationem, concefsionem, et
affignationem noRram, nuUo ChriRiano Principi qui aflu-
aliter praefatas Infulas et terras firmas poflederit vfque
ad praediclum diem natiuitatis Domini noRri lefu ChriRi
ius quaelitum, fubiatum intelligi pofse aut auferri debere.
Et infuper mandamus vobis in virtutae fan<5lae obedi-
ApoRolicall obedience, and emeRely require yowe by
the bowelii of mercy of owre Lorde lefu ChriR, that
when yowe intende for the zeale of the Catholyke
faythe to ])rofecute the fayde expedition to reduce the
people of the forefayde landes and Ilandes to the
ChriRian religion, yowe ftiall fpare no labours at any
tyme, or bee deterred with any perels, conceauynge
firme hope and confidence that the omnipotent godde
wyll gyue good fuccefle to yowre godly attemptes.
And that beinge autoryfed by the priuilege of the
ApoRolycall grace, yowe may the more freely and
bouldly take vpon yowe th[e]enterpryfe of fo greate a
matter, we of owre owne motion, and not eyther at
yowre requeR or at the inRant peticion of any other
perfon, but of owre owne mere liberalitie and certeyne
fcience, and by the fulnefle of ApoRolycall power, doo
gyue, graunt, and affigne to yowe, yowre heyres and
fucceffours, al the firme landes and Ilandes found or
to be found, difcouered or to be difcouered toward the
WeR and South, drawyng a line from the pole Artike
to the pole Antartike (that is) from the north to the
Southe: Conteynynge in this donation, what fo euer
firme landes or Ilandes are founde or to bee founde
towarde India, or towarde any other parte what fo
euer it bee, beinge diRant from, or without the fore-
fayd lyne drawen a hundreth leaques towarde the
WeRe and South from any of the Ilandes which are
commonly cauled De los Azores and Cabo Verde.
All the Ilandes therfore and firme landes, founde
and to be founde, difcouered and to be difcouered
from the fayde lyne towarde the WeR and South, fuch
as haue not actually bin heretofore pofleffed by any
other ChriRian kynge or prynce vntyll the daye of the
natiuitie of owre Lorde lefu ChryRe laRe paRe, from
the which begynneth this prefent yeare beinge the
yeare of owre Lorde. M. CCCC. Ixxxxiii. when fo euer
any fuch fhalbe founde by your meffingers and capy-
taines. Wee by the autoritie of almyghtie God graunted
vnto vs in faynt Peter, and by the office which we beare
on the earth in the Reede of lefu ChriRe, doo for euer
by the tenoure of thefe prefentes, gyue, graunte, affigne,
vnto yowe, yowre heyres, and fucceflbures (the kynges
of CaRyle and Legion) all thofe landes and Ilandes,
with theyr dominions, territories, cities, caRels, towres,
places, and vyllages, with all the ryght, and iurifdic-
tions therunto perteynynge : conRitutynge, aflignynge,
and deputynge, yowe, yowre heyres, and fucceflburs
the lordes thereof, with full and free poure, autoritie,
and iurifdiction. Decreeinge neuertheleffe by this
owre donation, graunt, and affignation, that from no
ChriRian Prince whiche actually hath pofleffed the
forefayde Ilandes and firme landes vnto the day o.
the natiuitie of owre lorde beforefayde theyr ryght
obteyned to bee vnderRoode hereby to be taken away,
or that it owght to be taken away.
Furthermore wee commaunde yowe in the vertue
203
204
entiae (vt ficut poUicemini et non dubitamus pro veRra
maxima deuotione etregia magnanimitate vos efse fa(flu-
ros) ad terras firmas et Infulas prsedidtas, viros probos et
Deum timentes, doflos, peritos, et expertos ad infl.ru-
endum incolas et habitatores praefatos in fide Catholica
et bonis moribus imbuendum, defl.inare debeatis, om-
nem debitam diligentiam in prsemifsis adhibentes.
A quibufcumque perfonis, cuiufcunque dignitatis,
etiam imperialis et regalis ftatus, gradus, ordinis vel
conditionis, fub excommunicationis latse fententiae
poena quam eo ipfo fi contra fecerint incurrant,
170 difl-ridlius inhibemus ne ad Infulas et terras firnias
inuentas et inueniendas, detecflas et detegendas verfus
Occidentem et Meridiem, fabricando et conftru-
endo lineam a polo Arclico ad polum Antardlicum,
fiuse terraj firmse et Infulae inuentee et inueniendx fint
verfus Indiam aut verfus aliam quamcunque partem
quae linea diflet a qualibet Infularum quae vulgariter
nuncupantur de los Azores et Cabo verde centum leucis
verfus Occidentem et Meridiem vt praefertur, pro merci-
bus habendis vel quauis alia caufa accedere praefumat
abfque veflra ac haeredum et fuccefsorum veftrorum
praedidlorum liceutia fpeciali: Non obflantibus con-
ftitutionibus et ordinationibus Apoflolicis, caeterifque
quibufcunque, in illo in quo imperia et dominationes
et bona cunfla procedunt : Confidentes quod dirigente
Domino a<5tus veflros, fi huiufmodi fandlum ac laudabile
propofitum profequamini, breui tempore cum foelicitate
et gloria totius populi Chrifl.iani, veflri labores et
conatus exitum foelicifsimum confequentur. Verum
quia difficile foret praefentes literas ad fingula quaeque
loca in quibus expediens fuerit deferri, volumus ac
motu et fcientia fimilibus decemimus, quod illarum
tranffumptis manu publici notarij inderogati fubfcriptis,
et figillo alicuius perfonse in ecclefiaft.ica dignitate con-
flitutae, feu curiae ecclefiaflicse munitis, ea prorfus
fides in iudicio et extra ac alias vbilibet adhibeatur, quae
praefentibus adhiberetur fi efsent adhibitae vel ofl.enfae.
Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat banc paginam
nofl-rae commendationis, hortationis, requifitionis, dona-
tionis, concefsionis, afsignationis, confl.itutionis, deputa-
tionis, decreti, mandati, inhibitionis, et voluntatis in-
fringere vel ei aufu temerario contraire. Si quis autem
hoc attentare praefumpferit, indignationem omnipotentis
Dei, ac beatorum Petri et Pauli Apofl.olorum eius, fe
nouerit incurfurum.'.
Datum Roms apud fandlum Petrum : Anno incar-
nationis Dominicae. 1493. quarto nonas Maij: Ponti-
ficatus noflri anno primo.".
of holy obedience (as yowe haue promyfed, and as wee
doubte not you wyll doo vppon mere deuotion and
princely magnanimitie) to fende to the fayde firme
landes and Ilandes, honefle, vertuous, and lemed men,
fuche as feare God, and are able to inftructe th[e]in-
habitauntes in the Catholyke fayth and good maners,
applyinge all theyr poflible diligence in the premiffes.
We furthermore fl.reightly inhibite all maner of
perfons, of what fl.ate, degree, order, or condition fo
euer they bee, although of Imperiall and regall digni-
tie, vnder the peyne of the fentence of excommunica-
tion whiche they fhall incurre yf they doo to the
contrary, that they in no cafe prefume without fpeciali
lycence of yowe, yowre heyres, and fucceflburs, to
trauayle for marchaundies or for any other caufe, to
the fayde landes or Ilandes, founde or to bee found,
difcouered, or to bee difcouered, toward the weft, and
fouth, drawing a line from the pole Artyke to the pole
Antartike, whether the firme lands and Ilandes found
and to be found, be fituate toward India or towarde
any other parte beinge diftant from the lyne drawen
a hundreth leagues towarde the weft, from any of the
Ilandes commonly cauled De los Azores and Cabo
Verde: Notwithftandynge conftitutions, decrees, and
Apoft-olycall ordinaunces what fo euer they are to the
contrary : In him from whom Empyres, dominions, and
all good thynges doo procede : Truftynge that almyghtie
god directynge yowre enterprifes, yf yowe folowe yowre 173
godly and laudable attemptes, yowre laboures and
trauayles herein, Ihall in (horte tyme obteyne a happy
ende with felicitie and glorie of all Chriflian people.
But forafmuch as it fhulde bee a thynge of great diffi-
cultie thefe letters to bee caryed to all fuche places as
fhuld bee expedient, we wyll, and of lyke motion and
knowleage doo decree that whyther fo euer the fame
fhalbe fent, or wher fo euer they fhalbe receaued with
the fubfcription of a common notarie therunto requyred,
with the feale of any perfon conftitute in ecclefiaflicall
dignitie, or fuche as are autoryfed by the ecclefiaflicall
courte, the fame fayth and credite to bee gyiien there-
unto in iudgement or els where, as ftiulde bee exliibyted
to thefe prefentes.
It fliall therefore bee lawefull for no man to infringe
or rafliely to contrarie this letter of owre commenda-
tion, exhortacion, requeft.e, donation, graunt, afTigna-
tion, conflitution, deputation, decree, commaundement,
inhibition, and determination. And yf any fliall pre-
fume to attempte the fame, he owght to knowe that he
fhall thereby incurre the indignation of almyghtie God
and his holye Apoflles Peter and Paule. (•■•)(:){'•■)
C Gyuen at Rome at faynt Peters : In the yeare of
th[e]incarnation of owre Lord M. CCCC. LXXXXIII.
The fourth day of the nones of Maye, the fyrfte yeare
of owre feate. ( ) ( ) ( )
205
[The Third English book on America,
Which is also
The First English Collection of Voyages, Traffics, & Discoveries.
Cite I3rcalres» of tire \xt\x>t tooiilrt or iues^t InlriH, etc
SECTION II.
Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes.
^he Natural History of the West Indies.
First printed in 1526.]
207
To THE READER.
Lthough amonge dyuers which haue wrytten of
the Ocean and Wefte Indies, there is none to
be compared to Peter Martyr of Angleria, in
declarynge by philosophical difcourfes the fecreate
caufes of naturall affectes bothe as touchynge the
lande, the fea, the ftarres, and other ftraunge
woorkes of nature, yet forafmuche as of later
dayes thofe countreys haue byn better knowen
and fearched, and dyuers fuche particular and
notable thynges founde as are conteyned in
the hyflories of later wryters, emonge the
number of whom Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus,
(whom lerned Catdanus compareth to the ancient writers) is doubtles the chiefe, I haue
therfore thought good to ioyne to the Decades of Peter Martyr certeyne notable
thynges which I haue gathered owte of his booke intiteled the Summarie or abbrige-
ment of his generall hyflorie of the Weft Indies wrytten in the firme lande of the fame
in the citie of Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariena (where he dwelte and was gouernoure
many yeares) And dedicated to Th[e]emperou[r]s maieftie, as maye appeare by the
epyftell folowynge.
so?
208
C TO THE MOST HYGH AND MYGHTIE
PRINCE CHARLES THE FYFTE OF THAT NAME:
EMPEROUR OF ROME, KYNGE OF SPAYNE, AND OF THE TWOO SICILIES,
of bothe the fydes of the ftreyght oiFaro, Kynge of Hierufalem
and Hungarie, Duke of Burgonie and Earle of Flaunders,
Lord and inheritoure of the firme lande and Ilandes
of the Wefte Ocean, etc. Gonzaliis Ferdinan-
diis Ouiedus his moft humble feruant
wyfheth health and per-
petual felicitie.
1T4
[e thynges whiche principally preferue and mayntayne
the woorkes of nature in the memories of men, are
hyflories and bookes compofed of the fame. Amonge
the whiche certes thofe are efteemed mofte trewe and
autentyke which haue byn wrytten by wyttie and
expert men well trauayled in the worlde, as faythfull
wytneffes of fuche thynges as they haue partely feene
and byn partely informed by credible perfons. Of
this mynde and opinion was Plinie, who better then
any other autoure hathe wrytten in xxxvii. bookes al
that perteyneth to the naturall hiftorie, conteyned al
in one volume dedicated to Vefpafian Th[e]em-
perour. Wherein, as a prudente hiftoriographer, he
declareth fuche thynges as he had harde : Attri-
butynge the feconde autoritie to fuche as he had
redde in autourcs that wrote before hym : And thyrdely ioyned to the fame hyftorie,
fuch thynges as he hym felfe had feene as mofte certeyne teftimonie. Whofe exemple
I folowynge, wyl in this my breefe fummarie reduce and reprefent to yowr maiefties
memorie fuche thynges as I haue feene in yowre Empyre of the Weft Indies afwell in
the Ilandes as in the firme lande of the Ocean fea, where I haue ferued nowe more then
twelue yeares in the place of furuoyer of the golde mynes by the commaundemente of
the Catholyke kynge Don Fernando the fyfte of that name and graundfather vnto yowre
maieftie, to whom god gaue great fame and glorie. Senfe whofe death alfo I haue lyke-
wies ferued and truft whyle the reft of my lyfe yet remayneth, to ferue yowre maieftie
as fhall pleafe yowe to commaunde. As touchynge which thinges and fuch other lyke,
I haue more largely written in a hyftorie begunne as fone as my age was rype to take
fuche matters in hande. Wherein furthermore I haue made mention of fuche thynges
The Epijlle.
209
as haue chaunced in Spaine, from the yeare. 1494. vnto this tyme. Addynge alfo
thereunto fuche thynges woorthy memorie as I haue obferued in other realmes and pro-
uinces where I haue trauayled. And haue Hkewife particulerly wrytten the lyues and
woorthy actes of the catholyke Princes of famous memorie Don Ferdinando and lady
EHzabeth his wyfe to theyr laft dayes. After whofe fruition of heauenly Paradyfe, I
haue noted fuche thynges as haue chaunced in yowre mofl fortunate fucceffion. Not
omittynge particularly to wryte a large booke of fuch thynges as haue feemed mofle
woorthy to bee noted as touchynge yowre maiefties Indies. But for afmuche as that
volume remaineth in the citie of San. Dominico in the Ilande of Hifpaniola where I
dwell and am placed in houfholde with wyfe, chyldren, and famelie, I haue brought no
more with me of that my writynge then I beare in memorie. Determynynge notwith-
ftandynge for yowre maiefties recreation to make a breefe rehearfall of certeyne notable
thynges wherof I haue more largely entreated in my fayde general hiftorie, and fuch as
may feeme mofte woorthy to bee redde of yowre maieftie. Of the which, although a great
parte haue byn wrytten by other who haue alfo feene the fame, yet perhappes they are not
fo exactly and particularly defcribed as of me, forafmuche as in maner all that trauayle
into thefe Indies haue greater refpecte to luker and gaynes then diligently to fearche the
woorkes of nature wherunto I haue byn euer naturally inclyned, and haue therfore with
all poffible endeuour applyed myne eyes and intelligence to fynde the fame. And this
prefente Summarie fhall not bee contrary or dyuers from my larger hiftorie wherein (as I
haue fayde) I haue more amplye declared thefe thynges : but fhal onely more breefely
expreffe th[e]fifect therof vntyl fuch tyme as Godde flial reftore me to myne owne houfe,
where I may accomplyflie and fyniftie my fayd general hyftorie. Wherevnto to gyue the
fyrft principle, I fay that Don Chriftopher Colonus (as it is well knowen) beinge the
fyrfte Admyrall of this India, difcouered the fame in the dayes of the Catholyke kynge
Don Ferdinando and the lady Elyzabeth his wyfe, graundfather and graundmother vnto
yowre maieftie : In the yeare. 1 49 i. And came to Barzalona in the yeare 1 49 2. with the
fyrft Indians and other fhewes and profes of the great ryches and notice of this weft
Empire. The whiche gyfte and benefyte was fuche, that it is vnto this daye, one of the
greateft that euer any fubiect or feruant hath done for his prince or countrey, as is mani-
fefte to the hole worlde. And to faye the trewth, this ftiall doubtleffe bee fo commodious
and profytable vnto the hole realme of Spayne, that I repute hym no good Caftilian or
Spanyarde that doothe not recognife the fame. And (as I haue fayde before) foraf-
much as in my fayde generall hiftorie I haue more largely intreated of thefe thynges, I
intend at this prefent only briefely to rehearfe certeyne efpeciall thynges, the whiche
fuerly are verye fewe in refpecte of the thoufandes that myght bee fayde in this behalfe.
Fyrft therfore I wyl fpeake fumwhat of the nauigation into thefe parties. Then of the
generation of the nations whiche are founde in the fame, with their rytes, cuftomes, and
cerimonies. Alfo of beaftes, foules, byrdes, woormes, fyffties, feas, ryuers, fprynges, trees,
plantes, herbes, and dyuers other thynges which are engendered boothe on the lande and 175
in the water. And forafmuche as I am one of th[e]order and company of them that are
appointed to returne into thefe regions to ferue yowre maieftie, yf therfore the thynges
conteyned in this booke ftiall not bee diftincte in fuch order as I promifed to performe in my
greater woorke, I defyre yowre maieftie to haue no refpecte herevnto, but rather to
confyder the noueltie of fuche ftraunge thynges as I haue herein declared, whiche is the
chiefe ende that moued me to wryte. Proteftyng that in this Summarie I haue wrytten
the trewth of fuche thynges as coome to my remembraunce : wherof not onely I my
felfe can teftifye, but alfo diuers other woorthy and credible men which haue bin in
thofe regions, and are nowe prefente in yowre maiefties courte. And thus it fhal fuffyce
to haue faide thus much vnto yowre maieftie in maner of a proheme vnto this prefent
worke which I moft humbly defyre yowre maieftie as thankfully t[o]accept, as I haue
wrytten it faythfuUy.
Eden.'
2IO
The hyjlorie of the vvejie Indies.
^ Of the ordinary nauygation from Spayne to the Wefte Indies,
176
He nauygation whiche is commonly made from Spayne to the
Wefte India, is from Siuile, where yowre maieftie haue yowre
houfe of contractation for thofe partes, with alfo yowre offycers
thervnto perteynynge, of whom the capitaines take their paffeporte
and lycence. The patrones of fuche (hyppes as are appoynted to
thefe vyages, imbarke theym felues at San Luca di Baraineda,
where the ryuer Cuadalchiber entereth into the Ocean fea. And
from henfe they folowe their courfe toward the Ilandes of Canarie.
Of thefe feuen Ilandes, they commonly touche two, that is, eyther
Grancanaria or Gomera. And here the fhyppes are furnyflhed
with freflie water, fuell, cheefe, biefe, and fuche other thynges
whiche may feeme requifyte to be added to fuche as they brynge
with them owte of Spayne. From Spayne to thefe Ilandes, is
coommonly eyght dayes faylinge, or lyttle more or leffe. And
when they are arryued there, they haue fayled two hundereth and
fyftie leagues, whiche make a thoufande myles, accomptyng foure
myles to a leaque as is their maner to recken by fea. Departynge
from the fayde Ilandes to folowe their courfe, the fhippes tary. xxv. dayes, or a lyttle more or leffe, before they
fee the fyrfte lande of the Ilandes that lye before that whiche they caule La Spagnuola or Hifpaniola. And the
lande that is commonly fyrfte feene, is one of thefe Ilandes whiche they caule Ogni fanSli Marigalante (or
Galanta) La Deffeada (otherwife cauled Defyderata) Matatiino, Dominica, Guadalupe, San. Chrijloual, or fumme
other of the Ilandes wherof there are a great multitude lyinge aboute thefe aforefaide. Yet it fumtymes fo
chaunceth that the fhippes paffe withowte the fyght of any of the fayde Ilandes, or any other that are within
that courfe vntyll they coome to the Hand of SanHi Lohannis or Hifpaniola, or Jamaica, or Cuba, whiche are
before the other. It may alfo chaunce that they ouerpaffe all thefe likewyfe, vntyll they faule vppon the coaftes
of the fyrme lande. But this chaunceth when the pylote is not well practifed in this nauigation or not perfecte
in the trewe carde. But makynge this viage with, experte maryners (wherof there is nowe great plentie) one of
the fayde fyrfte Ilandes fhall euer bee knowen. And from the Ilandes of Canarie to one of the fyrfte of thefe,
the diftaunce is nyne hundreth leaques by faylinge, or more. And from henfe to the citie of faynte Dominike
which is in the Ilande of Hifpaniola, is a hundreth and fyftie leaques : So that from Spayne hitherto, is a
thoufand and three hundreth leaques. Yet forafmuche as fumtimes the nauigation procedeth not fo direcdy, but
that it chaunceth to wander on the one fyde or on the other, wee may well faye that they haue nowe fayled a
thoufande and fyue hundreth leaques and more. And if the nauigation be flowe by reafon of fumme
hynderaunce, it commonly chaunceth to be fynifflied in. xxxv. or. xl. dayes. And this happeneth for the mofte
parte, not accomptynge the extremes : that is, eyther of them that haue flowe paffage, or of them that arryne
in verye (horte tyme. For wee owghte to confyder that which chaunceth moft commonly. The retume from thofe
partes to Spayne, is not fynyfftied without longer tyme, as in the fpace of 1. [fifty] dayes, or a lyttle more or leffe.
Neuertheleffe in this prefent yeare of 1525. there came foure fhyps from the Hand of San Dominico to faint
Luca in Spaine, in. xxv. dayes. But (as I haue fayd) we ought not to iudge of that whiche chaunceth feldome,
but of that which happeneth moft ordinarily. This nauigation is very fafe and much vfed, euen vnto the fayd
Ilande. And from this to the firme land, the fliyppes trauerfe diuers wayes for the fpace of fine, fyxe, or feuen
dayes faylynge, or more, accordyng to the partes or coaftes whither they directe their vyages, forafmuche as the
fayde fyrme lande is verye great and large, and many nauigations and vyages are directed to dyuers partes of
the fame. Yet to the fyrme land whiche is neareft to this Hand, and lyeth direcdy ageynft San Dominico, the
paffage is fyniffhed in the tyme aforefayde. But it flialbe muche better to remytte all this to the carde of thefe
nauigations and the new Cofmographie, of the whiche no parte was knowen to Ptolomie or any other of the
owlde wrytters.
The hyjlorie of the vvejie Indies.
211
C Of twoo notable thynges as touchy ng the Weft Indies: And of the great
rychejfe brought front thenfe into Spayne.
Fter my vniuerfall defcription of the hidorie of the Indies, there commeth to my remem-
beraunce two thynges chiefely to be noted as touchynge th[e]empire of this Weft. Indies
perteynynge to the dominion of yowre maieft.ye. And thefe befyde the other particulars
wherof I haue fuffyciently fpoken, are to be confydered as thinges of great importaunce.
Wherof, the one is the (horteneffe of the way and with what expedition yowr maiefties
fhyppes maye paffe beyonde the mayne fyrme lande of thefe Indies into the newe Southe
fea cauled Mare del Sur lyynge beyond the fame. And this to th[e]intent to coome to the
Ilandes where the fpices growe, befyde the other innumerable rycheffe of the kingedomes and figniories whiche
confine with the fayde fea where are fo many people and nations of dyuers toonges and maners. The other
thinge, is to confyder howe innumerable treafures are entered into Spayne by thefe Indies, afwell that whiche
commeth dayly from thenfe as alfo that is continually to bee looked for, bothe of golde and perle and other
marchaunties which are firft brought into this yowre realme of Spaine before they are feene of other nations or
traded into other realmes. Wherby not onely this yowre realme is greatly inriched, but alfo the benefyte
therof redoundeth to the great profyte of other countreys which are neare thervnto. A teft.imonye of this, are
the double ducades whiche yowre maieftie haue caufed to bee coyned, and are difparfed throughowte the hole
worlde. But after they are once paffed owt of this yowre realme, they neuer returne agein bycaufe they are the
beft. curraunt money of the world. And therfore if after they haue byn in the handes of (Iraungers they chaunce
to be retoumed ageyne into Spaine, they coome difguifed in an other habite, and are diminiflhed of the good-
neffe of their golde, with the flampe of yowre maieftye chaunged : So that if it were not for their fuche
defacynges in other realmes for the caufe aforefayde, there fhulde not bee founde fo great quantitie of fyne golde
of the coyne of any prynce in the worlde as of yowre maieft.ies. And the caufe of all this, are yowre Indies.
C Of the mynes of golde, and the maner ofwoorkynge in theym.
His particular of the mynes of gold, is a thing greatly to bee noted : And I maye muche better
fpeake hereof then any other man, forafmuche as there are nowe twelue yeares pafle fenfe I
ferued in the place of the furueier of the meltynge (hoppes perteynynge to the golde mynes
of the firme lande, and was the gouernour of the mynes of the Catholyke kyng Don
Ferdhiando, after whofe departure from this lyfe, I ferued longe in the fame roome in the
name of yowr maieft.ie: By reafon wherof, I haue had great occafion to knowe howe
golde is founde and wrought owte of the mynes: And do knowe ryght well that this
lande is exceadynge ryche : hauynge by my accompte and by the labour of my Indians and flaues, gathered
and fyned a great portion of the fame: and may therfore the better affyrme this by teftimonie of fyght.
For I am well affured that in no part of Cajlilia del oro, that is, golden Caflile (otherwife cauled
Beragtta) no man coulde afke me of the mynes of golde, but that I durfte haue bounde my felfe to
haue difcouered them in the fpace of ten leagues of the countrey where it fliulde haue byn demaunded
me, and the fame to bee verye ryche. For I was alowed all maner of charges to make fearche for the fame.
And although golde be founde in maner euery where in thefe regions of golden Caft.ile, yet owght wee not in
euery place to beflowe the trauell, and charge to get it owte, bycaufe it is of leffe quantitie and goodneffe in fum
place then in fum. And the myne or veyne whiche owghte to be folowed, ought to bee in a place whiche may
ftande to faue muche of the charges of the labourers, and for the adminiftration of other neceffary thinges that
the charges may bee recompenfed with gaynes. For there is no doubte but that golde flialbe founde more or
leffe in euery place. And the golde whiche is founde in golden Caflile, is verye good, and of xxii. caractes or
better in fyneffe. Furthermore, befyde this great quantitie of golde whiche I haue fayde to be founde in the
mynes, there is alfo from day to day found or otherwife gotten, great treafure of fuche wrought gold as hath byn
in the cuftodie of the fubdued Indians and their kynges, afwell of fuche as they haue gyuen for their fyne and
raunfome, or otherwife as frendes to the Chriftians, befyde that whiche hath byn vyolently taken from the
rebelles. But the greateft parte of the wrought gold whiche the Indians haue, is bafe and holdeth fumwliat of
177
212
The hyjiorie of the wejie Indies.
copper. Of this they make braflettes and chaines and in the fame they clofe their iewels whiche their women
are accuflomed to weare and efteeme more then all the richefle of the worlde. The maner howe golde is
gathered, is this, eyther of fuche as is founde in Zauana, that is to faye in the plaines and riuers of the champian
countrey being withowt trees, whether the earth be with grafle or without. Or of fuche as is fumtymes founde
on the land without the riuers in places where trees growe, fo that to coome by the fame, it (halbe requifite to
cutte downe many and great trees. But after whiche fo euer of thefe two maners it be founde, eyther in the
riuers or ruptures or breaches of water, or elles in the earth, I wyll fhewe howe it is founde in bothe thefe places,
and howe it is feperate and pourged. Therfore when the myne or veine is difcouered, this chaunceth by ferchyng
and proujmg in fuche places as by certeyne fygnes and tooken do appeare to (kylfuU men apte for the generation
of golde and to holde golde. And when they haue founde it, they folowe the myne and labour it, whether it
be in the ryuer or in the plaine as I haue fayde. And if it bee founde on the plaine, fyrfl they make the place
verye cleane where they intende to dygge. Then they dygge eyght or ten foote in length and as muche in
breadth : but they goo no deeper then a fpanne or two, or more as Ihall feeme bed to the maifler of the myne,
dyggynge equally. Then they waflie all the earthe whiche they haue taken owte of the fayde place. And if
herein they fynde any golde, they folowe it. And if not, they dygge a fpanne deeper, and walhe the earth as
they dyd before. And if then alfo, they fynde nothynge, they continue in dyggyng and waffliyng the earth as before
vntil they come to the hard rocke or flone. And if in fyne they fynd no golde there, they folowe no further to
feeke golde in that place, but go to an other parte. And it is to be vnderflode, that when they haue founde the
myne, they folowe it in digginge in the fame meafure in leuell and deapth vntill they haue made an ende of al
the myne which that place conteyneth, if it appere to be riche. This myne ought to confyfl of certen feete or
pafes in length or breadth accordynge to certeyne orders determined. And within that compaffe of earth, it is
not lawfuU for any other to dygge for golde. And where as endeth the myne of hym that fyrfte founde the gold,
immediatly it is lawfull for any other man that wyl, with a flaffe to aflygne hym felfe a place by the fyde of the
fame, inclofynge it with (lakes or pales as his owne. Thefe mynes of Zauana (that is fuch as are found in the
playne) owght euer to bee foughte nere to fum ryuer or brooke or fpringe of water, or dyke, or flandyng poole,
to th[e]ende that the golde maye be waffhed, for the whiche purpofe they vfe the laboure of certeyne Indians
as they doo other in dygginge of the myne. And when they haue dygged owte the myne, they fyl certeine
traies with that earth, whiche other Indians haue the charge immediatly to receaue at their handes, and
to carye thofe treyes of earth to the water where it maye bee waffhed. Yet do not they that brynge it,
178 wafhe it, but delyuer it to other, puttynge it owte of their owne trayes into theirs which they haue ready in their
handes to receaue it. Thefe waffhers for the mofle parte, are the Indian women, bycaufe this woorke is of
leffe paine and trauayle then any other. Thefe women when they wafhe, are accuflomed to fytte by the waters
fyde, with their legges in the water euen vppe to the knees or leffe as the place ferueth their purpofe. And
thus holdynge the trays with earth in their handes by the handles therof, and puttynge the fame into the water,
they moue them rownde aboute after the maner of fyftynge, with a certeyne apteneffe in fuche forte that there
entreth no more water into the trais then ferueth their turne: And with the felfe fame apte mouynge of their
trais in the water, they euer auoyd the foule water with the earth owte of the one fyde of the veffell, and
receaue in cleane water on the other fide therof So that by this meanes by litde and lyttle, the water waffheth
the earth as the lyghter fubflaunce owte of the trais, and the golde as the heauier matter refleth in the bottome
of the fame, beyng rounde and holowe in the myddefl lyke vnto a barbars bafen. And when all the earth is
auoyded, and the golde gathered togither in the bottome of the traye, they putte it aparte, and retume to take
more earth, whiche they wafhe continually as before. And thus they that laboure in this woorke, do gather
dayly fuche portion of golde as fhal pleafe god to graunt to the patrones of thefe Indians and fuche other as
trauaile in the fame. Furthermore, it is to bee noted that for euery two Indians that wafhe, it is requifite that
two other ferue them to brynge earthe from the myne, and other twoo to breake the fame fniaule and fylle their
trais therwith. Alfo befyde thefe labourers, it is neceffarye that there bee other people in the place where they
woorke and refle in the nyghte. Thefe are fuche as make their breade, and prouyde for vyttayles and other
necelfaryes. So that to conclude, there are in all, fyue perfons ordinarily afhgned to euery traye of waffhers.
There is an other maner of woorkyng the mynes in riuers or brookes of runnynge waters. And this is,
that in auoydynge the water of his courfe, after that the beddes of the ryuers are drye and vtterlye emptied,
they fynde golde emonge the breaches, cliftes, and ryftes of flones, and among all that is in the bottome of the
chanell, and where naturally the riuer runneth of greatefl force. So that it chaunceth fum tyme, that when the
bedde of the ryuer is good and ryche, they fynde in it great quantitie of golde. And therfore yowr maieflie
ought to vnderRande for a generail rule, as it appereth in facte, that all golde is engendered in the toppes and
hyghefl places of the montaines : And in continuance of time is by lyttle and lyttle browght downe to the vales
and plaines by fhowres of rayne, and the faules of fprynges, ryuers, and brookes hauynge their originall in the
mountaynes and defcendynge from the fame, notwithflandyiige it bee oftentymes founde in the plaines farre
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
213
179
from the mountaynes. But when it cliaunceth to be founde in great quantitie, it is for the mode parte amonge
the mountaynes and in the riuers, or their branches, more then in any other parte of the plaine. And in thefe
two maners is it commonly founde mode abundauntly. And for the better profe that golde is engendered on
hyghe, and is brought downe into the lowe places, I haue one great tooken therof whiche caufeth me to beleue
it for certeine. And this is to confyder that coles neuer putrifie nor corrupt vnder the ground, if they be made
of flronge woodde. Wherby it chaunceth that diggyng the earth by the fouldes or indented places of the
mountaynes, or on the fydes, and breakynge a myne in the earthe where it had not byn broken before, and
hauyng nowe dygged one or two or three poles in meafure, the myners founde certeyne coles of wood vnder the
fame leuel where they found gold. And this I faye in the earth whiche was taken for a vyrgine : that is to faye,
fuch as had not before byn opened for any myne. The which coles coulde not naturally bee engendred there,
or enter in by any meanes. But when the fuperficial part of the earth was equal with the leuel where the coles
were founde, it is lyke that the coles were left there by fum occafion of fyre, and that they faflned there in
tyme, and that afterwarde in longe continuance of tyme, they were by lyttle and lyttle couered with the earth
which the often Ihowers of rayne wafhed from the mountaynes, fo that by the courfe of yeares the earth ouer-
grewe the coles vnto the feyde leuell and meafure whiche had before tyme byn the fuperficiall parte of the
earthe where the coles and golde were founde togyther: whereby it maye appeare that the golde was no more
engendered there then were the coles, but brought thyther from the mountaynes by the faules of waters as we
haue fayde : forafmuche as the mountaynes are the matrices and bowels of all ryche metals. Further and
befyde this, I fay that in how much more the gold is gonne farre from the naturall place of his generation to
the place where it is founde, it is fo muche the more puryfied and fyned and of a better carracte. And the
nearer that it is founde to his proper myne or vaine where it is engendered, it is fo muche the bafer, fouler, and
more crude, and of a bafer alay and caracte, and dothe waft fo much the more in meltynge, and remayneth
more brickie. Sumetyme there are founde graynes of golde of greate quantitie and of greate weyght aboue the
earth and fumtymes alfo vnder the earth. And the greatefte of all other that was founde to this daye in the
Indies, was that which was lofte in the fea aboute the Ilande Beata, whiche weyed three thoufande and twoo
hundreth Caftellans of golde, which are in value foure thoufand a hundreth, thirtie and eyght ducades of golde,
which waye one Arroua and feuen pounde, or. xxxii. pounde. after, xii. ounces to the pounde, whiche make
threefcore and foure markes of golde. And I fawe in the yeare. 1515. in the handes of Mychel Paffamonte
treafurer to yowre maieftie, two graines of the which one wayde feuen poundes, which are. xiiii. markes, and
are in value aboute threefcore and fyue ducades of golde euery marke. The other was of. x. markes, which are
fyue poundes of lyke value, and of very good golde of. xxii. caractes and better. There are alfo founde many
other greate graynes, although not equall vnto thefe in byggenes. And forafmuche as I haue fpoken of golde,
I haue thought good to declare fumewhat howe the Indians can very excellently gylte fuche vefTelles of copper
and bafe golde as they make. For they can gyue them fo fayre and floryfhynge a coloure, that all the maffe
whiche they gylte, appearethe as though it were golde of. xxii. caractes and better. This colour they gyue with
a certeyne herbe as thoughe it were wrought by the arte of any goldefmyth of Spayne or Italic, and wold of
them bee efteemed as a thynge of greate ryches, and a fecreate maner of gyldynge. And for as muche as I
haue fpoken fufficiently of the myne of golde, I wyll nowe fpeake fumwhat of copper bycaufe I haue made
mention thereof. This metall is founde in many of the Ilandes of the Indies and alfo in the firme lande : And
is founde dayely in greate quantitie holdynge fumwhat of golde. But for the defyre that owre men haue to
golde, they nothynge efleeme the copper, although there myght great commoditie and profitte be had therby,
and alfo by other metals whiche they nothynge regarde excepte fyluer whiche is founde abundantly in that parte
of the firme lande which is cauled newe Spayne. But of this it (hall fuffice to haue fayde thus muche, bycaufe
I haue more particularly entreated of thefe thynges in my generall hyftorie of India.
A marke, is a
pounde of viii.
ounces : summa.
xlii. li. [forty-two
pounds] weyght
viii. ounces, after
xiL ounces to the
IL [pound].
C Of the maner of fyfhynge for perles.
He Indians exercife this kynde of fyflhynge for the mofte parte in the coaftes of the North in
Cubagua and Cwnana. And manye of theym which dwell in the houfes of certeyne parti-
cular lordes in the Ilandes of San Dominico and SanHi lohannis, refort to the Ilande of
Cubagua for this purpofe. Theyr cuftome is to go fyue, fyxe, or feuen, or more in one of
theyr Canoas or barkes erly in the momynge to fume place in the fea there about where it
appeareth vnto them that there (hulde bee greate plentie of thofe fhell fylhes (which fume
caule mufcles and fume oyfters) wherin perles are engendered. And there they plonge
S 2 axt
214
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
them felues vnder the water, euen vnto the bottome, feuynge one that remaynethe in the Canoa or boate which
he keepeth flyll in one place as neare as he can, lookynge for theyr returne owte of the water. And when one
of them hath byn a good whyle vnder the water, he ryfeth vp and commeth ftvymmynge to the boate, enterynge
into the fame, and leauynge there all the oyflers whiche he hath taken and brought with hym. For in thefe,
are the perles founde. And when he hathe there reded hym felfe a whyle, and eaten parte of the oyflers, he
retumeth ageyne to the water, where he remaynethe as longe as he can endure, and then ryfeth ageyne, and
fwimmeth to the boate with his pray, where he reflethe hym as before, and thus continueth courfe by courfe, as
180 doo all the other in lyke maner, being all mode experte fwymmers and dyuers. And when the nyght draweth
neare, they returne to the Ilande to theyr houfes, and prefente all the oyflers to the mailer or flewarde of the houfe
of theyr lorde who hath the charge of the fayde Indians. And when he hath gyuen them fumwhat to eate, he
layeth vp the oyflers in fafe cuflodie vntyll he haue a great quantitie therof. Then hee caufeth the fame fyffher
men to open them. And they fynde in euery of theym pearles other great or fmaul, two or three or foure, and
fumtymes fiue and fyxe, and many fmaule graines accordyng to the lyberalitie of nature. They faue the pearles
bothe fmaule and great whiche they haue founde : And eyther eate the oyflers if they wyl, or cafle them away,
hauynge fo great quantitie therof that they in maner abhorre them. Thefe oyflers are of hard flefhe, and not fo
plefaunt in eatyng as are owres of Spayne. This Ilande of Cubagua where this maner of fyffhing is exercifed,
is in the Northe coafle, and is no bygger then the Hand of Zelande. Oftentymes the fea encreafeth greatly, and
muche more then the fyfhers for pearles wold, bycaufe where as the place is very depe, a man can not naturally
red at the bottome by reafon of the aboundaunce of aery fubdaunce whiche is in hym, as I haue oftentymes
proued. For althoughe he may by vyolence and force defcende to the bottome, yet are his feete lyfted vp ageyne
fo that he can continue no tyme there. And therfore where the fea is verye deepe, thefe Indian fyfdiers vfe to
tye two great doones aboute them with a corde, on euery fyde one, by the weyght wherof they defcend to the
bottome and remayne there vntyl them lydeth to ryfe ageine: At which tyme they vnlofe the dones, and ryfe
vppe at their pleafure. But this their apteneffe and agilitie in fwimming, is not the thynge that caufeth men
mode to marauile : But rather to confyder how many of them can flande in the bottome of the water for the
fpace of one hole houre, and fumme more or leffe, accordjTige as one is more apte hereunto then an other.
An other thynge there is whiche feemeth to me very draunge. And this is, that where as I haue oftentymes
demaunded of fumme of thefe lordes of the Indians, if the place where they accudomed to fyfhe for pearles
beynge but lyttle and narrowe, wyll not in (horte tyme bee vtterly withowt oyders if they confume them fo fade,
they al anfwered me, that althoughe they bee confumed in one parte, yet if they go a fyffhynge in an other parte
or an other coade of the Ilande, or at an other contrary wynd, and continue fyffliing there alfo vntyll the oyders
be lykewyfe confumed, and then returne ageyne to the fyrde place, or any other place where they fyfdied before
and emptied the fame in lyke maner, they find them ageine as ful of oyders as though they had neuer bin
fyffhed. Wherby we may iudge that thefe oyders eyther remoue from one place to an other as do other fyffhes, or
elles that they are engendered and encreafe in certeyne ordinarie places. This Hand of Cumana and Cubagua
where they fyfhe for thefe perles, is in the twelfe degree of the part of the faid coade which inclineth toward the
North. Lykewife pearles are founde and gathered in the South fea cauled Mare del Sur. And the pearles of
this fea are verye bygge. Yet not fo bigge as they of the Ilande of pearles cauled de las perlas, or Margaritea,
whiche the Indians caule Terarequi, lying in the goulfe of faincte Michael, where greatter pearles are founde and
of greater price then in any other coade of the Northe fea, in Cumana, or any other parte. I fpeake this as a
trewe tedimonie of fyght, hauyng byn longe in that South fea, and makynge curious inquifition to bee certenly
informed of al that perteyneth to the fydhynge of pearles. From this Ilande of Tararequi, there was brought
a pearle of the faffliyon of a peare, wayinge. xxxi. carattes, whiche Feirus Arias had amonge a thoufande and
foo many poundes weight of other pearles whiche hee had when capitayne Gafpar Morales (before Petrus Arias)
paffed to the faide Ilande in the yeare. 1 5 1 5. whiche pearle was of great prife. From the faide Ilande alfo,
came a great and verye rounde pearle, whiche I brought owte of the fea. This was as bygge as a fmaule pellet
of a done bowe, and of the weight of. xxvi. carattes. I bough te it in the citie of Panama in the fea of Sur:
And paide for it fyxe hundreth and fyftie tymes the weyght therof of good gold, and had it thre yeares
in my cudodie : and after my returne into Spaine, foulde it to th[e]erle of Nanfao, Marqueffe of Zenete, great
chamberleyne to yowre maiedie, who gaue it to the Marqueffe his wyfe, the ladye Mentia ol Mendozza. I thyncke
verely that this pearle was the greated, fayred, and rounded that hath byn feene in thofe partes. For yowre
181 maiedie owght to vnderdande that in the coade of the fea of Sur, there are founde a hundreth great pearles
rounde after the faflhyon of a peare, to one that is perfectely rounde and greate. This Ilande of Terarequi,
which the Chridians caule the Ilande of pearles, and other caule it the Ilande of floures, is founde in the eyght
degree on the fouthe fyde of the firme lande in the prouynce of golden Cadyle or Bcragua. And thefe are the
coades of the firme lande where pearles are founde euen vnto this day. I vnderdande alfo that there are perles
founde in the prouynce and Ilandes of Cartagenia. And fence yowr maiedie appoynted me a gouemour and
Of this readc more
largely in the
decades.
By the
computation of
Venice, iiii. graines
make a carette.
The hyjiorie of the wejle Indies.
215
capytayne, I haue made further fearche, and am aduertifed that pearles are founde in dyuers other places as
about the Hand of Codego which lyeth ageynft the mouth of that porte of the Ilande of Cartagmia which the
Indians caul Coro. The which Hand and porte, are on the North fyde in the tenthe degree of the coaftes of
the firme lande.
C 0/ the familiar itie which certeyne of the Indians haue with the deuyll,
and howe they receaue anfwere of hym of thynges to coome.
I Hen the Indians begynne theyr battayle, or go to any combat or attempte any other greate
matter, they haue certeyne electe menne whom they reuerendely efteme and caule them
Tequinas, whiche in theyr tonge is as muche to faye as maflers. Notwithflandynge that they
caule euery man that is cunnynge in any fcience, by the fame name, as fyffhers, foulers
hunters, or makers of nettes. Thefe Tequinas therfore, they caule the maflers of theyr
aunfweres bycaufe they fpeake with Tuyra, that is the deuyll, and brynge them aunfwere
what he faythe, eyther as touchynge fuche thynges as they haue to doo or fliall chaunce
to them the day folowjmge, or many dayes to coome. For the deuyll beinge fo auncient an Aftronomer,
knowethe the tymes of thynges and feeth howe they are naturally directed and inclined. And makethe theym
beleue that they come fo to pafle by his ordynaunce, as though he were the lorde and mouer of all that is and
fhalbe : And that he gyueth the day lyght and rayne : caufeth tempeft. and ruleth the flations of tymes, gyuyng
lyfe or takynge awaye lyfe at his pleafure. By reafon wherof, the Indians being deceaued of hym, and feing alfo
fuch effectes to coome certeynely to pafle as he hath tolde them before, beleue hym in all other thynges and
honoure hym in many places with facrifyces of the bludde and Hues of men and odoriferous fpices. And when
god difpofeth the contrary to that whiche the deuell hath fpoken in oracle wherby he is proued a Iyer, he caufeth
the Tequinas to perfwade the people that he hath chaunged his mynde and fentence for fumme of their fynnes,
or deuifeth fumme fuche lye as lyketh hym belle, beynge a Ikylfull maifter in fuche fubtile and craftie deuifes to
deceyue the fymple and ignorant people whiche hath fmaule defence againfl, fo mighty and craftie an aduerfarie.
And as they caule the deuell Tuyra, fo doo they in many places caule the Chriflians by the fame name,
thynkyng that they greatly honoure them therby, as in deede it is a name very feete and agreable to many
of them, hauynge layde aparte all honeflie and vertue, lyuynge more lyke dragons then men amonge thefe
fymple people.
Before th[e]inhabitauntes of the Ilande of Hifpaniola had receaued the Chriflian faithe there was amonge
them a fecte of men whiche liued folytarily in the defertes and wooddes and ledde theu: lyfe in fylence and
abllinence more flraightly then euer dyd the phylofophers of Pythagoras fecte, abfleinyng in lyke maner from
the eatyng of al thynges that Hue by bludde contented onely with fuche fruites, herbes, and rootes as the defertes
and wooddes myniflred vnto them to eate. The profeflburs of this fecte were cauled Piaces. They gaue them
felues to the knowleage of naturall thynges, and vfed certeine fecreate magicall operations and fuperllitions
wherby they had familiaritie with fpirites whiche they allured into theyr owne bodyes at fuche tymes as they
wolde take vppon them to tell of thynges to coome, whiche they dyd in maner as foloweth. When any of the
kynges had occafyon to caule any of them owte of the defertes for this purpofe, their cuflome was to fende them
a portion of their fyne breade of Cazabbi or Maiziutn, and with humble requelle and fute to defyre them to tell
them of fuche thynges as they woulde demaunde. After the requefl graunted and the place and daye appoynted,
the Piaces coometh with twoo of his difciples waytynge on hym, wherof the one bryngeth with hym a veflell of
a fecreate water, and the other a lyttle fyluer bell. When he coommeth to the place, he fytteth downe on a
rounde feate made for hym of purpofe. Where hauynge his difciples the one (landynge on the one hande and
the other on the other euen in the prefence of the kyng and certeyne of his nobles (for the common people are
not admytted to thefe mifteries) and tumynge his face toward the deferte, he begynneth his inchauntment and
cauleth the fpirit with loude voyce by certeyne names which no man vnderflandeth but he and his difciples.
After he hath dooen thus a while, if the fpirite yet deferre his coommyng, he drinketh of the fayde water, and
therwith waxeth hotte and furious, and inuerteth and tumeth his inchauntement, and letteth h3Tn felfe bludde
with a thome, marueiloufly turmoylyng hym felfe as wee reade of the furious Sybilles not ceafynge vntyl the
fpirite bee coome : who at his coommyng entereth into hym and ouerthroweth hym as it weare a grehounde
fliulde ouertume a fquerell. Then for a fpace, he feemeth to lye as thoughe he were in great payne or in a
rapte, wonderfully tormentynge hym felfe, durynge whiche agonie, the other difciple fhaketh the fyluer bell
182
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The hyjlorie of the wejle Indies.
contynually. Thus when the agonie is pafte and he lyeth quietly (yet withowte any fence or feelyng) the kynge
or fumme other in his fteade, demaundeth of hym what he defyreth to knowe, and the fpirite anfwereth by the
mouth of the rapte Places with a directe and perfecte anfwere to all poyntes. In fo muche that on a tyme
certeyne Spanyardes beynge prefente at thefe mylleries with one of the kinges, and in the Spanylhe tounge
demaundynge the Places of their fliyppes whiche they looked for owte of Spayne, the fpirite anfwered in the
Indian toonge, and toulde them what daye and houre the fliyppes departed from Spayne, how many they were,
and what they brought withowt faylynge in any poynte. If he be alfo demaunded of the eclypfe of the foonne
or moone (which they greatly feare and abhorre) he geueth a perfecte anfwere, and the lyke of tempeftes,
famen, plentie, warre or peace, and fuche other thinges. When all the demaundes are fynyflhed, his difciples
caule hym aloude, rynging the fyluer bell at his eare and blowynge a certeyne pouder into his nofethrilles
wherby he is rayfed as it weare from a deade fleape beinge yet fumewhat heauy headed and faynt a good whyle
after. Thus beinge ageyne rewarded of the kynge with more breade, he departeth ageyne to the defertes with
his difciples. But fence the Chriftian fayth hath byn difparfed throwghe owte the Ilande, thefe deuyllyflie
practifes haue ceafed, and they of the members of the deuyll, are made the members of Chryfle by baptifme
forfakynge the deuyll and his workes, with the vaine curiofitie of defyre of knowleage of thynges to coome,
wherof for the moft. part it is better to be ignorant then with vexation to knowe that which can not be auoyded.
Furthermore, in many places of the firme lande, when any of the kynges dye, all his houfliolde feruauntes,
afwell women as men which haue continually ferued hym, kyl them felues, beleauynge as they are taught by the
deuyl Tuyra, that they which kyll them felues when the kynge dyeth, go with hym to heauen and feme hym in
the fame place and office as they dyd before on the earth whyle he lyued. And that all that refufe fo to doo,
when after they dye by theyr naturall death or otherwyfe, theyr foules to dye with theyr bodyes and to bee
diflblued into ayer and become nothynge as do the foules of hogges, byrdes, or fyffties or other brute beaftes.
And that only the other may enioy the priuileage of immortalitie for euer to ferue the kynge in heauen. And
of this falfe opinion commeth it that they which fowe come or fet rootes for the kynges breade, and gather the
fame, are accuflomed to kyll them felues that they may enioy this priuileage in heauen. And for the fame
purpofe, caufe a portion of the graine of Malzlum and a bundle of Iiuca (wherof theyr breade is made) to bee
buryed with them in theyr graues that the fame maye ferue them in heauen if perhappes there (huld lacke
feedes to fowe. And therfore they take this with them to begyn with all, vntyl Tuyra (who maketh them all
thefe fayre promiffes) prouyde them of greater quantitie. This haue I my felfe fene in the toppe of the
mountaynes of Guaturo, where hauynge in pryfon the kynge of that prouince (who rebelled from th[e]obedience
of yowre maieflie) and demaundynge of hym to whom perteyned thofe fepultures or graues whiche I fawe in
his houfe, he anfwered that they were of certeyne Indians whiche flewe them felues at the death of his father.
183 And bycaufe they are oftentymes accullomed to burye greate quantities of wrought golde with them, I caufed
twoo graues to bee opened, wherein was nothynge founde but a veffell full of the grayne of Malzlum, and a
bundell of lucca as I haue fayde. And demaunding the caufe hereof of the kinge and the other Indians, they
aunfwered that they that were buryed there, were the labourers of the grounde, and men flcylful in fowynge of
feedes and makynge of breade, and feruauntes to the kynges father. And to th[e]ende that theyr foules fhoulde
not dye with theyr bodyes, they flewe them felues at the deathe of the kynge theyr mafl.er to lyue with hym in
heauen. And to th[e]intent that they myght ferue him there in the fame office they referued that Malzlum and
Jucca to fowe it in heauen. Whereunto I aunfwered them in this maner. Beholde howe your Tuyra deceaueth
yowe? And howe all that he teacheth yow is falfe? Yowe fee how in fo long a tyme fence they are deade,
they haue not yet taken awaye this Malzlum and lucca which is nowe putrified and woorth nothynge, and not
lyke to bee fowen in heauen. To this the kynge replyed, iayinge. In that they haue not yet taken it away
nor fowen it in heauen, the caufe is that they chaunced to fynde enowgh there, by reafon wherof they had no
neade of this. To this erroure manye thynges were fayde which feemed of lyttle force to remoue hym from his
falfe opinion, and efpecially any fuch as at that age are occupyed of the deuyll, whom they paynt of the felfe
fame forme and coloure as he appereth vnto theym in dyuers fliapes and formes. They make alfo Images ot
golde, copper, and woodde, to the fame fimilitudes in terrible fliapes and fo variable as the paynters are
accufl.omed to paynt them at the feete of faynte Mychaell th[e]archangell or in anye other place where they
paynt them of mofl. horrible port[r]iture. Lykewyfe when the deuyll greatly intendeth to feare theym, he
threteneth to fende them great tempeftes which they caule Furacanas or Haurcuhanas, and are fo vehement
that they ouerthrowe many howfes and great trees. And I haue feene in montaynes full of many and greate
trees, that for the fpace of three quarters of a league the mountayne hathe byn fubuerted and the trees
ouerthrowen and plucked owte of the earthe with the rootes : a thynge doubteleffe fo fearefull and terrible to
behold, that it may verely appere to be doen by the hand of the deuell. And in this cafe the Chriftian men
ought to confider with good reafon, that in al places where the holy lacrament is referued, the fayd tempeftes
are no more fo owtragious, or so perelous as they were wonte to bee.
3l6
The hyjtorie of the vvejte Indies.
2.\*J
C Of the temperature of the regions vnder or neare to the burnt lyne cauled
Torrid a zona or the Equinoctiall: and of the dyuers feafons
of the yeare.
He landes and regions that are neare about the clymes of the Equinoctiall lyne, are naturally
hotte, althowghe they bee otherwyfe temperate by the diuine prouidence. And therfore
fuche fleffhe or fyfhe as is taken and kylled in thefe regions, can not bee preferued from
putrefaction except it be rofled, fodden, or perboylde, the fame daye that it is kylde. And
wheras I haue fayde that fuch regions are naturally hot, and yet temperate by the prouidence
of god, it is fo in deede. And therfore not without caufe the auncient autours were of opinion
that the bumte lyne or Torrida zona where paffeth the lyne of the Equinoctiall, (hulde be
vnhabitable by reafon the foonne hath greater dominion in that place then in any other of the fphere,
remaynynge continually betwene the two tropykes of Cancer and Capricome. For when in thefe regions the
earth is opened or dygged from the fuperficial parte therof to the depth of a mans heyght, it is founde
temperate. And within this fpace, the trees and plantes fallen and fpreade their rootes, and no dieper.
Extendynge the fame as farre in breadth in the ground as do their braunches in the ayer: And enter no dieper
into the grounde then I haue fayde, bycaufe that beneth the depth of the faid fpace of a mans heyght, the earth
is verye hotte, the vpper parte beinge temperate and verye moyfle afwell by reafon of th[e]aboundaunce of water
whiche fauleth from heauen vppon that earth at certeyne ordinarie feafons of the yeare, as alfo for the multitude
of great ryuers, brokes, fprynges and maryfflies, wherby the myghtie and fupreme lorde which made thefe landes,
hath mofle prudently prouyded for the perferuation of the fame.
R. E. As touchynge this poynt whiche was vnknowen to the owlde wryters, and without confideration wherof reafon can not
perfectly conceaue howe temperate regions Ihulde be vnder the Equinoctiall lyne, I haue thought good for the better manifeftynge
of this fecreate woorke of nature, to note owle of Cardanus his booke de Elementis, howe all waters haue theyr courfe toward the
South as to the lowefl part of the earth. He wryteth therefore as foloweth. The water was made of lelTe quantitie then the earth
and only in maner in the fuperficiall parte therof, that place might bee lefte for the habitation of beafles, and that water by his could-
nelTe myght temperate and not deftroy the lyfe of beaftes. And bicaufe this generation of lyuynge creatures, was only neceffary on
the fuperficiall partes of the earth in comparifon to the hole, therfore was the water made to occupie onely the fuperficiall parte, in
the which, metals, plantes, beaftes, and fyffhes fliulde bee nuryfhed. And bycaufe there was great perell leaft it (hulde be to much
confumed by the ayer and heate of the foonne, continuall mouinge was ioyned to it, wherby it gathereth couldnes and is preferued
from fodeyne refolution. For fuche waters as do not moue, doo foone putrifie, and are eafely refolued into ayer. By reafon wherof
nature prouyded for the generation of water in coulde places, as vnder the poles and mountaynes. And whereas the earth vnder the
Equinoctiall ftiulde otherwife for lacke of moyfter haue bin to much burned and fcorched, nature alfo prouyded that that parte of the
earth Ihulde bee loweft, by reafon whereof all waters haue theyr courfe towarde the South to mitigate with moyfter th[e]extremitie of
heate which otherwife (hulde haue byn intoUerable in that clyme. And by this reafon, the famous ryuer of Nilus in Egypte. albeit it
haue his originall and fprynge, owt of the mountaynes of the mone cauled Montes Lunae nere vnto the cyrcle of Capricome, yet run-
nynge with all his braunches vnder and beyonde the Equinoctiall cyrcle, it difparfeth throwgh owt the burnt line of Torrida zona, and
by the fame vyolent courfe fauleth into owre fea nere vnto the citie of Alexandria. It was necelTary therfore that the greateft parte of
the coulde and moyft element (hulde haue recourfe thyther and confyft there, whereas was the greateft neceffitie therof to temper the
heate of the foonne by moyftynge and coolynge the earthe and the ayer, as vnder the Equinoctiall. And herewith alfo hath moft
prudent nature prouyded for the fecuritie and preferuation of the places lyinge betwene bothe th[e]extremities of heate and colde, as
betwene the poles and the Equinoctiall. For the waters flowynge euer one wayes and kepynge one courfe, no regions can be drowned
by fluddes : which thynge they well obferue that delyuer fieldes from inundations or ouerflowynges, and that take in hande to drye
vp maryf(hes. If therfore waters had not theyr courfe and faul towarde places lowe or declynynge, the hole earth (hulde bee cuer-
flowne as a marryffhe. And that the moft declynynge parte (hulde bee towarde the South, and fumwhat hygher about the poles, the
caufe is afwell the confumynge heate of the foonne in the Southe partes, as the preferuynge coulde of the hygh mountaynes nere to
the poles. For we haue els where proued that heate confumeth and wafteth as coulde gathereth and preferueth. And for this caufe
that parte of the earthe that is neareft the poles, is, was, and euer (halbe higheft, and likewife loweft in the middeft furtheft from
the poles. And therfore it was not conuenient that the fonne (huld haue his courfe on euery fyde, neither to the poles. For if it weare
caryed alyke to euery parte throughowt the worlde, it is neceFary that the earth bee equal! : and by that reafon (hulde it euer bee
altogether dryed, or elles all ouerflowed with water. But where as this coulde not fuffyce to the free courfe of ryuers for the often
intercourfe of higher places lyinge in the waye, whereby ouerflowynges and ftayes of waters and their corruption myght enfue,
moofte prouydent nature hath gyuen this priuileage to water that it maye fo muche afcende as it hath difcended : that by this meanes
pa(rynge ouer mountaynes and hylles, it maye at the length bee caryed into the fea. etc. Hytherto Cardanus, lette vs nowe retume
to the hiftorie.
There are alfo many roughe and hyghe mountaynes with temperate ayer and pleafaunt, cleare and
moderate nightes. Of the whiche particularitie the auncient writers hauyng no certeyne knowleage, affyrmed
184
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The hyjlorie of the vvejl Indies.
the faid bumte lyne or Torrida zona, or Equinoctial to be naturally vnhabitable. As touching which thing I
am able to witneffe the contrary by teftimonie of fyght and feelyng as by mod certeine fenfes, hauyng liued
many yeares in thefe regions, by reafon wherof better credit ought to be giuen to me then to fuche as haue
grounded their opinion onely vpon coniectures. And to fpeake further of the fytuation of thefe regyons, yowe
fliall vnderilande that the coafle of the Northe fea, beynge in the goulfe of Vraba and in the porte of Dariena,
where the (hyppes arryue whiche coome owte of Spayne, is in the fyxte degree and a halfe, and in the feuenth,
and from fyxe and a halfe vnto eyght, excepte a fmaule pointe which entereth into the fea toward the North.
That pointe which of this land and new parte of the worlde lieth mofle towarde the Eaft, is the cape of faincte
Augufline which is in the eight degree. So that the faid goulfe of Vraba is diflant from the Equinoctiall lyne,
from a hundreth and twentie to a hundreth and thirtie leaques and three quarters of a leaque after th[e]accompte
of xvii. leaques and a halfe for euerye degree from pole to pole. And thus for a lyttle more or leffe, goeth all
the coafle. By reafon wherof, in the citie of SanSla Maria Antiqua in Dariaia, and in all that courfe of the
forfayde goulfe of Vraba, at all tymes of the yeare the dayes and nyghtes are in maner of equall length. And
185 if there bee any dyfference betwene theym by reafon of this fmaule diflance from the Equinoctial, it is fo lyttle,
that in. xxiiii. houres makynge a naturall daye, it canne not bee perceaued but by the iudgement of fpeculatiue
men and fuche as vnderflande the fphere. From henfe the North flarre is feene very lowe And when the
(larres which are cauled the wardens of the north flarre, are vnder the chariotte, it can not bee feene, bycaufe
it is vnder the horifontal. And whereas I haue fayde beefore that it rayneth in thefe regions at certeyne
ordinarie tymes, it is fo in deede. For it is wynter and fummer there at contrary tymes to that whiche is in
Spayne, where the greatefle coulde of frofte and rayne is in December and January: And the greatefl heate of
fommer aboute faynt Johannes daye at mydfommer or in the moneth of luly. But in golden Caflile or
Beragua, it is contrary. For the fommer and tyme of greatefl drowght and withowt rayne, is at Chryflmas and
a moneth before and a moneth after. And the tyme when it rayneth moll, is about midfommer and a moneth
before and a moneth after. And this feafon whiche they caule wynter, is not for - that it is any coulder then,
then at any other tyme of the yeare, or hotter at Chriftmas then at other feafons, the tyme in thefe regions
being euer after one maner, but for that that in this tyme which they caule wynter, the foonne is hyd from theyr
fyghtes by reafon of cloudes and rayne more then at other tymes. Yet forafmuch as for the mode parte of the
yeare they lyue in a cleare, open, and temperate ayer, they fumwhat fhrynke and feele a lyttle coulde durynge
the tyme of the faid moid and cloudy ayer, althowgh it bee not coulde in deede, or at the leafl fuche coulde
as hath any fenfible fliarpenes.
C Of dyuers particular thynges, as woormes, fer^entes, beaftes,
foules, trees, etc.
Any other thynges myght be layde, and much differyng from thefe wherof I haue fpoken.
But to lette paffe the multitude of thynges whiche are as variable as the power of nature is
infinite, and to fpeake of fuche thynges as coome chiefely to my rememberaunce as moolle
woorthy to be noted, I wyll fyrfle fpeake of certeyne lyttle and troubelous beafles whiche
maye feeme to bee engendered of nature to moled and vexe menne, to fhewe them and
gyue them to vnderdand howe fmaule and vyle a thynge may offende and difquiete them,
to th[e]ende that they maye remember the pryncipall ende for the whiche they were created,
that is, to knowe theyr maker and procurer of theyr faluation by the waye whiche is open to all Chridian men
and all other whiche wyll open the eyes of theyr vnderdandynge. And although the thynges whereof wee
entende nowe to fpeake may feeme vyle and lyttle to bee edeemed, yet are they woorthy to bee noted and
confydered to vnderdand the difference and variable woorkes of nature. So it is therfore, that whereas in
many partes of the firme lande by the which afwell the Chridians as Indians doo trauel, there are fuch maryffhes
and waters in the way that they are fayne to go withowt breeches amonge the herbes and weedes, by reafon
wherof, certeyne fmaule beades or woormes (which they caule Garapates) much lyke vnto tykes, cleaue fad to
theyr legges. Thefe wormes are as little as the ponder of beaten fait : And cleaue fo fad that they can by no
meanes be taken away except the place bee noynted with oyle. And after that the legges bee noynted awhyle
with oyle, or the other partes where thefe lyttle tykes are fadened, they fcrape the place with a knyfe and fo
take them away. But the Indians whiche haue no oyle, fmoke them and bume them with fyer, and abyde
great peynes in takynge them awaye by this meanes. Of other lyttle beades which trouble men and are
The hyjlorie of the wejle Indies.
219
engende[red] in theyr heades or other partes of theyr bodies, I faye that the Chriftian men which trauell into
thefe partes, haue them but feldome tynies, and that not pafl one or two, and this alfo very feldome. For
paflynge by the lyne of the Diameter where the compaffe makethe difference of faylynge by the wynde cauled
Greco, (that is North Eafl) and Magijlral, (that is fouth wefl) which is in the courfe of the Ilandes of Azori,
they fayle but a lyttle way folowing owre vyage by the wefl, but that all the lyfe which the Chriflians cary with
them, or are engendered in theyr heades or other places of theyr bodies, dye and vtterlye confume by lyttle and
lyttle, and are not engendered in India excepte in the heades of lyttle chyldren in thofe partes afwel amonge
the chyldren of the Chriflians which are borne there, as alfo amonge the natural Indians who haue theym
commonly in theyr heades and fumetymes in other partes of theyr bodyes, and efpecially they of the prouince
of Cueua, which is a region conteynynge more then a hundreth leaques in length, and embrafeth the one and
the other coafl of the North fea and of the Eafl. When thefe Indians are infected with this fylthyneffe, they
dreffe and clenfe one an other. And they that exercife this, are for the mofle parte women who eate all that
they take : And haue herein fuch dexteritie by reafon of theyr exercife, that owre men can not lyghtly atteyne
therunto. There is alfo another thynge greatly to bee confydered. And this is how the Chriftian men beinge
there cleane frome this fylthynes of India, afwell in theyr heades as the refle of theyr bodyes, yet when they
retume to coomme ageyne into Europe and begyn to arryue in that place of the Ocean fea where wee fayde
before that the lyfe dyed and forfoke them, fuddenly in theyr repaffynge by the fame clyme (as thoughe the lyfe
had taryed for them in that place) they can by no meanes auoyde theym for the fpace of certeyne dayes
although they change theyr fhertes two or three tymes in a day. Thefe lyfe are at the fyrfle as lyttle as nyttes,
and growe by lyttle and lyttle vntyl they bee of the byggeneffe that they are in Spayne. This haue I often
t)anes proued, hauynge nowe foure tymes paffed the Ocean fea by this vyage.
Befyde thefe woormes and vermyn wherof we haue fpoken, there is another lyttle mifcheuous woorme,
whiche we may number amonge the kyndes of fleas. This peflilence the Indians caule Nigua : And is much
leffe then a flea. It perfeth the flefhe of a man, and fo launfeth or cutteth the fame (while in the meane tyme
it can nother bee feene nor taken) that from fume it hath cutte of theyr handes, and from other theyr fiete
vntyll the remedy was founde to annoynte the place with oyle and fcrape it with a rafoure.
In the firme lande in golden Caflyle or Beragua, there are many vypers lyke vnto them of Spa)me. They
that are bytten of them, dye in fhort fpace. For fewe lyue to the fourthe daye except prefent remedy. Of
thefe, fume are of a leffe kind then other: And haue theyr tayle fumwhat rounde, and leape in the ayer to
affayle men. And for this caufe, fume caule this kynde of vypers Tyro. Theyr bytyng is moft. venemous, and
for the mofle parte incurable. One of theym chaunced to byte an Indian mayde whiche ferued me in my
houfe, to whome I caufed the furgians to mynifler theyr ordinarye cure, but they coulde doo her no good, nor
yet get one droppe of bludde owt of her, but only a yelowe water, fo that fhee died the thyrd day for lacke of
remedy as the like hath chaunced to dyuers other. This mayde was of th[e]age of. xiiii. yeares and fpoke the
Spanyffhe toonge as yf fhee had byn borne in Caflyle. Shee fayde that the vyper whiche bytte her on the
foote, was two fpannes longe or lyttle leffe. And that to byte her fhee lepte in the ayer for the fpace of more
then fyxe fpaces, as I haue harde the lyke of other credible perfons.
I haue alfo feene in the firme lande, a kynde of adders very fmaule and of feuen or eyght foote longe.
Thefe are fo redde that in the nyght they appeare lyke burnynge cooles, and in the day feeme as redde as
bludde. Thefe are alfo venemous, but not fo much as the vypers. There are other much leffe and fhorter and
blacker. Thefe coome owt of the ryuers and wander fumtymes farre on the lande, and are lykwyfe venemous.
There are alfo other adders of a ruffet coloure. Thefe are fumwhat bygger then the vypers, and are hurtful and
venemous. There are lykewyfe an other forte of manye coloures and very longe. Of thefe I fawe one in the
yeare of Chrifl 1515- in the Hand of Hifpaniola nere vnto the fea cofles at the foote of the mountaynes cauled
Pedernales. When this adder was flayne, I meafured her and founde her to be more then. xx. foote longe, and
fumwhat more then a mans fyfl in byggenes. And althoughe fhe hadde three or foure deadely woundes with a
fwoorde, yet dyed fhee not nor floonke the fame daye, in fo much that her bludde continued warme all that
tyme. There are alfo in the maryffhes and defertes of the firme lande many other kyndes of lyfertes, dragons,
and other dyuers kyndes of ferpentes wherof I entende not here to fpeake much, bycaufe I haue more
particulerly entreated of thefe thynges in my generall hiftorie of the Wefle Indyes.
There are alfo fpiders of mameylous bygneffe. And I haue feene fumme with the body and legges, bygger
then a mannes hande extended euery waye. And I ones fawe one of fuche bygneffe, that onely her bodye was as
bygge as a fparowe, and full of that laune wherof they make their webbes. This was of a darke ruffette coloure,
with eyes greater then the eies of a fparow. They are venemous and of terrible fhape to beholde. There are alfo
fcorpions and dyuers other fuche venemous wormes. \Vherby we maye fee, that where as natural caufes and influ-
ence of the pianettes are of flrongeft. actiuitie, they ceafe not to engender and brynge foorthe bothe good and badde
accordynge to the difpofytion of the matter, whiche they alfo doo partely difpofe as the phylofophers affyrme.
186
Nigtta.
Vypers.
Adders.
Dragons.
Spydcrs.
187
220
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
Crabbc&
Furthermore in the fyrme lande, there are manye toades beyng very noyous and hurteful by reafon of
their great multitude. They are not venemous. They are feene in greate aboundance in Dariena where they
are fo bygge that when they dye in the time of drouth, the bones of fum of them (and efpecially the rybbes)
are of fuche greatnefle that they appere too bee the bones of cattes or of fumme other beaftes of the fame
byggeneffe. But as the waters dyminiflie and the moyfture confumeth in the tyme of drouth (as I haue fayde)
they alfo confume therwith vntyll the yeare nexte folowing when the rayne and moyfture increafe, at whiche
tyme they are feene ageyne. Neuertheleffe, at this prefent, there is no fuch quantitie of them as was wonte to
bee, by reafon that as the land is better cultured by the Chriftians, as well by the fellynge of wooddes and
flirubbes as alfo by the pafture of kine, horfes, and other beaftes, fo is it apparent that this poyfon diminiflieth
dayly, wherby that regyon becometh more holfome and pleafaunt Thefe toades fynge after three or foure
fortes. For fumme of them fynge pleafauntly: other, lyke owres of Spayne. Summe alfo whiftle: and other
fumme make an other maner of noyfe. They are lykewyfe of d)ruers colours : as fumme greene, fumme
ruffette or grey, and fumme almoft blacke. But of all fortes, they are great, and fylthye, and noyous by reafon
of their great multitude : yet are they not venemous as I haue layde.
There are alfo a ftraunge kynde of crabbes, whiche coome foorthe of certeyne holes of the earth that they
them felues make. The head and bodye of thefe, make one rounde thing muche lyke vnto the hoode of a
fawkon : hauynge foure feete commyng owt of the one fyde and as many owt of the other. They haue alfo
two mouthes like vnto a paire of fmaule pinfers, the one bygger then the other, wherwith they byte, but do no
great hurte bycaufe they are not venemous. Their flcyn and bodye is finoothe and thynne as is the fkynne of
a man, fauynge that it is fumwhat harder. Their colour is ruffette or white, or blewe, and walke fydelonge.
They are very good to bee eaten : In fo muche that the Chriftians trauayling by the fyrme lande, haue byn
greatly nuryffhed by them bycaufe they are founde in maner euery where. In fliape and forme, they are
muche lyke vnto the crabbe which we paynte for the fygne Cancer, and Uke vnto thofe which are found in
Spaine in Andalufia in the ryuer Guadakhiber where it entereth into the fea, and in the fea coaftes therabout,
fauynge that thefe are of the water and the other of the lande. They are fumtymes hurtefuU, fo that they that
eate of them dye. But this chaunceth onely when they haue eaten any venemous thyng, or of the venemous
apples wherwith the Canibale archers poyfon their arrowes wherof I wyll fpeake hereafter. And for this caufe
the Chriftians take hede howe they eate of thefe crabbes if they fynde them neare vnto the fayd apple trees.
Furthermore in thefe Indies, afwell in the fyrme lande as in the Ilandes, there is founde a kynde of
ferpentes, which they caule. Y. V. anas, which fumme caule luannas. Thefe are terrible and fearefuU to fyght,
and yet not hurtefull. They are very delicate to bee eaten, and it is not yet knowen whether they be beaftes
of the lande or fyflies, bycaufe they lyue in the water, and wander in the woddes and on the lande. They haue
foure feete, and are commonly bigger then connies and in fumme places bygger then otters, \vith tayles lyke
lifartes or eutes. Their fkynne is fpotted, and of the fame kynd of fmothneffe or bareneffe, although of dyuers
colours. Vpon the ridge of their backes, they haue many long prickes. Theyr teethe are very ftiarpe, and
efpecially theyr fanges or dogge teeth. Their throtes are longe and large, reachynge from their beardes to
their breaftes, of the lyke fkynne to the refydewe of their bodyes. They are dumme, and haue no voyce or
make any noyfe or crye although they bee kept tyde to the foote of a chefte or any other thynge for the fpace
of XX. or. XXV. dayes withowt any thyng to eate or drynke, excepte they gyue them nowe and then a lyttle of
the breade of Cazabbi, or fumme fuch other thyng. They haue foure feete, and their fore feete as longe as a
mans fynger with clawes lyke the clawes of a byrde, but weaker, and fuche as can not grafple or take holde of
any thynge. They are muche better to bee eaten then to beholde. For fewe that fee them, wyll haue defyre
to eate of them, by reafon of their horrible fliape excepte fuche as haue byn accuftomed to the beaftes of thefe
regyons, whiche are more horrible and fearefull, as this is not but onely in apparence. Their fleflie is of much
better tafte then the flefhe of connyes and more holfome. For it hurteth none but onely fuch as haue had the
frenfhe poxe. In fo much that if they haue onely byn touched of that infyrmitie, although they haue byn hole
of longe tyme, neuertheleffe they feele hurte and complayne of the eatynge of thefe luannas, as hath byn often
tymes proued by experience.
There are founde in the fyrme lande certeyne byrdes fo lyttle that the hole body of one of theym is no
bygger then the toppe of the byggeft fynger of a mans hande : and yet is the bare body withowt the fethers not
pafte halfe fo bygge. This byrde, befyde her lyttlenes, is of fuch velocitie and fwyftnes in flying that who fo
feeth her fleing in the ayer, can not fe her flap or beate her winges after any other fort tfien do the dorres or
humble bees or betels : fo that there is no man that feeth her flie, that wold think her to be any other then a
done. They make their neftes accordyng to the proportion of their bignes. And I haue feene that one of
thefe byrdes with her neft put in a paire of gold weights, altogether hath waid no more then. ii. Tomini,
which are in poife. 24. grains, with the fethers with out the which ftie (hulde haue wayed fumwhat leffe. And
doubt leffe when I confider the fyneneffe of the clawes and feete of thefe birdes, I knowe not whervnto I may
Serpentes caiiled
188
Byrdes.
A very lyttle
byrde.
The hyjlorie of the vuejie Indies.
221
better liken them then to the lyttle byrdes whiche the lymmers of bookes are accuflomed to paynte on the mar-
gentes of churche bookes and other bookes of deuine feruice. Their fethers are of many faire colours as golden
yelowe and greene befide other variable colours. Their beake is verye longe for the proportion of theyr bodies :
and as fyne and fubtile as a fowyng nedle. They are very hardye : fo that when they fee a man clyme the
tree where they haue Xhtyr nefl.es, they flye at hys face and ftryke hym in the eyes, commyng, goynge, and
retoumynge with fuch fwyftnes, that no man wolde lightly beleue it that hath not feene it. And certenly thefe
byrdes are fo lyttle, that I durft not haue made mention hereof if it were not that diuers other which haue
feene them as wel as I, can beare witnes of my faying. They make their neft.es of flockes and heare of cotten
wherof there is great plentie in thefe regions, and ferueth wel for theyr purpofe. But as touchyng the byrdes,
foules, and beafles of thefe Indies, bycaufe they are innumerable bothe lyttle and greate, I intende not to
fpeake muche heare, bycaufe I haue fpoken more largely hereof in my generall hyftorye of the Indyes.
There is an other kynde of beaftes feene in the firme land which feemed very ftraunge and marueilous to
the Chryftian men to beholde, and muche dififerynge from all other beafles which haue byn feene in other
partes of the worlde. Thefe beaftes are cauled Bardati: And are foure footed, hauing their taile and al the
reft of theyr bodies couered onely with a fkyn lyke the coperture of a barbed horfe or the chekered (kynne of
a lyfarte or Crocodyle, of coloure betwene whyte and ruffet, inclynynge fumwhat more to whyte. This beaft.,
is of forme and ftiape much lyke to a barbed horfe with his barbes and flankettes in all poyntes. And from
vnder that which is the barbe and coperture, the tayle commeth foorth, and the feete in theyr place, the necke
alfo and the eares in theyr partes, and in fyne all thynges in lyke forte as in a barbed courfer. They are of
the bygnes of one of thefe common dogges. They are not hurtfull. They are fylthy, and haue theyr habita-
tion in certen hillockes of earthe where digginge with there feete they make their dens very deepe and the holes
therof in like maner as do connyes. They are verye excellent to be eaten, and are taken with nettes and fum
alfo killed with crofbowes. They are lykewife taken often tymes when the hufband men bume the ftubble in
fowyng time, or to renewe the herbage for kyne and other beaftes. I haue often times eaten of their flefhe
which femeth to me of better taft then kyddes fleftie, and holfome to be eaten. And if thefe beaftes had euer
byn feene in thefe partes of the woorlde where the firft barbed horfes had their original, no man wold iudge
but that the forme and faffliion of the coperture of horfes furnifhed for the warres was fyrfle deuyfed by the
fyght of thefe beaftes.
There is alfo in the firme lande an other beafte cauled Orfo Formigaro, that is, the Ante beare. This beafte
in heare and coloure, is much lyke to the beare of Spayne, and in maner of the fame makynge faue that he hath
a much longer fnowt and is of euyll fyght. They are often tymes taken only with ftaues without any other
weapon, and are not hurtful. They are alfo taken with dogges bycaufe they are not naturally armed althowgh
they byte fumwhat. They are founde for the mofte parte about and neare to the hyllockes where are great
abundaunce of antes. For in thefe regions is engendered a certeyne kynde of antes very lyttle and blacke, in
the fyeldes and playnes where as growe no trees, where by th[e]Lnftinct of nature thefe antes feparate them
felues to engender far from the wooddes for feare of thefe beares: The whiche bycaufe they are fearefuU, vyle,
and vnarmed (as I haue fayde) they keepe euei in places full of trees vntyll very famen and neceffitie, or the
great defire that they haue to fiede of thefe antes, caufe them to coomme owt of the wooddes to hunte for them.
Thefe antes make a hyllocke of earth to the heyght of a man, or fumwhat more or leffe, and as bygge as a great
cheft, and fumtymes as bygge as a butte or a hogges head, and as hard as a ftone: So that they feeme as
thoughe they were Hones fet vp to lymytte th[e]endes and confines of certeyne landes. Within thefe hyllockes
made of moft harde earth, are innumerable and infinite lyttle antes, the which may bee gathered by buflielles
when the hyllocke is broken. The which when it is fumtymes moyfted by rayne and then dryed ageyne by the
heate of the foonne, it breaketh and hath certeyne fmaul ryftes as lyttle and fubtyle as the edge of a knyfe.
And it femeth that nature hath gyuen fenfe to thefe Antes to fynde fuch a matter of earth wherwith they may
make the fayde hillocke of fuche hardenes that it may feeme a ftronge pauement made of lyme and ftone. And
wheras I haue proued and caufed fum of them to bee broken, I haue founde theim of fuche hardenes as if I had
not feene I coulde not haue beleaued : In fo muche that they coulde fcarcely bee broken with pykes of Iren :
So ftronge fortreffes doo thefe lyttle beaftes make for theyr fauegarde ageynft theyr aduerfarie the beare, who is
chiefely nuryfftied by them, and gyuen them as an enemie, accordynge to the common prouerbe which fayth,
Non e alcuna perfona fi libera, a chimanchi il fuo Bargello: That is, there is no man fo free that hath not his
perfecutour or pryuie enemie. And here when I confyder the maruelous prouidence which nature hath gyuen
to thefe lyttle boddies, I caule to remembraunce the wittie fentence of Plinie, where fpeakyng of fuch lyttle
beaftes, he fayth thus. Why doo we maruayle at the towrebearynge ftioulders of Elephantes, and not rather
where nature hathe placed fo many fences and fuche induftry in fuche lyttle boddies? where is hearynge,
fmellynge, feeinge, and feelynge, ye, where are the vaynes and arteries (without which no beafte can lyue or
moue) in thefe fo lyttle boddies whereof fume are fo fmaule that theyr hole boddies can fcarfely be fene of owr
Beastes
Brrdati
189
Beares.
Antes.
222
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
190
A strattnge beast
whiche seemeth a
kynd of
Cnamcieon.
eyes, what fliall we then faye of the partes of the lame? Yet euen amonge thefe are there many of fuch lagacitie
and induflrye as the lyke is not feene in beafl.es of greater quantitie, no nor yet in man, etc. But to retume to
the hyflorie. This enemie which nature hath gyuen to thefe lyttle beafles, vfeth this maner to afTayle them.
When he refortethe to the hyllocke where the antes lye hid as in theyr fortreffe, he putteth his toonge to one of
the ryftes wherof we haue fpoken being as fubtyle as the edge of a fwoorde, and there with continuall lyckynge,
maketh the place moyft, the fome and froth of his mouth beinge of fuch propertie that by continual lycking the
place, it enlargeth the ryfte in fuch fort by lyttle and lyttle, that at the length he eafely putteth in his toonge
whiche he hath very longe and thynne, and much difproportionate to his bodye. And when he hath thus made
free paffage for his toonge into the hyllocke to put it eafely in and owt at his pleafure, then he thruft.eth it into
the hole as farre as he can reache, and fo letteth it rede a good fpace vntyl a great quantitie of the antes (whofe
nature reioyfeth in heate and moyfter) haue laden his tonge and as many as he can conteyne in the holowneffe
thereof: at which tyme he fuddeynly draweth it into his mouth and eateth them, and retumeth ageyne to the fame
practife immediatly vntyl he haue eaten as manye as hym lyfteth, or as longe as he can reache any with his
tonge. The flefflie of this beafte, is fylthy and vnfauery. But by reafon of th[e]extreme fliyftes and neceflitie
that the Chriflian men were put to at theyr fyrft. commynge into thefe partes, they were inforced to proue al
thynges and fo fel to th[e]eatyng of thefe beafles. But when they had founde more delycate meates, they fell
into hatred with this. Thefe antes haue th[e]apperaunce of the place of their enteraunce into the hyllocke,
vnder the grounde. And this at fo lyttle a hole that it could hardely be founde yf certeyne of them were not
feene to pafle in and owt But by this way the beares coulde haue no fuch poure to hurte them as aboue at
the fayde ryftes as I haue fayde. There is an other ftrange beafle whiche by a name of contrary effecte, the
Spanyardes caule Cagnuolo leggiero, that is the lyght dogge, wheras it is one of the flowefte beafles in the worlde,
and fo heauy and dull in mouynge that it canne fcarfely go fyftie pafes in a hole day. Thefe beafles are in the
firme lande, and are very ftraunge to beholde for the difproportion that they haue to all other beafles. They
are abowte two fpannes in length when they are growne to theyr full byggenefle. But when they are very
younge, they are fumewhat more grofl'e then longe. They haue foure fubtyle fiete, and in euery of them foure
clawes lyke vnto byrdes, and ioyned togyther. Yet are nother theyr clawes or theyr fiete able to fufteyne theyr
bodyes from the grounde. By reafon wherof and by the heauyneffe of theyr boddies, they drawe theyr bellyes
on the grounde. Theyr neckes are hygh and ftreyght and all equall lyke the peftle of a morter, which is
altogyther equall euen vnto the toppe withowt makynge any proportion or fimilitude of a headde, or any
dyfference excepte in the noddle. And in the toppes of theyr neckes, they haue verye rounde faces much lyke
vnto owles : And haue a marke of theyr owne heare after the maner of a cyrcle whiche makethe theyr faces
feeme fumwhat more longe then large. They haue fmaule eyes and rounde : And noflrylles lyke vnto munkeys.
They haue lyttle mouthes, and moue theyr neckes frome one fyde to an other as thoughe they were aflonyffhed.
Theyr chiefe defyre and delyte is to cleaue and ftycke fafle vnto trees or fume other thynge whereby they may
clyme alofte. And therfore for the mofle parte, thefe beafles are founde vppon trees whervnto cleauynge faft,
they mounte vp by lyttle and lyttle, fteyinge them felues by theyr longe clawes. The coloure of theyr heare,
is betwene ruflet and whyte, and of the proper coloure of the heare of a wefell. They haue no tayles, and
theyr voyce is much dyfferynge frome other beafles : for they fynge onely in the nyght : And that continually
frome tyme to tyme fyngynge euer fyxe notes one hygher then an other, fo faulynge wth the fame that the
fyrfle note is the hygheft and the other in a bafer tewne as yf a man fhuld fay JLa, fol, fa, mi, re, vf. So this
beaft fayth, Jfa, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. And doubtelefle, it feemeth vnto me, that as I haue fayde in the chapiter
of the beafle cauled Bardati, that thofe beafles might bee th[e]originall and document to imbarbe horfes, euen
fo the fyrfle inuenture of mufycke myght feeme by the hearynge of this beafl to haue the fyrfl principles of that
fcyence rather then by any other thynge in the worlde. But nowe to returne to the hyflorie : I fay that in a
ftiorte fpace after this beafle hath foonge and hath paufed a whyle, fhe retumeth ageyne to the felfe fame fonge,
and doth this only in the nyght and not in the day. By reafon wherof and alfo bycaufe of her euyll fyght, I
thynke her to bee a nyght beafle and the frende of darkenefle. Sumtymes the Chriftian menne fynde thefe
beafles and brynge theym home to theyr houfes, where alfo they creepe all abowte with theyr naturall flowenefle,
in fo much that nother for threatenynge or pryckynge they wyll moue any fafler then theyr natural and
accuflomed pafe. And yf they fynde any trees, they creepe thyther immediatly, and mounte to the toppe ot
the hyghefl braunche thereof, where they remayne continually for the fpace of eyght, or tenne, or twentie dayes
without eatynge of any thinge as farre as any man can iudge. And wheras I my felfe haue kepte theym in my
houfe, I coulde neuer perceaue other but that they lyue onely of ayer. And of the fame opinion are in maner
all men of thofe regions, bycaufe they haue neuer feene them eate any thynge, but euer turne theyr heades and
mouthes towarde that parte where the wynde bloweth.mofl: whereby may bee confydered that they take mofle
pleafure in the ayer. They byte not, nor yet can byte, hauyng very lyttle mouthes. They are not venemous
or noyous any way : but altogyther brutifhe and vtterly vnprofytable and without commoditie yet knowen to
The hyjlorie of the vvejie Indies.
223
men, fauynge onely to moue theyr myndes to contemplate th[e]infinite poure of god, who delyteth in the
varietie of creatures, wherby appeareth the poure of his incomprehenfible wifedome and maieflie fo farre to
excede the capacitie of mans vnderflandynge.
In thefe regions there are likewife found certeyne foules or bjrrdes which the Indians caule Alcatraz.
Thefe are much bygger then geefe. The greatefl parte of theyr fethers are of ruffet coloure, and in fume partes
yelowe. Theyr bylles or beakes are of two fpannes in length and verye large neare to the heade, and growynge
fmaule towarde the poynte. They haue greate and large throtes : And are much lyke to a foule which I lawe
in Flaunders in Bruffelles in yowre maieflies pallaice which the Flemynges caule Haina. And I remember
that when yowr maieflie dyned one day in yowre great haule there was brought to yowre maieflies prefence a
chaudeme of water with certeyne fyffhes alyue, which the fayde foule did eate vp hole. And I thynke verely
that that foule was a foule of the fea bycaufe fliee had fiete lyke foules of the water as haue alfo thefe Alcairazi,
which are likewyfe foules of the fea : and of fuch greatneffe that I haue feene a hole cote of a man put into the
throates of one of theym in Panama in the yeare iS2r. And forafmuch as in that coafle oi Panama, there
paffeth and flyeth a greate multitude of thefe Akatrazi beinge a thynge very notable, I wyll declare the maner
hereof as not onely I, but alfo dyuers other nowe prefente in yowre maieflies courte haue often tymes feene.
Yowre maieftie fhall therfore vnderftande that in this place (as I haue fayde before) the fea of Stir ryfeth and
fauleth two leagues and more from fyxe houres to fyxe houres : fo that when it increafeth, the water of the fea
anyuefh fo neare to the houfes of Panama as doth owre fea (cauled Mare Mcdiieranewn) in Barzalona or in
Naples. And when the fayd increafyng of the fea commeth, there commeth alfo therwith fuch a multitude of
the fmaule fyffhes cauled fardynes, that it is fo marueylous a thynge to beholde, that no man wolde beleue it
that hath not feene it. In fo much that the Cacique, (that is) the kynge of that land at fuch tyme as I dwelt
there, was bounde dayly as he was commaunded by yowre maieflies gouernour, to brynge ordynaryly three
canoas or barkes full of the fayde fardynes and to vnlade the fame in the markette place, whiche were after-
warde by the ruler of the citie diuyded amonge the Chriflian men without any code or charge to any of them.
In fo much that yf the people had bin a much greater multitude then they were, and as many as are at this
prefente in Toledo or more, and had none other thynge to lyue by, they myght haue byn fufficiently fufleyned
by thefe fardynes, byfyde th[e]ouerplus which fhulde haue remayned. But to retume to the foules wherof we
haue fpoken. As the fea commeth, and the fardynes with the fame, euen fo lykewyfe coome the fayde
Akatrazzi therwith : and flye continually ouer it in fuche a multytude, that they appeare to couer th[e]upper
parte or floure of the water. And thus continue in mountynge and faulynge from the ayer to the water, and
from the water to the ayer durynge all the tyme of theyr fyffhynge. And as foone as they haue taken any of
thefe fardynes, they flye aboue the water and eate them incontinently, and fuddeynly retume ageyne to the
water for more, continuing thus courfe by courfe withowt ceafynge. In lyke maner when the fea fauleth, they
folowe there fyflhynge as I haue fayde. There goethe alfo in the company of thefe foules, an other kynde of
foules cauled Coda inforcata, (that is) the forked tayle, whereof I haue made mention before. And as foone as
the Akatraz mounteth from the water with her pray of the fardynes, fuddeynly this Coda inforcaia gyueth her
fo many flrokes, and fo perfecuteth her, that fhee caufeth her to let faule the fardynes which fhee hath in her
mouth. The which as foone as they are faulne, and before they yet touch the water, the Coda inforcaia
catcheth them euen in the faule, in fuche forte that it is a great pleafure to beholde the combatte betwene them
all the daye longe. The number of thefe Akatrazzi is fuch, that the Chryflian menne are accullomed to fend
to certeyne Ilandes and rockes which are neare abowte Panatna, with theyr boates or barkes to take thefe
Akatrazzi whyle they are yet younge and can not flye : and kyll as many of them with flaues as they wyll,
vntyll they haue therwith laden theyr barkes or canoas. Thefe younge ones are fo fatte and wel fedde that
they can not bee eaten. And are taken for none other intent but only to make greafe for candels to bume in
the nyght, for the whiche purpofe it ferueth very well: and gyueth a cleare lyght, and bumeth eafely. After
this maner and for this purpofe, innumerable of them are kylde. And yet it feemeth that the number of them
that fyffhe for fardynes doo dayly increafe
There are other foules cauled Paffere fempie: that is, fimple fparowes. Thefe are fumwhat lefTe then femewes :
and haue theyr fiete lyke vnto great malardes : And flande in the water fumtymes. And when the fhyppes fayle
fyftie or a hundreth leaques abowte the Ilandes, thefe foules beholdynge the fhyppes commyng towarde them,
breake theyr flyght and faule downe vpon the fayle yardes, mafles, and cables therof And are fo fimple and
folyfhe that they tary vntyll they maye eafely be taken with mens handes, and were therefore cauled of the
maryners fimple fparowes. They are blacke, and vppon their blacke, haue theyr heade and fhoulders of fethers
of a darke ruffet coloure. They are not good to bee eaten, althowgh the mariners haue fumtimes bin enforced
to eate them.
There is an other kynde of byrdes in the fyrme lande, which the Chriflians caule Picuti, bycaufe they haue
very great beakes in refpecte of the lyttlenelfe of theyr boddies : For theyr beakes are very heauy and waye
191
Foules, and byrdes.
Akatraz.
/
Panama.
Passcfe sempie,
192
PUhU.
■S3
224
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
Folysshe
sparowes.
more then theyr hole boddyes byfyde. Thefe byrdes are no bygger then quayles, but haue a much greater
bufliement of fethers, in fo much that theyr fethers are more then theyr boddies. Theyr fethers are very fayre
and of many variable coloures. Theyr beakes are a quarter of a yarde in length or more, and bendynge downe
towarde the earthe, and three fyngers brode neare vnto the heade. Theyr tonges are very quilles, wherwith they
make a great hyffynge. They make holes in trees with theyr beakes, in the which they make theyr nefles.
And furely thefe byrdes are maruelous to beholde for the great differenc; whiche they haue from all other byrdes
that I haue feene, afwel for theyr toonges (which are quylles as I haue fayde) as alfo for the flrangenefle of the)rr
fyght and difproportion of their greate beakes in refpect of the reft, of theyr boddies. There are no byrdes
founde that prouyde better for the fafegarde of theyr younge m the tyme of theyr breedynge to bee withowte
daunger of wylde cattes that they enter not into theyr neftes to deftroye theyr egges or younge. And this afwell
by the ftraunge maner of buyldyng theyr nefles, as alfo by theyr owne defence. And therfore when they
perceaue that the cattes approche towarde them, they enter into theyr nefles: and holdynge theyr beakes
towarde th[e]enteraunce of the fame, flande at theyr defence, and lo vexe the cattes that they caufe them to
leaue theyr enterpryfe.
There are alfo other byrdes or fparowes, whiche the Chriftians by contrary effect caule Matti, that is fooles.
Wheras neuertheleffe there is no byrde that fheweth more wyt and crafte in defendynge her younge from perelL
Thefe byrdes are lyttle and in maner blacke, and fumewhat bygger then owre thruffhes. They haue certeyne
whyte fethers in theyr neckes, and the lyke fagacitie or fharpenes of fenfe as haue the byrdes or pyes cauled
GazzuoU. They feldome tymes light vppon the earth. They make theyr nefles in trees feparated from other,
bycaufe the wylde cattes (cauled Mammoni) are accuftomed to leape frome tree to tree, not defcendynge to the
grounde for feare of other beaftes, excepte when they are enforced by thyrfte to coome downe to drynke at
fuche tymes as they are fure not to bee molefled. And for this caufe doo not thefe byrdes make theyr nefles
but in trees farre diuyded from other. They make them of a cubette in length or more, after the maner of
bagges or lyttle fackes, large at the bottome, and growynge narower and narower towarde the mouth whereby
they are faftened ; hauynge the hole whereat they enter into the facke, of fuch byggenes as may onely fufRce to
receaue them. And to th[e]ende that the cattes maye not deuoure theyr younge yf they chaunce to mounte
vppon the trees where they haue theyr neftes, they vfe an other crafte, which is, to make theyr neftes in thycke
braunches of trees, and to defende the fame with fharpe and ftronge thorns implycate and fet in fuch order that
no man is able to make the lyke. So that the cattes can by no meanes put theyr legges into the hole of the
nefte to take owte younge byrdes, afwel for the fharpenes of the themes as alfo for the depth of the neftes, in
the bottome wherof, the younge birdes reft withowt daunger of theyr enemie. For fum of theyr neftes beynge
three or foure fpannes in lengthe, the legge of the catte can not reache to the bottome therof. They vfe alfo
an other pollicie : which is, to make many of theyr neftes in one tree The which they doo for one of thefe two
caufes : that is, that eyther of theyr owne naturall difpofition they are accuftomed to go in great multitudes, and
reioyfe in the company of theyr oivne generation as do the byrdes which we caule flares, or elles to th[e]intent
that yf it fhoulde fo chaunce that the cattes fhulde clyme the trees where they make theyr neftes, they might
1S3 bee a greater company to refyfte and moleft the cattes, at whofe approch they make a feareful and terrible cry,
wherby the cattes are put to flyght.
GazzuoU. Furthermore, in the firme land, and in the Ilandes, there are certeyne byrdes cauled Piche or Gazzuole,
fumewhat lyke vnto thofe which we caule woodwaules, or woodpeckes, beinge lefTe then owrs of Spayne.
Thefe are altogither blacke, and go hoppynge and leapyng. Theyr beakes are alfo blacke and of the fame
faflhyon as are the popingiays beakes. They haue longe tayles, and are fumwhat bygger then ftares.
pitttadeiu There are other byrdes cauled Pintadelli, whiche are lyke vnto certeyne greene byrdes whiche the Italyans
caule Fringuelli: and are of feuen coloures. Thefe byrdes for feare of the cattes, are euer woonte to make
theyr neftes ouer the bankes of ryuers or the fea, where the braunches of trees fo reache ouer the water that
with a lyttle weyght they maye bowe downe to the water. Theyr neftes are made fo neare the toppes of the
braunches that when the cattes coome theron, the braunches bende towarde the water, and the cattes tume
backe ageyne for feare of faulynge. For althoughe no beafte in the worlde bee more malicious then this, yet
whereas the mofte parte of beaftes are naturally inclyned to fwymme, this catte hath no maner of apteneffe
thereunto, and is therefore foone drowned or ftrangeled in the water, and by a pryuie fenfe of nature feareth the
daunger which he can not efcape. Thefe byrdes make theyr neftes in fuche forte, that althowgh they bee weete
and fylled with water, yet doo they fo fuddenly ryfe vp ageyne, that the younge byrdes are not thereby hurte or
drowned.
There are alfo many nyghtyngales and other byrdes whiche fynge marueloufly with great melodie and
dyfference in fyngynge. Thefe byrdes are of maruelous dyuers coloures the one from the other. Sum are
altogither yelowe, and fum other of fo excellente, delectable, and hyghe a coloure as it weare a rubye. Other
are alfo of dyuers and variable coloures : fum of fewe coloures, and other fume all of one coloure : beinge all fo
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
225
fayre and bewtifuU, that in bryghtneffe and fliynynge they excell all that are feene in Spayne, or Italy or other
prouinces of Europe. Many of thefe are taken with nettes, lyme twygges, and fprynges of dyuers fortes.
Dyuers other fortes of greate foules lyke vnto Eagles, and fuche other as lyue of pray, are founde in the
firme lande of fuche diuerfitie, that it is in maner impoffible to defcrybe them all particularly. And forafmuche
as I haue more largely intreated hereof in my generall hyflorie of the Indies, I thynke it not requyfite to make
any further mention of the fame.
C Of trees, fruit es, and plantes.
Here is bothe in the firme lande and the Ilandes a certeyne tree cauled Cocus, beinge a kynd
of date trees and hauynge theyr leaues of the felf fame greatneffe as haue the date trees
which beare dates, but dyifer much in their growynge. For the leaues of this Cocus grow
owte of the trankes of the tree as doo the fyngers owt of the hande, wreathynge them felues
one within an other and fo fpreadynge abrode. Thefe trees are hygh : and are founde in
great plentie in the coafle of the fea of Sur, in the prouince of Cacique Chiman. Thefe
date trees brynge furth a frute after this forte. Beinge altogyther vnite as it groweth on the
tree, it is of greater circumference then the heade of a man. And from the fuperficiall parte to the myddeft.
which is the frute, it is inuolued and couered with many webbes much lyke vnto thofe hyrdes of towe whiche
they vfe in Andalufta. Of this towe or webbe, the Eafl Indians make a certeyne kynde of clothe of three or
foure fortes, and cordes for the fayles of fhyppes. But in thefe Indies of yowr maieflie, they paffe not for thefe
cordes or this clothe that may be made of the frute of Cocus, by reafon of the great plentie that they haue of the
bombage or cotton of the goffampine trees. The frute which is in the myddefl of the fayde towe, is (as I haue
fayde) as bygge as a mans fylle, and fumtymes twyfe as bygge and more. It is in forme, lyke vnto a
walnutte, or fum other rounde thynge fumwhat more longe then large, and very harde. The rynde or
barke herof, is as thycke as the cyrcle of letters of a riale of plate. And within, there cleaueth fafle
to the rynde of the nutte a carnofitie or fubflaunce of coornel, of the thyckeneffe of halfe a fynger or
of the leafl. fynger of the hande : And is verye whyte, lyke vnto a fayre Almonde, and of better tafle
and more pleafaunt. When this fruite is chewed, there remayne certeyne crummes as do the lyke of almondes.
Yet if it bee fwalowed downe, it is not vnpleafaunt. For althowgh that after the iewfe or moyfture bee gonne
downe the throte before the fayde crummes bee fwalowed, the refle whiche is eaten feeme fumwhat Iharpe or
fower, yet doth it not fo greatly offende the tafte fo as to bee cade away. Whyle this Cocus is yet frefhe and
newly taken from the tree, they vfe not to eate of the fayde carnofitie and frute : But fyrfle beatynge it very much,
and then flraynynge it, they drawe a mylke thereof, much better and fweeter then is the mylke of beafles, and
of much fubflaunce : The which the Chriftian men of thofe regions put in the tortes or cakes which they make
of the grayne of Maizium wherof they make theyr breade, or in other breade as we put breade in porrage : So
that by reafon of the fayde mylke of Cocus, the tortes are more excellent to be eaten withowt offence to the
ftomake. They are fo pleafaunte to the tafle, and leaue it afwelj fatiffyed as thowghe it had byn delyted with
many delycate dyffhes. But to proceade further, yowre maieflie (liall vnderfland, that in the place of the done
or coornell, there is in the mydded of the fayde carnofitie, a voyde place, which neuertheleffe is full of a mode
cleare and excellent water, in fuch quantitie as maye fyll a greate egge fhell, or more or leffe accordynge to the
byggeneffe of the Cocus. The which water fuerly, is the mode fubdantial, excellent and preciousto be droonke,
that maye bee founde in the worlde. In fo much that in the momente when it paffeth the palate of the mouth
and begynneth to goo downe the throte it feemeth that frome the fole of the foote to the crowne of the headde,
there is no parte of the boddye but that feelethe great comfort therby: as it is doutleffe one of the mod excellent
thynges that may be taded vppon the earth, and fuche as I am not able by wrytynge or toonge to expreffe.
And to proceade yet further, I fay that when the meate of this frute is taken from the veffell therof, the veflell
remayneth as fayre and nette as though it were pullydied : and is without, of colour inclynynge towarde blacke,
and fhyneth or glydereth very fayre. And is within of no leffe dilicateneffe. Suche as haue accudomed to
drynke in thefe veffelles, and haue bynne trowbeled with the difeafe cauled the fretinge of the guttes, fay
that they haue by experience founde it a maruelous remedie ageynd that difeafe : And that it breakethe the done
and prouoketh vrine. This frute was cauled Cocus for this caufe, that when it is taken from the place where it
cleaueth fade to the tree, there are feene two holes, and aboue them two other naturall holes, which altogyther,
doo reprefente the giefture and fygure of the cattes cauled Mammone, that is, munkeys, when they ciye : whiche
crye the Indians caule Coca : But in very deede, this tree is a kynd of date trees : and hath the fame effecte to
lieale fretynge of the guttes, that Plinie defcrybeth all kyndes of date trees to haue.
EUEN. T 035
Gre.it fouIe&
Cocus.
194
I haue scene one
of these fruites
opened, the
whiche when it
was hole, yf it
were shaken the
water was harde
shogge therein as
it were in a bottle ;
but in tyme it
consumed and was
partly congeled
mto a salte
substaunce.
226
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
Great trees.
195
A maruelous tree.
Kyndlynge of fyre
withowt lyre.
There are furthermore in the firme lande, trees of fuche byggeneffe that I dare not fpeake therof but in
place where I haue fo many wytnefles which haue feene the fame as wel as I. I fay therfore, that a leaque
from Dariena or the citie of SanBa Maria Antiqiia, there paffeth a ryuer very large and diepe, which is cauled
Cuti: ouer the which the Indians had layde a grcate tree fo trauerfinge tlie fame that it was in the fleade of a
brydge, the which I my felfe with dyuers other tliat are at this prefent in yowre maiefties courte, haue often
tymes paffed ouer. And forafmuch as the fayde tree had lyne longe there, and by the great weight therof was fo
(hronke downewarde and partely couered with water that none could paffe ouer it but were weete to the knee,
I being then in the yeare 1522. th[e]official of luflice in that citie at yowre maieflies appoyntemente, caufed an
other greate tree to bee layde in that place whiche in lyke maner trauerfed the ryuer and reached more then
fyftie foote ouer the further fyde. This tree was exceadynge greate, and refled aboue the water more then twoo
cubytes. In the faule, it caft downe all fuche other trees as were within the reache therof: And difcouered
certeyne vynes whiche were fo laden with blacke grapes of pleafaunte tafle, that they fatiffyed more then fyftie
perfons whiche eate theyr fyUe therof This tree in the thyckeft parte therof, was more then fyxtene fpannes
thicke : And was neuertheleffe but lyttle in refpect of many other trees which are founde in this prouince. For
the Indians of the coafle and prouince of Cartagenia, make barkes or boates therof (which they caule Canoas,) of
fuch byggeneffe, beinge all of one hole tree, that fume conteyne a hundreth men, fume a hundreth and thirtie,
and fume more, hauynge neuertheleffe fuche voyde fpace within the fame, that there is lefte fufficiente roome
to paffe to and fro through owte all the Canoa. Sum of thefe are fo large byfyde the length, that they conteyne
more then tenne or twelue fpannes in breadth, and fayle with twoo fayles as with the mafler fayle and the
trinkette which they make of verye good cotton. The greateft, trees that I haue feene in thefe partes or in
anye other regions, was in the prouince of Giiaturo, the kynge wherof rebellynge from th[e]obedience of yowre
maieftie, was perfued by me and taken pryfoner : At whiche tyme I with my company, paffed ouer a very hygh
mountayne ful of great trees, in the toppe wherof we founde one tree whiche had three rootes or rather
diuifions of the roote aboue the earth in forme of a tryangle or triuette : fo that betwene euery foote of this
triangle or three feete, there was a fpace of twentie foote betwene euery foote. And this of fuch heyght aboue
the earthe, that a laden carte of thofe wherewith they are accuflomed to brynge home come in the tyme of
harueft. in the kyngedome of Toledo in Spayne, myght eafely haue paffed throwgh euery of thofe particions or
wyndowes whiche were betwene the three feete of the fayd tree. From the earth vpwarde to the trunke of the
tree, the open places of the dyuifions betwene thefe three feete, were of fuche heyght from the grounde, that a
footeman with a iauelyn was not able to reache to the place where the fayde feete ioyned togyther in the trunke
or body of the tree which grewe of great height in one piece and one hole body, or euer it fpredde in braunches,
which it did not before it exceaded in heyght the towre of faynt Romane in the citie of Toledo : from whiche
heyght and vpwarde, it fpreade very greate and flronge braunches. Amonge certeyne Spanyardes which
clymed this tree, I my felfe was one. And when I was afcended to the place where it begunne to fpreade the
branches, it was a maruelous thing to beholde a greate countrey of fuche trees towarde the prouince of
Abrayme. This tree was eafy to clyme, by reafon of certeyne Befuchi (wherof I haue fpoken before) which
grewe wreathed aboute the tree in fuche forte that they feemed to make a fcalynge ladder. Euery of the
forefayde three feete which bore the boddie of the tree, was twentie fpannes in thyckeneffe. And where they
ioyned al togyther aboue in the trunke or boddye of the tree, the principall trunke was more then fortie and
fyue fpannes in circuite. I named the mountayne where thefe trees grow, the mountayne of three footed trees.
And this which I haue now declared, was feene of all the companye that was there with me when (as I haue
fayde before) I tooke kynge Guaturo pryfoner in the yeare 1522. Many thynges more myght here bee fpoken
as touchynge this matter, as alfo howe there are many other excellent trees founde of dyuers fortes and dyfference,
as fweete Ceder trees, blacke date trees, and many other: of the which fum are fo heauy that they can not flote
aboue the water but fynke immediatly to the bottome. And other ageyne as light as a corke. As touchynge
all whiche thynges I haue wrytten more largely in my generall hyflorie of the Indies.
And forafmuch as at this prefent I haue entered to intreate of trees, before I paffe any further to other
thynges, I ^vyl declare the maner howe the Indians kyndle fyre, only with woodde, and without fyre, the maner
wherof is this. They take a piece of woodde of two fpannes in lengthe, as bygge as the leafte fynger of a mans
hande, or as an arrowe well pullyffhed, and of a flronge kynde of woodde whiche they keepe onely for this
purpofe. And where they intende to kyndle any fyre, they take two other pieces of woodde of the dryefl and
lyghtefl that they can fynde, and bynde them fafl. togyther one with an other as clofe as two fyngers ioyned.
In the myddeft or betwene thefe, they put the poynt of the fyrfle lytde ftaffe made of harde and flronge wood
which they hold in theyr handes by the toppe thereof, and tume or rubbe it rounde aboute continually in one
place betwene the two pieces of woodde which lye bounde togyther vppon the earthe, which by that vnceffant
rubbynge and chafynge, are in fhort fpace kyndeled and take fyer.
I haue alfo thought good here to fpeake fumwhat of fuch thynges as coomme to my reraemberaunce of
936
The hyjlorie of the wejle Indies.
227
certeyne trees which are founde in this lande, and fumetyme alfo the lyke haue bynne feene in Spayne. Thefe
are certeyne putrifyed troonkes which haue lyne fo longe rottyng on the earth that they are verye whyte and
fliyne in the nyght lyke bumynge fyre brandes. And when the Spanyardes fynde any of this woodde, and
intende priuily in the nyght to make warre and inuade any prouince when cafe fo requyreth that it Ihalbe
neceffary to go in the nyght in fuche places where they knowe not the way, the formofl. Chriftian man whiche
guydethe the waye, affociate with an Indian to directe hym therein, taketh a lyttle flarre of the fayde woodde,
which he putteth in his cappe hangynge behynde on his flioulders, by the lyght wherof he that foloweth nexte
to him, directeth his ioumey, who alfo in lyke maner beareth an other flarre behynde hym, by the (hynynge
whereof the thyrde foloweth the fame waye, and in lyke maner do al the refl, fo that by this meanes none are
lofle or flragle owte of the way. And forafmuche as this lyght is not feene very farre, it is the better pollicie
for the Chryftians bycaufe they are not thereby difclofed before they inuade theyr enemies.
Furthermore as touchynge the natures of trees, one particular thynge feemeth woorthy to bee noted,
wherof Plinie maketh mention in his natural hyflorye where he faythe that there are certeyne trees which
contynewe euer greene and neuer lofe theyr leaues, as the baye tree, the Ceder, the orange tree, and the olyue
tree with fuch other, of the whiche in all togyther he nameth not pafle fyue or fyxe. To this purpofe, I faye,
that in the Ilandes of thefe Indies, and alfo in the firme lande, it is a thynge of muche difficultie to fynde twoo
trees that lofe or cafl theyr leaues at any tyme. For althowgh I haue diligentely fearched to knowe the
trewthe hereof, yet haue I not feene any that lofe theyr leaues, eyther of theym which we haue browght owt of
Spayne into thefe regions, as Orange trees, Limons, Ceders, Palmes, or date trees and Pomegranate trees, or of
any other in thefe regions excepte onely Caffia, which lofeth his leaues and hath a greater thynge appropriate
to it felfe onely : which is, that whereas all other trees and plantes of India fpreade theyr rootes no dieper in
the earthe then the depth of a mans heyght or fumewhat more, not defcendyng any further into the ground by
reafon of the greate heate which is found beneth that depth, yet dooth Caffia pearce further into the grounde
vntyl it fynd water : whiche by the Phylofophers opinion fhoulde be the caufe of a thynne and watery radycall
moyfter to fuche thynges as drawe theyr nurylhement therof, as fat and vnctuous groundes with temperate
heate, yelde a fad and firme moyflure to fuche thynges as growe in them, whiche is the caufe that fuche trees
lofe not theyr leaues, as the fayde thynne and wateryffhe moyflure is caufe of the contrarie, as appearethe by
the fayde effecte which is feene onely in Caffia, and none other tree or plante in all thefe parties.
€. Of Reedes or Canes.
Haue not thought it conuenient in the chapiture before to fpeake of that whereof I intende
nowe to entreate of, reedes or canes, to th[e]intente that I woolde not mengle theym with
plantes or trees, beinge thynges of them felues woorthy to bee particularly obferued. So it
is therfore, that in the firme land there are many fortes of reedes, fo that in many places they
make theyr howfes therof, couerynge them with the toppes of the fame, and makynge their
waules of them in lyke maner, as I haue fayde before. And amonge thefe kyndes of reedes,
there is one fo greate, that the canes therof are as bygge as a mans legge in the knee,
and three fpannes in length frome ioynt to ioynt or more : in fo much that euery of them is of capacitie to
conteyne a lyttle bucket of water. In this kynde, there are founde fum greater and fum leffe, of the which fum
they vfe to make quyuers for arrowes. There is founde an other kynde which fuerly is marueylous, beynge
lyttle bygger then a lauelen, the canes whereof are longer then twoo fpannes. Thefe reedes growe one farre
from an other, as fum tymes twentie or thirtie pafes, and fumetymes alfo twoo or three leaques. They growe
in maner in all prouynces in the Indies : And growe nere to very hygh trees wherunto they leane, and creepe
vp to the toppes of theyr braunches, which they imbrafe and defcende ageyne downe to the earth. Theyr
canes are full of mofle cleare water without ajiy maner of taft or fauoure eyther of the canes or of any other
thynge : And fuche as yf it were taken owte of the freflliefle fprynge in the worlde. Nor yet is it knowen that
euer it hurte any that droonke therof. For it hath oftentymes fo chaunced that as the Chryften men haue
trauayled in thefe regions in defolate wayes where for lacke of water they haue byn in great daunger to dye
for thyrde, they haue efcaped that perell by reafon that they founde the fayde reedes, of the water of whofe
canes they haue droonke a great quantitie withowt any hurte thereof enfewynge. Therefore when they fynde
thefe in any place, they make water veffelles of the canes therof, and cary as many of them ful of water as may
fuffice for one dayes iomay. And fumtyme they cary fo many, that they take for euery man two or three
quartes of water which may ferae them for many dayes bycaufe it doth not corrapte, but remaynethe flyll freflhe
and good.
Putrified woodde
shynyng in the
nyght
196
Plinie.
Trees which
continue euer
greene.
Cassia,
A secreate thynge
Radycall
moysture.
197
228
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
rlalani.
Figges.
Tunar.
198
Hauas.
Dying of cotton.
There are alfo certeine plantes which the Chriftians caul Platani. Thefe are as hygh as trees, and become
as bygge in the tninke as the knee of a man or more. Frome the foote to the toppe, they beare certeyne longe
and large leaues, beinge more then three fpannes in largenes, and about ten or twelue in length : The whiche
when they are broken of the wynde, the flalke remayneth hole in the myddefi In the myddefte of this plant in
the hyghefl. parte thereof, there groweth a clufter with fortie or fyftie Platans abowt it, euery of them beinge a
fpanne and a halfe in length, and as bygge as a mans arme in the fmaule, or more or lefle accordynge to the
goodneffe of the foyle where they growe. They haue a rynde not veiy thycke, and eafy to bee broken: being
within altogither full of a fubflaunce lyke vnto the marye of the bone of an oxe as it appeareth when the rynde
or barke is taken frome the fame. This duller owght to bee taken from the plant, when any one of the Platans
begynne to appere yelowe. At which tyme they take it and hange it in theyr houfes where all the duller waxeth
rype with his Platans. This duller is a very good frute : And when it is opened and the rynde taken of, there
are founde within it many good drye fygges which beynge rolled or llewed in an ouen in a clofe pot or fum
fuche other thynge, are of pleafaunte tafle muche lyke the conferue of hony. They putrifie not on the fea fo
foone as fume other frutes do : but continue fyfteene dayes and more yf they bee gathered fumwhat greene.
They feeme more delycate on the fea then on the lande, not for that they any thinge increafe in goodneffe on
the fea, but bycaufe that whereas on the fea other thynges are lackyng wherof is plentie on the land, thofe
meates feeme of belle talle which fatiffie prefente neceffitie. This troonke or fprygge whiche bryngeth foorth
the fayde duller is a hole yeare in growyng and brynging foorth frute. In whiche tyme it hath put foorth
rounde abowte it tenne or twelue fprygges as bygge as the fyrll or principall, and multiplieth no leffe then the
pryncipall in bryngynge foorthe of cluflers with frutes lykewyfe at theyr tyme, and alfo in bryngynge foorth other
and many fprygges as is fayde beefore. From the which fprygges or trunkes, as foone as the duller of the frute
is taken away, the plante begynneth to drye and wyther, which then they take owt of the grounde bycaufe it
doth none other then occupie it in vayne and without profyt They are fo many and doo fo marueloufly increafe
and multiplie, that it is a thynge in maner incredible. They are exceadynge moylle. In fo much that when
they are plucked vp from the place wher they grow, there iflheweth forth a great quantitie of water as well owte
of the plante as owte of the place where it grewe : In fuch forte that all the moyflure of the earth farre abowte,
myght feeme to bee gathered togyther abowte the trunke or blocke of the fayde plante : with the frutes whereof,
the antes are fo farre in loue, that they are feene in great multitudes in the branches of the plantes. So that for
the multitude thereof it fumetyme fo chaunceth that men are inforced to take away the Platans frome theyr
poffeffion. Thefe frutes are founde at all tymes of the yeare.
There is alfo an other kynd of wyld plantes that groweth in the fyeldes : which I haue not feene but in the
Ilande of Hifpaniola, althowgh they be founde in other Ilandes of the Indies. Thefe they caule Tunas. They
growe of a thillle full of thomes, and brynge foorth a frute muche lyke vnto great fygges, which haue a crowne
lyke medlers, and are within of a hyghe coloure, with graynes and the rynde lyke vnto a fygge. They are of
good talle : And growe abundantly in the fyeldes in many places. They woorke a llraunge effecte in fuche as
eate them. For if a manne eate two or three or more, they caufe his vrine to bee of the verye coloure of
bludde, which thynge chaunced once to my felfe. At whiche tyme as I made water and fawe the colour of my
vrine, I entered into a great fufpition of my lyfe, beinge fo aHonyffhed for feare, that I thought the fame had
chaunced to me vpon fum other caufe. In fo muche that furely my imagination myght haue doone me hurte,
but that they whiche were with me dyd comforte me immediatly, declarynge the caufe therof as they knewe by
experience beinge auncient inhabitours in thofe regions.
There groweth alfo an other plante whiche the people of the countrey caule BiJiaos. This putteth forth
certeyne llreight braunches and very brode leaues which the Indians vfe for d)aiers purpofes. For in fum places
they couer theyr houfes with the leaues therof cowched and layde after the maner of thetche, wherunto it ferueth
very well. Sumtymes alfo whfen it rayneth, they call thefe ouer theyr heades to defende theim from the water. They
make alfo certeyne chelles whiche they caule Hauas, weaued after a llraunge forte and intermixt with the leaues
of this Bihaos. Thefe chelles are wrought in fuch fort, that although it rayne vpon them, or they chaunce to
faule into the water, yet are not fuch thynges wette as are within them. They are made of the braunches of the
fayde Bihaos with the leaues weaued togyther therwith. In thefe they keepe falte and other fubtyle thynges.
They vfe theym alfo for an other purpofe, which is this : That findyng them in the fieldes at fuch tyme as they
haue fcarfeneffe of vyttayles, they dygge vp the rootes of thefe plantes whyle they are yet younge, or eate the
plante it felfe in that parte where it is molle tender, which is from a foote vnder the grounde, where it is as
tender and whyte as a reede or bulruflhe.
And forafmuch as wee are nowe coomme to th[e]end of this narration, it commeth to my rememberaunce to
make mention of an other thynge which is not farre from my purpofe. And this is howe the Indians do flayne
or dye cloth of bombage cotton, or any other thynge which they intende to dye of dyuers coloures : as blacke,
tawny, greene, blewe, yelowe, and redde, whiche they doo with the barkes or ryndes, and leaues of certeyne trees,
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
229
■t^-.tVvN
i^--5-
•@j
B
ill
:?./-'-^-
whiche they knowe by experience to bee good for this practife. And by this arte they make colours in fuch
perfection and excellencie that no better can bee diuyfed. But this feemeth a (Iraunge thynge, that they doo
all this in one felfe fame veffell : So that when they haue caufed the fayde ryndes and leaues to boyle togyther,
they make in the fame veffell without any chaunge (as I haue layde) as many colours as them lyfleth. Whiche
thynge I fuppofe to coomme to paffe by the difpofition of the coloure whiche they haue fyrfle gyuen to the
thynge that they intende to drye or colour, whether it bee threede, webbe, or clothe, or any thynge that they
intende to coloure.
C Of venemous apples wherwith they poyfon theyr arrowes.
He apples wherewith the Indian Canibales inueneme theyr arrowes, growe on certeyne trees
couered with many braunches and leaues beinge very greene and growyng thicke. They are
laden with abundaunce of thefe euyll frutes, and haue theyr leaues lyke the leaues of a peare
tree, but that they are leffe and rounder. The frute is much lyke the mufcadell peares of
the Ilande of Sicilie or Naples in forme and byggeneffe : And are in fum partes (leyned with
redde fpottes, and of very fweete fauoure. Thefe trees for the mode parte, growe euer by
the fea coafles and neare vnto the water: And are fo fayre and of pleafaunte fauour, that
there is no man that feethe theym but \vyll defyre to eate therof
In fo much that if it may bee fpoken of any frute yet growynge on the earth, I wolde faye that this was
the vnhappy frute wherof owre fyrile parentes Adam and Eue tafled, wherby they both loft, theyr felicitie and
procured death to them and theyr pofteritie. Of thefe frutes, and of the greate antes whofe bytjmge caufeth
fwellynge (whereof I haue fpoken els where) and of the eutes or lyfartes, and vypers, and fuch other venemous
thynges, the Canibales which are the chyefe archers amonge the Indians, are accuftomed to poyfon theyr arrowes
wherwith they kyll all that they wounde.
Thefe venemes they mengle togyther and make thereof a blacke maffe or compofition which appeareth lyke
vnto very blacke pytche. Of this poyfon I caufed a great quantitie to be burnt in Sanlla Maria Antiqua in a
place two leaques and more within the lande, with a greate multitude of theyr inuenemed arrowes and other
munition, with alfo the houfe wherein they were referued. This was in the yeare. 1514. at fuche tyme as
th[e]army arriued there with capitayne Pedrarias da villa at the commaundemente of the Catholyke kynge
Don Ferdinando. But to retume to the hyftory. Thefe apples (as I haue faid) growe neare vnto the fea. And
wheras the Chriftians which feme yowr maieftie in thefe parties, fuppofe that there is no remedy fo profytable
for fuche as are wounded with thefe arrowes, as is the water of the fea if the wounde be much waffhed therwith,
by which means fum haue efcaped although but fewe, yet to faye the trewthe, albeit the water of the fea haue a
certeyne cauflike qualitie ageynft. poyfon, it is not a fufficient remedy in this cafe ; nor yet to this day haue the
Chriftians perceaued that of fiftie that haue byn wounded, three haue recouered. But that yowr maieftie may
the better confyder the force of the veneme of thefe trees, yowe ftiall further vnderftande that yf a man doo but
repofe hym felfe to fleepe a lyttle whyle vnder the fliadow of the fame, he hath his head and eyes fo fwolne
when he ryfeth, that the eye lyddes are ioyned with the chekes. And if it chaunce one droppe or more of the
dewe of the fayde tree to faule into the eye, it vtterly deftroyeth the fyght. The peftilent nature of this tree is
fuch that it can not bee declared in fewe woordes. Of thefe there groweth greate plentie in the goulfe of Vraba
towarde the North coaft on the Wefte and Eafte fyde. The wood of thefe trees when it bumeth, maketh fo
greate a ftynke that noo man is able to abyde it, by reafon it caufeth fo great a peyne in the headde.
Amonge other trees which are in thefe Indies as well in the Ilandes as in the firme lande, there is an other
kynde which they caule Xagua, wherof there is great plentie. They are very hygh and ftreyght, and fayre to
beholde. Of thefe they vfe to make pykes and iauelyns of dyuers lengthes and byggeneffe. They are of a fayre
colour betwene ruffette and whyte. This tree bryngeth foorth a greate frute as bygge as Papauer or poppie and
much lyke therunto. It is very good to be eaten when it is rype. Owte of this they gette a very cleare water
wherwith they waffhe theyr legges and fumetymes all theyr boddyes when they feele theyr fleffhe werye, faynt,
or loofe. The which water, byfyde that it hath a byndynge qualitie, it hath alfo this propertie, that what fo
euer it toucheth, it ft.eyneth it blacke by lyttle and lyttle vntyll it bee as blacke as giette, which coloure can not
be taken away in leffe fpace then tenne or twelue dayes. And if the nayle bee but touched thenvith, it is fo
fteined that it can by no meanes bee taken away vntyll it eyther faule of, or growe owte and bee clypped away
by lyttle and lyttle, as I my felfe haue oftentymes feene by experience.
There is another kynde of trees which they call Hobi. Thefe are very great and fayre, and caufe holfome
ayer where they growe and a plealaunt fliadow, and are founde in great abundaunce. Theyr frute is very good,
T 2 229
A straunge thynge.
Note.
Canibales archiers.
Wherwith they
inuenym the[i]r
arrowes
199
PetrtiS Arias.
The water of the
sea.
The goulf of
Vraba.
Xagua,
Hobi.
Sum thjTikc these
to be mirobalanci,
230
The hyjlorie of the wejle Indies.
Date trees.
Th[e]inbabitantes
of the sea of Sun
200
An herb that
bearethe cordes.
Cabuia and
Henequtn.
A straung[e]
thinge.
Leaues.
A leafe of great
vertue.
and of goisd tafl. and fauoure, and much lyke vnto certeyne damfons or prunes beinge lyttle and yelowe. But
theyr flone is very great : by reafon wherof they haue but lyttle meate. Theyr barke or rynde boyled in water,
maketh a holfome bathe for the legges, bycaufe it bindeth and fleyeth the loofenefTe of the flefihe fo fencibly
that it is a marueyle to confyder. It is fuerly a holfome and excellent bathe ageynft. fuch fayntneffe : And is
the befle tree that may bee founde in thofe parties to fleepe vnder. For it caufeth no heauineffe of the headde
as doo dyuers other trees. Whiche thynge I fpeake bycaufe the Chriflians are muche accuftomed in thofe
regions to lye in the fyeldes. It is therfore a common practife amonge them, that where fo euer they fynd
thefe trees, there they fpreade theyr mattreCfes and beddes wherin they fleepe.
There are alfo a kynde of hyghe date trees and full of thomes. The woodde of thefe is mode excellent :
beinge very blacke, and fhynynge, and fo heauy that no parte thereof can fwymme aboue the water, but fynketh
immediatly to the bottome. Of this woodde they make theyr arrowes and dartes : Alfo iauelyns, fpeares, and
pykes. And I faye pykes, bycaufe that in the coafles of the fea of Sur, beyonde Efquegua and Vracha, the
Indians vfe great and longe pykes made of the woodde of thefe date trees. Of the fame lykewyfe they make
clubbes and fwoordes and d5fuers other weapons. Alfo veflelles and houfholde fluffe of dyuers fortes very fayre
and commodious. Furthermore of this woodde the Chriflians vfe to make dyuers muficall inft.rumentes, as
clarifimbals, lutes, gytems, and fuche other, the whiche byfyde theyr fayre fliynynge coloure lyke vnto giete, are
alfo of a good founde and very durable by reafon of the hardnefle of the woodde.
After that I haue fayde thus much of trees and plantes, I haue thought good alfo to fpeake fumwhat of
herbes. You ftiall therefore vnderflande that in thefe Indies there is an herbe much lyke vnto a yelowe lyllie,
abowte whofe leaues there growe and creepe certeyne cordes or laces, as the lyke is partly feene in the herbe
which we caule lafed fauery. But thefe of the Indies are muche bygger, and longer: and fo ftronge that they
tye theyr hangynge beddes thereby whiche they caule Hamacas wherof we haue fpoken elfwhere. Thefe
cordes, they caule Cabuia and Henequen, which are al one thing fauynge that Henequen is leffe and of a fyner
fubflaunce as it were line : And the other is groffer lyke the wycke or twyfte of hempe, and is imperfecte in
comparifon to the other. They are of coloure betwene whyte and yelowe lyke vnto abarne, and fum alfo
whyte. With Henequen whiche is the mofle fubtyle and fyne threede, the Indians fawe in funder fetters,
cheynes, or barres of Iren in this maner. They moue the threede of Henequen vppon the iren which they
intende to faw or cutte, drawynge the one hande after the other as doo they that fawe, puttynge euer nowe and
then a portion of fyne fande vppon the threede, or on the place or parte of the Iren where they continue
rubbynge the fayde threede. So that yf the threede be wome, they take an other, and continewe in theyr
woorke as before vntyl they haue cutte in funder the iren although it bee neuer fo bygge : and cut it as yf it
were a tender thynge and eafye to bee fawne.
And for afmuch as the leaues of trees may bee counted amonge herbes, I wyll here fpeake fumewhat of
the qualitie of the leaues of certeyne trees which are founde in the Hand of Hifpaniola. Thefe trees are fo full
of thomes, that there is no tree or plante that feemeth more wylde and deformed : fo that I can not well
determyne whether they bee trees or plantes. They haue certeyne braunches full of large and deformed
leaues, which braunches were fyrfte leaues lyke vnto the other. As the braunches made of thefe leaues growe
foorthe in length, there commeth other leaues of them. So that in fine it is a dyfficult thyng to defcrybe the
forme of thefe trees except the fame fhulde bee doone by a paynter wherby the eye myght conceaue that
wherein the toonge fayleth in this behalfe. The leaues of this tree are of fuch vertue, that beyng well beaten
and fpreadde vppon a cloth after the maner of a playfler, and fo layde to a legge or arme that is broken in
many pieces, it healeth it in fyftene dayes, and maketh it as hole as though it had neuer byn broken. Durynge
the tyme of this operation, it cleaueth fo fall to the flefftie that it can not without much difficultie bee taken
away. But as foone as it hath healed the fore and wrought his operation, it loofeth it felfe from the place where
it was layde, as I my felfe and dyuers other which haue proued it, knowe by experience.
C Offyfjhes and of the maner offyffhynge.
N the fea coaft.es of the firme lande, there are dyuers and fundry kyndes of fylThes muche
differynge in fhape and forme. And althoughe it be impolfible to fpeake of all, yet wyll I
make mention of fum. And fyrft to begynne at fardynes, yowe fliall vnderflande that there
is founde a kynde of thefe fyffhes very large and with redde tayles, beinge a very delicate
fyffhe. The befle kyndes of other fyfflies are thefe: Moxarre, Diahace, Brettes, Dahaos,
Thombackes, and Salmons. All thefe and dyuers other which I do not now remember, are
taken in great quantitie in ryuers. There are lykewyfe taken very good creuyffhes. There
The hyjlorie of the wejle Indies.
231
are alfo founde in the fea, certeyne other fyffhes : as foles, mackerelles, turbuttes, Fa/amite, Lizze, Folpi, Chieppe^
Xaibas, Locufl.es, Oyfl.ers, exceadynge great Tortoyfes, and Tiburoni of maruelous byggeneffe : Alfo Manates,
and Murene, and manye other fyffhes which haue no names in oure language. And thefe of fuch diuerfitie
and quantitie as can not bee expreffed without large wrytynge and longe tyme. But to let paffe to intreate
particulerly of the multitude of fyfflies, I intende to fpeake chiefely and fumwhat largely of three fortes of molle
notable fyffhes ; wherof the fyrfl is, the great Tortoyfes, the feconde is cauled Tiburon, and the thyrde Manate.
And to begynne at the fyrfle, I faye that in the Ilande of Ctiba, are founde great Tortoyfes (which are certeyne
(hell fyflhes) of fuch byggeneffe that tenne or fyfteene men are fcarfely able to lyfte one of them owt of the
water, as I haue byn informed of credible perfons dwellynge in the fame Ilande. But of that which I my felfe
haue feene, I can teftifie that in the firme lande in the vyllage of Ada there are of this forte fum taken and
kylled of fuche byggenes that fixe men with much difRcultie coulde fcarfely drawe them owt of the water. And
commonly the leafl fort of them are as much as two men may caiy at a burden. That which I fawe lifted vp
by fyxe men, had her fliell a yarde and a quarter in length, and in breadth more then fyue yardes. The maner
of takynge them, is this. It fumtymes chaunceth that in theyr greate nettes (whiche they caule fhoote nettes)
there are founde certeyne Tortoyfes of the common forte in great quantities. And when they coome owt of the
fea and bringe foorth theyr egges and go togyther by coompanies from the fea to feade on the lande, the
Chriflians or Indians folowe theyr fleppes whiche they fynde in the fande, and foone ouertake them bycaufe
they are very heauy and flowe in goynge, although they make all the hafle they can to returne to the fea as
foone as they efpie any boddie. When they that purfewe them haue ouertaken them, they put a flake or flaffe
vnder theyr legges and ouertume them on theyr backes as they are yet runnynge, fo that they can go no further
nor yet ryfe ageyne or tume. And thus they fuffer them to lye flyll whyle they folowe after the refle which
they ouertume in lyke maner : And by this meanes take very manye at fuche tymes as they coome furth of the
fea as I haue fayde. This fyffhe is very excellent and holfome to be eaten, and of good tafte. The feconde of
the three fyffhes wherof I haue fpoken, is the Tiburon. This is a very greate fyffhe and very quicke and
fwifte in the water, and a cruell deuourer. Thefe are often tymes taken, afwel when the (hippes are vnder
fayle in the Ocean, as alfo when they lye at anker, or at any other time, and efpecially the leafle kynd of thefe
fiffhes. When the fhippes are vnder fayle, the biggeft forte are taken after this maner. When the Tiburon
feeth the fhippe failinge he foloweth it fwymmynge behynde. The which thinge the mariners feeinge, caft.e
furthe all the fylthe of the fliippe into the fea for the fyffhe to eate, who neuertheleffe foloweth them with equal
pafe although they make neuer fuch hafle wyth full wynd and failes, and waloweth on euery fyde and about the
Ihyppe : And thus foloweth it fumetyme for the fpace of a hundreth and fyftie leaques and more. And when
the mariners are difpofed to take them, they cafl. downe by the flerne of the fhippe, a hoke of yren as bigge as
the biggeft finger of a mans hande of three fpannes in lengthe and crooked like a fyffhehooke with beardes
accordinge to the bigneffe thereof, and faftened to an iren chayne of fyue or fyxe linkes neare vnto th[e]ende,
and from thenfe tyed with a greate rope, faftening alfo on the hooke for a bayte, a piece of fum fiffhe, or hogges
fleffh, or fum other fleffhe, or the bouwelles and intralles of an other Tiburon whiche they haue taken before,
whiche may eafely bee doone, for I haue feene nyne taken in one day. And if they wolde haue taken more,
they myght alfo. Thus when the Tiburon hath pleafauntly folowed the (hip a longe viage, at the lengthe he
fwaloweth the baite with the hooke. And afwell by his ftryuinge to flye or efcape, as alfo by the fwifte paffage
of the (hyppe, the hooke ouerthwarteth and catcheth hold of his chappes. The which fiffhe when it is taken, it
is of fuche huge biggeneffe that twelue or fyfeteene men are fcarcely able to drawe it owt of the water and lifte
it into the fliyppe : Where one of the mariners gyueth it many knockes on the headde with a clubbe or beetle
vntil he haue flaine it. They are fumtymes founde of tenne or twelue foote long, and of fyue, fyxe, or feuen
fpannes in breadth where they are brodeft. They haue very greate and wyde mouthes to the proportion of the
refte of theyr boddies, and haue two rowes of teethe the one fumewhat feparate from the other, of cruell (hape
and (landing very thicke. \Vhen they haue (layne this fyfflie, they cutte the boddy therof in fmaule piefes, and
put it to drye, hangynge it three or four dayes at the cordes of the fayle clothes to drye in the wynde, and then
eate it. It is doubtleffe a good fyffhe and of great commoditie to ferue the fliippes for vitalles for many dayes.
The leafle of thefe fyffhes are mofle holfome and tender. It hath a fkinne much like to the flcynne of a fole,
whervnto the fayde Tuberon is lyke in fhape. Which I faye bycaufe Plinie hath made mention of none of thefe
three fiffhes among the number of them whereof he wryteth in his natural hyftorie. Thefe Tiburons coomrae
furth of the fea and enter into the ryuers, where they are no leffe perelous then greate lifartes or Crocodiles wherof I
haue fpoken largely before. For they deuoure men, kine, and horfes, euen as doo the Crocodiles. They are very daun-
gerous in certeyne waffhynge places or pooles by the ryuers fydes, and where they haue deuoured at other tymes.
Dyuers other fyffhes both greate and fmaule, of fundry fortes and kyndes are accuftomed to folowe the (hyppes
goynge vnder fayle, of the which I wyl fpeake fumwhat when I haue wrytten of Manate which is the thyrde of
the three whereof I haue promyfed to entreate. Manate therefore, is a fyffhe of the fea, of the byggefl forte,
Tiburons.
Manates
Great Tortoyscs.
201
Plinie.
Crocodylcs.
202
232
The hyjiorie of the irvejle Indies.
The fysshe
Manate.
A remedy ageynst
the stone.
The swoorde
fysshe
Tunnyc
Turbut.
203
Note.
Flyinge fysshes.
and muche greater then the Tiburon in length and breadth : And is very brutyffhe and yyle, fo that it appeareth
in forme lyke vnto one of thofe great veflelles made of goates (kynnes wherin they vfe to cary newe wyne in
Medina de Campo or in Areualo. The headde of this beafl is lyke the head of an oxe, with alfo lyke eyes.
And hath in the place of armes, two great flumpes wherwith he fwymmeth. It is a very gentle and tame
beafle : And commeth oftentymes owt of the water to the next fhore : where if he find [a]ny herbes or grafle, he
feedeth therof. Owre men are accuflomed to kyl many of thefe and dyuers other good fyfthes with theyr
croffebowes, purfuinge them in barkes or Canoas, bycaufe they fwymme in maner aboue the water. The
whiche thynge when they fee, they drawe them with a hooke tyde at a fmaule corde, but fumwhat (Ironge. As
the fyfflie flyeth away, the archer letteth go and prolongeth the corde by lyttle and lyttle vntyll he haue lette
it go many fathams. At the ende of the corde, there is tyde a corke or a piece of lyght woodde. And when
the fyffhe is goone a lyttle way, and hathe coloured the water with his bludde, and feeleth hym felfe to faynt
and drawe towarde th[e]ende of his lyfe, he refortethe to the Ihore, and the archer foloweth gatherynge vp his
corde : wherof whyle there yet remaine fixe or eyght fathams or fum what more or lefle, he draweth it towarde
the lande, and draweth the fyffhe therwith by little and lyttle as the waues of the fea helpe hym to doo it the
more eafely. Then with the helpe of the refle of his companie he lyftethe this greate beafl owt of the water
to the lande, beinge of fuch bygneffe that to conuey it from thenfe to the citie, it fhalbe requifite to haue a carte
with a good yoke of oxen, and fumtymes more, accordyng as thefe fyffhes are of byggeneffe, fum being much
greater then other fum in the fame kynde as is feeneof other beafles. Sumtymes they lyft thefe fyffhes into
the Canoa or barke, withowt drawynge them to the lande as before. For as foone as they are flayne, they
flote aboue the water. And I beleue verely that this fyffhe is one of the befl. in the world to the tafle, and the
lykeft vnto fleffhe. Efpecially fo lyke vnto biefe, that who fo hath not feene it hole, can iudge it to bee none
other when he feethe it in pieces then verye biefe or veale. And is certeynly fo lyke vnto flefhe, that all the
men in the worlde may herin bee deceaued. The tatle lykewyfe, is lyke vnto the tafl of very good veale, and
lafleth longe yf it bee pondered. So that in fine, the bafe of thefe parties, is by no meanes lyke vnto this.
This Manate, hath a certeine flone or rather bone in his headde within the brayne, which is of qualitie greatly
appropriate ageynfle the difeafe of the flone, if it bee burnte and grounde into fmaule ponder, and taken
faflynge in the momynge when the payne is felte, in fuch quantitie as maye lye vppon a penye with a drawght
of good whyte wyne. For beynge thus taken three or foure mornynges, it acquieteth the grefe as dyuers haue
toulde me whiche haue proued it trewe. And I my felfe by teflimonie of fight, doo wytnefle that I haue feene
this flone fought of dyuers for this effecte.
There are alfo dyuers other fyffhes as bygge as this Manate : Emonge the which there is one cauled
Vihuella. This fyfhe beareth in the toppe of his headde, a fwoorde beinge on euery fyde full of many fharpe
teeth. This fwoorde is naturally very harde and flronge, of foure or fyue fpannes in length and of proportion
accordynge to the fame byggenes. And for this caufe is this fyfhe cauled Spada : that is the fwoord fyfhe. Of
this kynde fum are found as lyttle as fardines : and other fo greate, that two yokes of oxen are fcarfely able to
drawe them on a carte. But whereas before, I haue promyfed to fpeake of other fyffhes which are taken in
thefe feas whyle the fhyppes are vnder fayle, I wyl not forget to fpeake of theTunnye which is a great and good
fyffhe, and is oftentymes taken and kylde with troute fpeares and hookes cafle in the water when they play
and fwymme aboute the fhyppes. In lyke maner alfo are taken many turbuts which are very good fyffhes as
are lyghtly in all the fea.
And here is to bee noted, that in the greate Ocean fea, there is a flraunge thynge to bee confidered,
whiche all that haue byn in the Indies affirme to bee trewe. And this is, that lyke as on the la"nde there are
fum prouinces fertile and frutfuU, and fum barren, euen fo dooth the lyke chaunce in the fea : So that at fum
wyndes the fhyppes fayle fiftie or a hundreth, or two hundreth leaques and more, withowt takyng or feinge of
one fyffhe. And ageyne in the felfe fame Ocean, in fum places, all the water is feene tremble by the mouynge
of the fyffhes, where they are taken abundauntly.
It commeth further to my rememberaunce to fpeak fumwhat of the flyinge of fyflhes, which is doubtleffe a
flraunge thynge to beholde, and is after this maner. When the fliyppes fayle by the greate Ocean folowynge
theyr vyage, there ryfeth fumtymes on the one fyde or on the other, many coompanies of certeyne lyttle fyffhes,
of the which the byggefl is no greater then a fardyne : and foo diminiffhe lefTe and leffe from that quantitie that
fum of them are very lyttle. Thefe are cauled Volatori: that is, flyinge fyffhes. They ryfe by great coompanies
and flockes in fuch multitudes that it is an aflonyffhement to beholde them. Sumtymes they ryfe but lyttle
from the water : and (as it chaunceth) continew one flyght for the fpace of a hundreth pafes and fumtymes more
or leffe before they faule ageyne into the fea. Sumtymes alfo they faule into the fhyppes. And I remember
that on an euenyng when all the company in the fhippe were on theyr knees fyngynge Salue regina in the
highefl parte of the Caftel of the poope, and fayled with a full wynde, there paffed by vs a flocke of thefe flyinge
fyffhes : and came fo neare vs that many of them fell into the fhyppe, amonge the which, two or three fell hard
232
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
233
by me which I tooke alyue in my hande : fo that I myght well perceaue that they were as bigge as fardynes
and of the fame quantitie, hauynge two wynges or quylles growyng owt of theyr fynnes, lyke vnto thofe
whenvith all the fyffhes fwymme in ryuers. Thefe wynges are as longe as the fyflhes theym felues. As longe
as theyr wynges are moyfle, they beare them vp in the ayer. But as foone as they are drye, they can continewe
theyr flyght no further then as I haue fayde before, but faule immediatly into the fea, and fo ryfe ageyne, and
flye as before from place to place.
In the yeare. A thoufand fyue hundreth fiftene. when I came fyrft to informe your maieflye of the (late of
the thynges in Indya, and was the yeare folowynge in Flanders in the tyme of youre mofle fortunate fucceffe in
thefe youre kyngedomes of Aragonie and Caflyle, wlieras at that vyage I fayled aboue the Hand Bermuda
otherwyfe cauled Garza, beynge the furthefle of all the Ilandes that are founde at thys daye in the worlde, and
arryuynge there at the deapthe of eight yeardes of water, and dyflant from the land as farre as the fhotte of a
piece of ordynaunce, I determined to fende fume of the fhyppe to lande as well to make fearche of fuche
thynges as were there, as alfo to leaue in the Ilande certayne hogges for increafe. But the tyme not feruyng
my purpofe by reafon of contrarye wynde, I could bryng my (hyppes no nearer the Ilande beinge twelue
leaques in lengthe and fyxe in breadth and about thyrty in circuite, lying in the thyrtie and thre degre of the
northe fyde. Whyle I remayned here, I fawe a flryfe and combatte betwene thefe flyinge fyfhes and the fyfhes
named gylte heades, and the foules cauled feamewes and cormorauntes, whych fuerlye feemed vnto me a thynge
of as greate pleafure and folace as coulde bee deuyfed, whyle the gylte heades fwamme on the brymme of the
water and fumtymes lyfted theyr fliulders aboue the fame to rayfe the fwymmynge fyffhes owt of the water to
dryue them to flyght, and folowe them fwymming to the place where they faule to take and eate them fodaynlye.
Agayne on the other fyde, the feamewes and cormorantes, take manye of thefe flying fyffhes : fo that by thys
meanes theye are nother fafe in the ayre nor in the water. In the felfe fame perrell and daunger doo men lyue
in thys mortall lyfe wherin is no certayne fecurytye nether in hygh eflate nor in lowe. Which thynge fuerlye
ought to put vs in rememberaunce of that bleffed and fafe rellynge place whych god hath prepared for fuch as
loue hym, who ftiall acquyete and fynyfhe the trauayles of thys troubelous worlde wherin are fo manye
daungyours, and brynge them to that eternall lyfe where they fhall fynde etemall fecurytye and refle. But to
returne to the hyftorye : thefe byrdes and foules whych I fawe, were of the Ilande of Bermuda nere vnto the
whych I fawe thefe flyinge fyffhes. For they coulde bee of no other lande, forafmuche as they are not
accufl,omed to wander farre frome the coalles where they are bredde.
C Of th\e\increafe and decreafe, [that is) ryfynge andfauUynge of our
Ocean fea and Southe fea caulled the fea ^Sur.
Wyll nowe fpeake of certeayne thynges whiche are feene in the Prouynce, or at the leafte in
the citie of golden Caflyle otherwyfe cauled Beragua, and in the coaftes of the North fea
and of the South fea caulled the fea of Sur. Not omittyng to note one fynguler and mer-
uelous thynge which I haue confydered of the Ocean fea, wherof hytherto no cofmographer,
pylote or maryner or any other haue fatiffyed me.
I fay therfore as it is well knowen to your maieflye and all fuch as haue knowlege of
the Ocean fea, that this greate Ocean cafteth from it felfe the fea Mediterraneum by the
mouthe of the llrayght of Gibilterra : in the which the water from th[e]end and furthefle parte of that fea, euen
vnto the mouth of the fayde llraight, eyther in the Eafl towarde the coafle commonlye cauled Leuante, or in
any other parte of the fayde fea Mediterraneum, the fea doothe not fo faule nor increafe as reafon wolde iudge
for fo greate a fea. But increfethe verye lyttle and a fmaule fpace. Neuertheleffe, withoute the mouthe of
the flraight in the mayne Ocean, it increafeth and fauleth verye muche and a great fpace of grounde from fyxe
houres to fyxe houres, as in all the coafles of Spayne, Britannye, Flanders, Gennanye, and England. The
felfe fame Ocean fea in the fyrme lande newly founde, in the coaftes of the fame lyynge towarde the Northe,
dothe neyther ryfe nor faule, nor lykewife in the Ilandes of Hifpaniola and Cuba and all the other Ilandes of
the fame fea lyinge towarde the northe, for the fpace of thre thoufande leaques, but onelye in lyke maner as
doothe the fea Mediterratieiim in Italye : whiche is in maner nothynge in refpecte to that increafe and decreafe
whiche the fayde Ocean hath in the coaftes of Spayne and Flaunders. But this is yet a greater thynge, that
alfo the felfe fame Ocean in the coaftes of the fayde fyrme lande lyinge towarde the Southe in the citie of
Panama, and alfo in the coafte of that lande whiche lyethe towarde the Eafte and Wefte frome that citie, as in
the Ilande of pearles or Margaritea whiche the Indians caule Tarrarequi, and alfo in Taboga and Otoque, and
233
The Hand of
Bermuda.
Not to hie for the
pye, nor to lowe
for the Crowe.
204
Beragua.
The west Oceaa
The sea
Medtteraneum.
Hispaniola.
Cuba,
234
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
The South sea.
The power and
wisdome of god is
sene in his
creatures.
205
E&quegua and
Vrrace.
Nomen Dei.
Panama.
The ryuer of
Chagre.
in all other Ilandes of the fouthe fea of Sur, the water ryfeth and fauleth fo much, that when it fauleth it
go[e]th in maner owt of fyghte, which thynge I my felfe haue feene oftentymes.
And here youre maieflie may note an other thynge, that from the northe fea to the fouthe fea beynge of
fuche dyiference the one from the other in ryfynge and faulynge, yet is the lande that deuydeth theym not
pafle eyghteene or twentye leaques in breadthe frome coafle to coafle. So that bothe the fayde feas beynge
all one Ocean this flraunge effecte is a thynge worthy greately to bee confidered of al fuche as haue inclination
and defyre to knowe the fecreate vvoorkes of nature wherin the infinite powre and ^vyfedome of god is feene to
bee fuch as may allure all good natures to reuerence and loue fo diuine a maieflie. And wheras by the
demonflrations of lerned men I am not fatiffyed of the natural caufe hereof, I content my felfe to knowe and
beleue that he which hathemade thefe thynges, dooth knowe this and many other whiche he hath not granted
to the reafon of man to comprehend, much leife to fo bafe a wyt as myne is. They therefore that are of
greater vnderflandynge, (hall fearche the caufe hereof, for them and for me, forafmuch as I haue onely put the
matter in quellion as a wytneffe that haue feene th[e]experience of the thynge.
C Of the Jlrayght or narowe pajfage of the lande lyinge betwene the North
and South fea, by the whiche fpyces may mnch fooner and eaflyer
be brought from the Ilandes of Molucca into Spayne by
the IVefi Ocean then by that way wherby the
Portugales fayle into Eafl India.
T hath byn an opinion amonge the Cofmographers and Pylottes of late tyme, and other which
haue had practife in thynges touchynge the fea, that there fhulde bee a (Irayght of water
palfynge from the North fea of the firme, into the South fea of Sur, whiche neuertheleffe
hath not byn feene nor founde to this daye. And fuerlye yf there be any fuche (Irayght,
we that inhabite thofe partes do thynke the fame fhulde bee rather of lande then of water.
For the fyrrae lande in fum partes therof is fo ftrayght and narrowe that the Indyans faye
that frome the mountaynes of the prouynce of Efquegua or Vrraca, (whych are betwene the
one fea and the other) If a man affend to the toppe of the mountaynes and looke towarde the Northe, he maye
fee the water of the North fea of the Prouynce of Beragua. And ageyne lookynge the contrarye waye, may on
the other fyde towarde the Southe, fee the fea of Sur and the prouynces whyche confyne with it, as doo the
territoryes of the twoo Lordes or kynges of the fayde prouinces of Vrraca and Efquegua. And I beleue that if
it bee as the Indyans faye, of al that is hetherto knowen, this is the narrowed (Irayght of the fyrme lande, whiche
fume aflfyrme to bee full of rough mountaynes. Yet doo I not take it for a better waye, or fo (horte as is that
whyche is made from the porte cauled Nomen dei (whiche is in the Northe fea) vnto the newe citye of Panama
beynge in the coafle and on the banke of the fea of Sur. Whiche waye is likewyfe very rough ful of thicke
wods, mountaines, ryuers, valleys, and verye diffyculte to paffe through, and can not bee doone withowt greate
laboure and trauayle. Sum meafure this waye in this part, to bee from fea to fea. xviii. leaques, whych I fup-
pofe to bee rather, xx. not for that it is any more by meafure, but bicaufe it is rough and dyfFyculte as I haue
fayde, and as I haue founde it by experyence hauynge nowe twyfe palTed that way by foote : countyng from the
porte and vyllage of Nomen Dei vnto the dominion of the Cacique of luanaga otherwyfe cauled Cafira. viiL
leaques : And frome thenfe to the ryuer of C/iagre, other, viii. leaques. So that at this ryuer beinge. xvi. leaques
from the fayde porte, endeth the roughneffe of the way. Then from henfe to the maruelous brydge are two
leaques : And beyonde that, other twoo vnto the port of Panama : So that all togyther in my iudgmente, make
XX. leaques. And if therfore this nauigation may bee founde in the South fea for the trade of fpices (as we trufl
in God) to bee brought from thenfe to the fayde porte of Panama (as is pofTible enough) they may afterwarde
eaily palTe to the Northe fea notwithflandynge the difficultie of the waye of the. xx. leaques aforefayde. Whiche
thynge I aflimie as a man well trauayled in thefe regions, hauynge twyfe on my feate paffed ouer this (Irayght
in the yeare. 1521. as I haue fayde. It is furthermore to bee vnderRode, that it is a maruelous facilitie to bryng
fpices by this way which I wil now declare. From Panama to the ryuer of Chagre, are foure leaques of good
and fayre way by the which cartes may paffe at pleafure by reafon that the mountaynes are but fewe and lyttle,
and that the greatede parte of thefe foure leaques is a playne grounde voyde of trees. And when the cartes are
coomme to the fayde ryuer, the fpices may be caryed in barkes and pinnefles. For this ryuer entereth into the
The hyjlorie of the vvejie Indies.
235
North fea fyue or. vi leaques lower then the port of Nomen dei, and emptieth it felfe in the fea nere vnto an
Ilande cauled Bajlimento, where is a very good and fafe port. Yowr maieftie may now therfore confyder howe
great a thynge and what commoditie it may bee to conuey fpices this way, forafmuch as the ryuer of Chagre
hauyng his originall only two leaques from the South fea, contineweth his courfe and emptieth it felfe into the
other North fea. This ryuer runneth fad and is very greate, and fo commodious for this purpofe as may be
thowght or defyred. The marueilous bridge made by the worke of nature, being two leaques beyonde the fayd
ryuer, and other twoo leaques on this fyde the porte of Panama, fo lyinge in the mydde way betwene them
both, is framed naturally in fuch fort that none which paffe by this viage fee any fuch bridge or thynke that
there is any fuch buyldyng in that place vntyll they bee in the toppe therof in the way toward Panatna. But as
foone as they are on the brydge, lookynge towarde the ryght hande, they fee a lyttle ryuer vnder them
which hath his chanell diftante from the feete of them that walke ouer it, the fpace of twoo fpeares length or
more. The water of this ryuer is very fhalowe, not paflyng the depth of a mans legge to the knee : and is in
breadth betwene thyrtie and fortie pafes : and faulethe into the ryuer of Chagre. Towarde the ryght hand
(landyng on this brydge, there is nothyng feene but great trees. The largenefle of the brydge, conteyneth. xv.
pafes : and the length thereof about threefcore or fourefcore pafes. The arche is fo made of mofle harde Hone,
that no man can beholde it without admiration, beinge made by the hyghe and omnipotent creatour of all
thynges. But to retume to fpeake fumwhat more of the conueying of fpices, I fay that when it (hal pleafe
almyghty god that this nauigation aforefayde fhal bee founde by the good fortune of yowre maieflie, and that
the fpices of the Ilandes of the South fea (which may alfo bee otherwyfe cauled the Ocean of the Eafl India
in the whiche are the Ilandes of Molucca) fhalbe browght to the fayd coafle and the porte of Panama, and bee
conueyed from thenfe (as we haue fayde) by the firme lande with cartes vnto the ryuer of Chagre, and from
thenfe into this owr other fea of the North, from whenfe they may afterward bee browght into Spayne, I fay
that by this meanes the vyage (hall bee fliortened more then feuen thoufande leaques, with muche leffe
daunger then is by the viage nowe vfed by the way of Commendator of Ayfa capitayne vhder yowre maieflie,
who this prefent yeare attempted a vyage to the place of the fayde fpyces. And not only the way is thus
much (hortened, but alfo a thyrde parte of the tyme is abbreuiate. To conclude therfore, if any had hetherto
attempted this vyage by the fea of Sur, to feeke the Ilandes of fpyces, I am of firme opinion that they fliuld
haue byn founde longe fence, as doubteleffe they maye bee by the reafons of Cofmographie.
C Howe thynges that are of one kynde, dyffer in forme and qualitie, accor-
dynge to the nature of the place where they are engendred or
growe. And of the beafles cauled Tygers.
N the firme lande are fownde many terryble beaft.es which fura thinke to be Tigers. Which
thynge neuertheleffe, I dare not affirme, confyderynge what auctoures doo wryte of the
lyghtnes and agilitie of the Tyger, whereas this beaft. beynge other wyfe in fhape very like
vnto a Tyger, is notwithflandynge very Howe. Yet trewe it is, that accordynge to the
maruayles of the worlde and differences which naturall thynges haue in dyuers regions
vnder heauen and dyuers conft,elIations of the fame vnder the whiche they are created, wee
fee that fum fuche plantes and herbes as are hurtfull in one countrey, are harmeleffe and
holfome in other regions. And byrdes which in one prouince are of good tafte, are in other fo vnfauery that
they may not bee eaten. Men likewyfe which in fum countreys are blacke, are in other places whyte : and yet
are both thefe and they men.
Euen fo may it bee that Tygers are lyght in fum region as they wryte, and maye neuertheleffe bee flowe
and heauy in thefe Indies of yowr maiefl.ie wherof we fpeake. The fheepe of Arabie drawe theyr tayles longe
and bigge on the ground, and the bulles of Egypt haue theyr heare growynge towarde theyr headdes : yet are
thofe (heepe and thefe bulles. Men in fum countreys are hardy and of good courage, and in other naturally
fearefull and brutyfhe. All thefe thynges and many more which may bee fayde to this purpofe, are eafy to bee
proued and woorthy to bee beleued of fuche as haue redde of the lyke in autours or trauayled the worlde,
whereby theyr owne fyght may teache theym th[e]experience of thefe thynges wherof I fpeake. It is alfo
manifeft., that Tucca wherof they make theyr breade in the Ilande of Hifpaniola, is deadely poyfon yf it bee
eaten greene with the iufe : And yet hathe it no fuche propertie in the firme land where I haue eaten it many
times and foind it to bee a good frute. The bats of Spayne although they bite, yet are they not venemous.
The Ilande
Bastimento.
The manieloiu
bridge.
206
The Ilandes of
Molucca.
The commoditie
of this viage.
Tigers.
Plantes and
herbes.
Birdcs.
Men.
Shcepe.
Bulles.
litccn.
Battel
236
The hyjlorie of the wejie Indies.
ninie.
The Tiger.
207
The huntyng of
tigers.
A reward for
kyllinge of tigers.
Colonus compared
to Hercules.
The pillers of
Hercules.
The straightes of
Gibilterra.
Note.
PLVS VLTRA.
Howe farre
Th[e]emperours
maiesde excelleth
Hercules.
A tiger made tame.
208
But in the firme lande many dye that are bytten of them. And in this fourme may fo many thynges bee fayde
that tyme fhall not fuffice to wryte, wheras my intent is only to proue that this beafl may be a Tiger or of the
kind of Tigers although it be not of fuch lyghtnefle and fwiftnes as are they wherof Plinie and other autours
fpeake, difcrybynge it to bee one of the fwyftefle beafles of the lande, and that the ryuer of Tigris for the fwift
courfe therof was cauled by that name. The firft Spaniardes which fawe this Tyger in the firme lande, dyd
fo name it. Of the kynde of thefe was that which Don Diego Columbo the Admirall fent yowre maieflie owte
of newe Spayne to Toledo. Theyr heades are lyke to the heades of Lyons or LionefTes, but greater. The
refle of all theyr boddies and theyr legges, are full of blacke fpottes one nere vnto an other and diuided with a
circumference or frynge of redde colour fhewinge as it were a fayre woorke and correfpondent picture. Abowt
theyr croopes or hynder partes, they haue thefe fpots byggeft: and leffe and leffe towarde theyr bellies, legges,
and headdes. That which was brought to Toledo, was younge and but lyttle, and by my eflimation, of th[e]age
of three yeares. But in the firme lande there are many founde of greater quantitie. For I haue feene fum of
three fpannes in heyght, and more then fyue in length. They are beafles of greate force, with flronge legges,
and well armed with nayles and fanges which we caule dogge teeth. They are fo fierce that in my iudgement
no reall lyon of the byggefl forte is fo flronge or fierce. Of thefe, there are many founde in the firme land
whiche deuour many of the Indians and do much hurte otherw)de. But fyns the comming of the Chriflians,
many haue byn kyld with CrofTebowes after this maner. As foone as the archer hath knowlege of the haunt of
any of thefe Tygers, he goeth fearchynge theyr trafe with his crofTebowe and with a lyttle hounde or bewgle and
not with a greehounde, bycaufe this beafl wolde foone kyll any dogge that wolde venter on hym. When the
hounde hath founde the Tyger, he runneth about hym bayinge continually, and approcheth fo neare hym fnappynge
and grynnynge with fo quicke flyinge and retumyng, that he hereby fo molefleth this fierce beafle that he
dryuethe hym to take the next tree, at the foote whereof he remayneth flyl baying and the Tyger grynnyng and
fhewyng his teeth, whyle in the meane tyme the archer commeth neare, and. xii. or. xiiii. pafes of, flryketh hym
with the querel of his crofTebowe in the brefle, and flyeth incontinent, leauynge the Tyger in his trauayle for
lyfe and death, bytynge the tree and eatynge earth for fiercenefTe. Then within the fpace of twoo or three houres
or the day folowynge, the archer retumeth thyther, and with his dogge fyndeth the place where he lyethe deade.
In the yeare. 1522. I with the other rulers and magiflrates of the citie of San£la Maria Aniiqua in Dariena,
toke order in owr counfayle, A rewarde of foure or fyue pieces of golde to bee giuen to euery man that kylde
any of thefe Tygers ; by reafon wherof many were kylde in fhorte fpace both with croffebowes and alfo with
dyuers fnares and ingens. But to conclude, I wyll not obflynately fland in opinyon whether thefe beafles bee
Tygers or Panthers, or of the number of any other fuch beafles of fpotted heare, or alfo peraduenture fum other
newe beafle vnknowen to the owlde wryters as were many other wherof I haue fpoken in this booke. Of which
thynge, I doo not greately meruayle. For afmuche as vnto owre tyme thys greate parte of the worlde was
vnknowen to the antiquitie: In fo muche that none of the wryters of that age, nor yet Ptolomie in his
Cofmographie, or any other fence hym, haue made any mention herof, vntill the fyrfl Admyrall Don
Chryflopher Colonus difcouered the fame. A thynge douteleffe without comparyfon muche greater then that
whyche is fayd of Hercules, that he fyrile gaue th[e]enterance of the fea Mediterranatm into the Ocean, whiche
the Grekes coulde neuer doo before hym. And herof ryfethe the fable that the mountaynes of Calpe and Abila
(which are directly one agaynfl an other in the flrayght of Gibilterra, the one beyng in Spa)fne and the other in
Affryke) were ioyned togither before they were opened by Hercules, who erected thofe hys pyllers whiche your
maieflye gyue in token of prehemynence and lyke enterpiyfes with lykewyfe thefe hys wordes plvs vltra:
wordes douteleffe worthy for fo greate an[d] vnyuerfall an Emperoure, and not conuenyent for any other Prynce.
Forafmuche as your holy Catholyke Maieflye haue fpredde them in fo flraunge and remote regyons, fo manye
thoufande leaques further then euer dyd Hercules. And certeynlye fyr, If there had byn an Image of golde
made in the prayfe and fame of Colonus, He had as well deferued it as any of thofe men to whom for theyr
noble enterpryfe the antiquytie gaue deuyne honoure, if he had byn in their tyme. But to retume to the matter
whereof I began to fpeake : I neede fay no more of the forme of thys beafle, for as muche as your Maieflye haue
feene that whych is yet alyue in ToUedo. And fuerly the keper of your Maieflies lyons, who hath taken vppon
hym the charge to tame this beafte, myght better haue beflowed his paynes in an other thynge that myght haue
bynne more profitable for the fafegarde of his lyfe bycaufe this Tyger beinge yet but younge, wyl dayly bee
flronger and fiercer and increafe in malice. The Indians (and efpecially they of the firme lande in the prouince
whiche the Catholyke Kynge Don Ferdinando commaunded to bee cauled golden Caflyle) caule this beafte
Ochi. This thinge is ftraunge that chaunced of late : that wheras the Tiger wherof we haue made mention
before, wolde haue kylde his keeper that then kept hym in a cage, was in fewe dayes after made fo tame that
he ledde her tyed only with a fmaule corde and playde with her fo familyarly that I maruayled greatly to fee it, yet
not without certeyne Iselefe that this frendfhyp wyll not lafte longe without daunger of lyfe to the keeper, forafmuch
as fuerly thefe beafles are not meete to bee amonge men for theyr fiercenes and cruell nature that can not bee tamed.
236
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
237
•Vf^ Of the maners and cuflomes of the Indians of the firme lande,
and of theyr women.
He maners and cullomes of thefe Indians, are dyuers in diuers prouinces. Sum of them take
as many wyues as them lyfle, and other lyue with one wyfe whome they forfake not without
confent of both parties, which chauncethe efpecially when they haue no chyldren. The
nobilitie afwel men as women, repute it infamous to ioyne with any of bafe parentage or
flrangers, except Chriflians, whom they count noble men by reafon of theyr vaHentnes,
although they put a difference betwene the common forte and the other to whom they
(hewe obedience, countjTige it for a great matter and an honorable thyng yf they bee
beloued of any of them. In fo much that yf they knowe any Chriflian man carnally, they keepe theyr fayth
to hym, fo that he bee not longe abfent farre from them. For theyr intent is not to bee widowes or to lyue
chad lyke religious women. Many of theym haue this cuftome, that when they perceaue that they are with
chylde, they take an herbe wherwith they deflroy that is conceaued. For they fay that only wel aged women
fhulde beare chyldren, and that they wyl not forbeare theyr pleafures and deforme theyr boddies with bearynge
of chyldren, wherby theyr teates becoome loofe and hangynge which thynge they greatly difprayfe. When
they are delyuered of theyr chyldren they go to the ryuer and wafhe them. Whiche doone, theyr bludde and
purgation ceafeth immediatly. And when after this they haue a few days abfteyned from the company of men,
they becomme fo ftrayght as they fay which haue had camall familiaritie with them, that fuch as vfe them, can
not without much difficultie fatiffie theyr appetite. They alfo whiche neuer had chyldren, are euer as vyrgins.
In fum partes they weare certeyne lyttle aperaes rounde about them before and behynde as lowe as to theyr
knees and hammes, wherwith they couer theyr priuie partes, and are naked all theyr boddie byfyde. The
principal men beare theyr priuities in a holowe pype of golde : but the common forte haue theym inclofed in
the flielles of certeyne great welkes, and are byfyde vtterly naked. For they thynke it no more fliame to haue
theyr coddes feene then any other parte of theyr boddies. And in many prouinces bothe the men and women
go vtterly naked without any fuch couerture at al. In the prouince of Cueua they caul a man Chuy, and a
woman Ira : which name is not greately difagreeable to many both of theyr women and of owres.
Thefe Indians gyue great honour and reuerence to theyr Cacique (that is) theyr kynges and rulers. The
principall Cacique, hath twelue of his moft. flronge Indians appoynted to beare hym when he remoueth to any
place, or gothe abrod for his pleafure. Two of them cary hym fyttyng vppon a longe piece of woodde which
is naturally as lyght as they can fynd The other tenne folowe nexte vnto hym as foote men. They keepe
continually a trottynge pafe with hym on theyr fhulders. When the twoo that cary hym are wery, other twoo
coomme in theyr places without any diflurbance or fley. And thus if the way bee playne, they cary hym in
this maner for the fpace of. xv. or. xx. leaques in one day. The Indians that are afTigned to this office, are
for the mofle parte flaues or Naboriti, that is, fuch as are bounde to continuall feruice.
I haue alfo noted that when the Indians perceaue them felues to bee troubled with to much bludde, they
lette theym felues blud in the calfes of theyr legges and brawnes of theyr armes. This doo they with a very
(harpe (lone, and fumtymes with the fmaule toothe of a vyper, or with a fharpe reede or thome.
All the Indians are commonly without beardes : In fo much that it is in maner a maruayle to fee any of
them eyther men or women to haue any downe or heare on theyr faces or other partes of theyr boddies.
Albeit, I fawe the Cacique of the prouince of Catarapa who had heare on his face and other partes of his
boddie, as had alfo his wyfe in fuche places as women are accuflomed to haue. This Cacique had a great part
cf his body paynted with a blacke colour which neuer fadeth ; And is much lyke vnto that wherwith the Mores
paynt them felues in Barberie in token of nobilitie. But the Moores are paynted fpecially on theyr vyfage and
throte and certeyne other partes. Likewyfe the principall Indians vfe thefe payntynges on theyr armes and
breftes, but not on theyr vyfages, bycaufe amonge them the flaues are fo marked. When the Indians of certeyne
prouinces go to the battayle (efpecially the Caniball archers) they cary certeyne fhelles of greate welkes of the fea
which they blowe and make therwith great founde muche lyke the noyfe of homes. They carye alfo certeyne
tymbrels which they vfe in the fteade of drummes. Alfo very fayre plumes of fethers, and certeyne armure of
golde : efpecially great and rounde pieces on theyr brefles, and fplintes on there armes. Lykewyfe other pieces
whiche they put on theyr heades and other partes of theyr bodyes. For they eReeme nothynge fo much as to
appeare galante in thewar[re]s, and to go in mofl coomely order that they can deuyfe, glyflerynge with precious
flones, iewelles, golde, and fethers. Of the leafle of thefe welkes or perewincles, they make certeyne lyttle
The Indian
women.
The men of Tndta.
The kynge is
borne on mens
backes.
I.cttingc of
bludde.
They haue no
beardes.
Theypaynte theyr
bodies.
209
The Cauibales.
Armure of golde.
Their galantnes m
tlic warres.
238
The hyjlorie of the vveji Indies.
Their luclls
Howe the women
bcare vp their
teates, wyth barres
of golde.
The stature and
coloure uf the
Indians.
The Indians
caiUed Coronati.
The Ilande of
giantes.
lucatos.
The seniles of the
Indians heades.
210
New Spaine.
The houses of the
Christians in India
DarUnfu
Gardens.
beades of diuers fortes and colours. They make alfo little braffelets whiche they mengle with gaudies of golde.
Thefe they rowle about there armes frome the elbowe to the wrelle of the hande. The lyke alfo doo they on
theyr legges from the knee to the foles of theyr feete in token of nobilitie. Efpecially theyr noble women in
dyuers prouinces are accuflomed to weare fuch lewelles, and haue theyr neckes in maner laden therwith.
Thefe beades and lewels and fuch other trynkettes, they caule Caquiras. Bifyde thefe alfo, they weare certeyne
rynges of golde at theyr eares and noflrelles which they bore ful of holes on both fides, fo that the ringes hange
vppon theyr lyppes. Sum of thefe Indians, are poulde and rounded. Albeit, commonly both the men and
women take it for a decent thynge to weare longe heare, which the women weare to the myddefl. of theyr
fhulders and cut it equally, efpecially aboue theyr browes. This doo they with certeyne harde flones which they
keepe for the fame purpofe. The principall women when theyr teates faule or becoome loofe, beare them vp
with barres of golde of the length of a fpanne and a halfe, wel wrought, and of fuch byggenefle that fum of them
way more then two hundreth Caflilians or ducades of golde. Thefe barres haue holes at both th[e]endes,
whereat they tye two fmaul cordes made of cotton at euery ende of the barres. One of thefe cordes go[e]th ouer
the fhulder, and the other vnder the arme holes where they tye togyther, fo that by this meanes the barre
beareth vp theyr teates. Sum of thefe chiefe women go to the battayle with theyr hufbandes, or when they
them felues are regentes in any prouinces, in the which they haue all thynges at commaundement and execute
th[e]office of generall capitaynes, and caufe them felues to bee caryed on mens backes in lyke maner as doo
the Caciques of whom I haue fpoken before.
Thefe Indians of the firme lande are muche of the fame (lature and coloure as are they of the Ilandes.
They are for the rnoft part of the colour of an olyue. If there bee any other difference, it is more in byggeneffe
then otherwyfe. And efpecially they that are cauled Coronati, are flronger and bygger then any other that I
haue feene in thefe parties, except thofe of the Ilande of giantes whiche are on the fouth fyde of the Ilande of
Hifpaniola nere vnto the coafl.es of the firme lande : And lykewyfe certeyne other which they caule Yucatos
which are on the north fyde. All which chiefely, although they bee no giantes, yet are they doubteleffe the
byggefte of the Indyans that are knowen to this day, and commonly bygger then the Flemynges : and efpecially
many of them afwell women as men, are of very hyghe flature, and are all archiers bothe men and women.
Thel's Coronati inhabite thirtie leaques in length by thefe coaftes from the poynt of Canoa to the greate ryuer
which they caule Guadalchibir nere vnto SanHa Maria de gratia. As I trauerfed by thofe coafles, I fylled a
butte of frefhe water of that ryuer fyxe leaques in the fea frome the mouthe therof where it fauleth into the fea.
They are cauled Coronati (that is crowned) bycaufe theyr heare is cutte round by theyr eares, and poulde lower
a great compafe abowte the crowne much lyke the fryers of faynt Auguflines order. And bycaufe I haue fpoken
of theyr maner of wearynge theyr heare, here commeth to my rememberaunce a thynge which I haue oftentymes
noted in thefe Indians. And this is, that they haue the bones of the fculles of theyr heades foure tymes thycker
and much flronger then owres. So that in commyng to hand flrokes with them, it (halbe requifite not to
flrike them on the heades with fwoordes. For fo haue many fwoordes bynne broken on theyr heades with lyttle
hurt doone. And to haue fayde thus much of theyr cuflomes and maners, it fhal fuffice for this tyme, bycaufe
I haue more largely intreated herof in my generall hyflorie of the Indies. Yet haue I nother there nor here
fpoken much of that parte of the firme lande whiche is cauled Nona Hifpania (that is, newe Spa}'ne wherof the
Ilande of lucatana is part) forafmuche as Ferdinando Cortefe hath wrytten a large booke thereof
Of the houfes of thefe Indians, I haue fpoken fufficiently elswhere. Yet haue I thought good to informe
yowr maieflie of the buyldynge and houfes which the Chrifl.ians haue made in dyuers places in the firme lande.
They buylde them nowe therfore with two folars or loftes, and with loopes and wyndowes to open and fhutte.
Alfo with fl,ronge tymber and very fayre bordes. In fuche forte that any noble man maye wel and pleafauntly
bee lodged in fum of them. And amonge other, I my felfe caufed one to bee builded in the citie of SanHa
Maria Antigua in Dariena whiche colle me more then a thoufande and fyue hundreth Caflelians : being of
fuch fort that I may well interteyne and commodioufly lodge any Lorde or noble man, referuynge alfo a parte
for my felfe and my famelie. For in this may many houfeholdes bee kepte both aboue and benethe. It hath alfo
a fayre garden with many orange trees bothe fweete and fowre : Ceders alfo, and Lemondes, of the which there
is nowe great plentie in the houfes of the Chryftians. On one fyde of the gardeyne, there runneth a fayre ryuer.
The fituation is very pleafaunte, with a good and holfome ayer, and a fayre profpecte abowte the ryuer. In fine,
owre trufle is that in fewe yeares al thynges in theie regions fliall growe to a better fl.ate accordynge to the holy
intention of yowre maieflie.
The hyjlorie of the wejle Indies.
239
Of the chief e Ilandes Hifpaniola and Cuba.
He Indians which at this prefent inhabite the Ilande of Hifpaniola, are but fewe in number,
and the Chryflyans not fo many as they ought to bee forafmuche as many of them that were
in this Ilande, are gonne to other Ilandes and to the fyrme lande. For beynge for the
mode parte younge men vnmaried, and defirous dayly to fee newe thyngs wherin mans
nature deliteth, they were not willinge to continewe longe in on[e] place : efpecially feeing
dailie other newe landes difcouered where they thowght theye might fooner fylle there
purfes by beinge prefent at the firfle fpoyle. Wherin neuertheleffe their hope deceaued many
of them, and efpecially fuche as had houfes and habitations in thys Ilande. For I certeynly beleue, confyrm-
ynge my felfe herein with the ludgement of many other, that if any one Prynce had no more figniores then only
this Ilande, it (huld in fliorte tyme bee fuche as not to giue place eyther to Sicilie or Englande : whereas euen
at this prefent there is nothynge wherefore it ftiulde malice their profperitie not beinge inferioure to them in any
filicite that in maner the heauens can graunte to any lande : beinge furthermore fuche as maye inriche many
prouinces and kyngedomes by reafon of manye riche golde mynes that are in it of the befle golde that is founde
to this day in the worlde, and in greatell quantitie. In this Ilande, nature of her felfe bringeth furthe fuche
aboundance of cotton that if it were wrought and maynteyned there fhuld be more and better then in any
parte of the world. There is fo greate plentie of excellent Cqffia that a greate quantitie is brought from thenfe
into Spayne : from whenfe it is caried to dyuers partes of the worlde. It increafeth fo muche that it is a mer-
uelous thynge to confider. In this are many ryche fhoppes wher fuger is wrought : and that of fuch perfectenes
and goodnes, and in fuche quantitie that fhippes come laden therwith yearly into Spayne. All fuche fedes,
fettes, or plantes, as are brought out of Spayne and planted in this Ilande, becoomme muche better, bygger, and
of greater increafe then they are in any parte of owre Europe. And if it chaunce otherwyfe that fumetymes
they profper not fo well, the caufe is that they whiche fliulde tyll and hufband the grounde, and fowe and plant
in dewe feafons, haue no refpect hereunto, being impacient whyle the wheate and vynes waxe rype, being gyuen
to wanderynge and other affayres of prefent gaynes (as I haue fayde) as fearchynge the gold mines, fyffhynge
for pearles, and occupyinge marchaundies, with fuch other trades, for the greedy folowyng wherof, they neglecte
and contempne both fowynge and plantynge. Suche frutes as are brought owt of Spayne, into this Ilande,
profper marueloufly and waxe rype all tymes of the yeare : as herbes of all fortes very good and pleafaunt to
bee eatea Alfo many pomegranates of the befl kynde, and oranges bothe fweete and fower. Lykewyfe many
fayre Lymones and ceders : and a great quantitie of all fuch as are of fliarpe, fowre, and bytter tafle. There
are alfo many fygge trees whiche brynge furth theyr frute all the hole yeare. Lykewyfe thofe kynd of date
trees that beare dates : and dyuers other trees and plantes which were brought owt of Spayne thyther.
Beafles doo alfo increafe in lyke abundaunce : and efpecially the heardes of kyne are fo augmented both
in quantitie and number, that there are nowe many patrones of cattayle that haue more then two thoufand
heades of neate : and fum three or foure thoufande, and fum more. Byfyde thefe, there are very many that
haue heardes of foure or fyue hundrethe. And trewth it is, that this Hand hath better paflure for fuch cattayle
then any other countrey in the worlde : alfo holfome and cleare water and temperate ayer, by reafon whereof
the heardes of fuch beafles are much bygger, fatter, and alfo of better tafle then o\vres in Spayne bycaufe of
the ranke paflure whofe moyflure is better digefled in the herbe or graffe by the continuall and temperate
heate of the foonne, wherby being made more fatte and vnctuous, it is of better and more fledfaft nuryfhement.
For continuall and temperate heate, dooth not only drawe muche moyflure owt of the earth to the nuryfhement
of fuch thynges as growe and are engendered in that clyme, but dooth alfo by moderation preferue the fame
from refolution and putrefaction, digeflynge alfo and condenfatynge or thyckenynge the fayde moyfle nuryfhe-
mente into a gummie and vnctuous fubflaunce as is feene in all fuche thinges as growe in thofe regions. And
this is the only naturall caufe afwell that certeyne great beafles and of longe lyfe (as the Elephante and
Rhinoceros with fuch other) are engendered only in regions nere vnto the Equinoctiall, as alfo that the leaues
of fuch trees as growe there, do not wyther or faule, vntyll they bee thrufle owt by other, accordynge to the
verfe of the poete which fayth : Et nata pira piris, djicus inficubus extant. That is in effecte : peares gro\vynge
vppon peares, and fygges vppon fygges. Plinie alfo wryteth, that fuche trees are neuer infected with the
difeafe of trees that the Latines caule Caries, which we may caule the worme or canker, being but a certeyne
putrifaction by reafon of a wateryfhe nuryfhement not well confolidate. The fame thynge hath bynne the
caufe that certeyne Phylofophers confiderynge afwell that man is the hottefl and moyflefl beafl that is (which
is the beft complexion) as alfo that men lyue longefle in certeyne partes of India nere the Equinoctiall (where
«39
Men are desirous
of newe thinges.
The commodities
of Hispaniola
Englande and
SiciUe.
Golde mines.
Cotton.
Cassia.
Suger.
Plantes and herbes
Greate thynges
hindered by
respecte of
presente gaynes.
211
Orangies.
Pomegranates.
Figges al the
yeare.
Dates.
Beastes.
Greate heardes
of cattail.
Good pasture.
The effecte of
continual and
moderate heate.
The cause of fatte
nurisshemente.
Beastes of longe
lyfe in regions
abowte the
Equinoctiall line
Trees whos leaues
doo not wither
The cancar of the
tree
240
The hyjlorie of the vvejie Indies.
Looge lyuide men
in India.
Paradise neare the
eqiiinoctial line
Shepe and hogges
Dogges and cattes
becom[e] wylde
The situation of
Hispaniola.
The citic of
san Domenico
212
The riuer Ozama
llie hauen
A cathedrall
churche and
monasteris in
Hispaniola.
An hospicale.
The people
yet to this daye fumme liue to th[e]age of a hundreth and fiftie yeares) were of opinion that yf mankynde had
any begynnynge on the earthe, that place owght by good reafon to be vnder or not farre from the Equinoctiall
lyne for the caufes aforefayde. Sum of the diuines alfo vppon lyke confideration haue thought it agreable that
theyr Paradyfe fhulde bee about the fame within the precincte of thofe ryuers which are named in the booke of
Genefis. But to lette paffe thefe thynges and to retume to the hyflorie.
In this Ilande furthermore, are many iheepe and a great number of hogges : of the which (as alfo of the
kyne) manye are becoome wyld : And lykewyfe many dogges and cattes of thofe which were brought owt of
Spayne. Thefe (and efpecially the dogges) doo much hurte amonge the cattayle by reafon of the negligence
of the hearde men.
There are alfo many horfes, mares, and mules, and fuche other beaftes as ferae th[e]ijfe of men in Spayne,
and are much greater then they of the fyrfte brode brought thether owt of Spayne. Sum places of the Ilande
are inhabyted, although not fo many as were requifite: Of the whiche I ^vyll faye no more but that all the
regions of the Ilande are fo well fituate that in the courfe of tyme all thynges (hall coomme to greater perfection
by reafon of the rychneffe and pleafeuntneffe of the countrey and fertilitie of the foile.
But nowe to fpeake fumwhat of the principall and chiefe place of the Ilande, which is the citie of San
Domenico: I faye that as touchynge the buildynges, there is no citie in Spaine fo muche for fo muche (no not
Barfalona whiche I haue oftentymes feene) that is to bee preferred before this generallye. For the houfes of
San Dometiico, are for the mofle parte of flone as are they of Barfalona: or of fo flronge and well wrought
earth that it maketh a finguler and ftronge byndyng. The fituation is muche better then that of Barfalona by
reafon that the flreates are much larger and playner, and without comparyfon more directe and flreyght furth.
For beinge buylded nowe in owr tyme, byfyde the commoditie of the place of the foundation, the llreates were
alfo directed with corde, compafe and meafure, wherin it excelleth al the cities that I haue fene. It hath the
fea fo nere, that of one fyde there is no more fpace bet^ven the fea and the citie then the waules. And this is
about fyftie pafes where it is furthefl. of. On this fyde, the waters of the fea beate vppon the naturall flones
and fayre coafle. On the other parte, harde by the fyde and at the foote of the houfes, pafleth the ryuer Ozama
whiche is a marueylous porte wherin laden fliyppes ryfe very nere to the lande and in maner vnder the houfe
wyndowes, and no further from the mouth of the ryuer where it entereth into the fea, then is fronie the foote of
the hyll of Monyiiye to the monaflery of faynt Frances or to the lodge of Barfalona. In the myddefl of this
fpace in the citie, is the fortreffe and caflle, vnder the which and twentie pafes diflant from the fame, paffe the
fhippes to aryfe fumwhat further in the fame ryuer. From the enteraunce of the fhyppes vntyll they cafl anker,
they fayle no further from the houfes of the citie then thyrtie or fortie pafes, bicaufe of this fyde of the citie the
habitacion is nere to the ryuer. The port or hauen alfo, is fo fajTC and commodious to defraight or vnlade
fhyppes, as the lyke is founde but in fewe places of the worlde. The chymineis that are in this citie, are abowt
fyxe hundreth in number, and fuch houfes as I haue fpoken of before: Of the which fum are fo fayre and large
that they maye well receaue and lodge any lorde or noble manne of Spayne with his trayne and famelie. And
efpecially that which Don Diego Colon viceroy vnder your maiellie hath in this citie, is fuche that I knowe no
man in Spayne that hath the lyke by a quarter in goodneffe confyderynge all the commodities of the fame.
Lykewyfe the fituation thereof, as beinge aboue the fayde porte and altogyther of flone and hauynge many faire
and large roomes with as goodly a profpect of the lande and fea as may be deuyfed, feemeth vnto me fo
magnificall and princelyke that yowr maiellie maye bee as well lodged therin as in any of the moofle exquiftte
builded houfes of Spayne. There is alfo a Cathedrall churche buylded of late where afwell the byfliop
accordyng to his dignitie, as alfo the canones are wel indued. This church is wel buylded of flone and lyme,
and of good woorkemanfliyppe. There are furthermore three monafleries bearyng the name of faynt Dominike,
faynt Frances, and faynt Marie of Mercedes : The whiche are all well buylded althoughe not fo curiouflye as
they of Spayne. But fpeakynge without preiudice of any other religious monafterie, yowre maieflie may bee
well affured that in thefe three monafleries, god is as well ferued as in any other religious houfe with men of
holy lyuynge and vertuous exemple. There is alfo a very good hofpitall for the ayde and fuccour of pore people,
whiche was founde by MichaeU Paflament threafurer to yowr maieflie. To conclude, this citie from day to day
increafeth in welth and good order, afwel for that the fayde Admyrall and viceroy with the lorde Chaunceloure
and counfayle appoynted there by yowr maieflie, haue theyr continuall abydynge here, as alfo that the rychefl
men of the Ilande refort hyther for theyr mofle commodious habitation and trade of fuch marchaundies as are
eyther brought owt of Spayne or fent thyther from this Hand which nowe fo abundeth in many thynges that it
ferueth Spayne with many conomodities, as it were with vfury requityng fuch benefites as it fyrfl receaued from
thenfe.
The people of this Ilande are commonlye of fumewhat leffe flature then are the Spanyardes, and of a
fhynynge or cleare browne coloure. They haue wyues of theyr owne, and abfleyne from theyr dowghters,
fyflers, and mothers. They haue large forheades, longe blacke heare, and no beardes or heare in any other
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
241
parts of theyr bodies afwel men as women, excepte very fewe as perhaps fcarfely one amonge a thoufand.
They go as naked as they were borne, excepte that on the partes which may not with honeflie bee feene, they
weare a certeyne leafe as brode as a mans hande, which neuertheleffe is not kepte clofe with fuche diligence but
that fumtymes a man may fee that they thynke fufficiently hydde.
In this Iland are certeyne glo woormes that fliyne in the nyght as doo owres. But are muche bygger and
gyue a greater lyght: In fo much that when the men of the Ilande goo any iomeys in the nyght, they beare
fumme of thefe woormes made fafl abowt theyr fiete and beade, in fuche forte that he that fhulde fee them a farre
and ignorant of the thinge, wolde bee greatly aflonyfhed therat. By the lyght of thefe alfo, the women woorke
in theyr houfes in the night Thefe woormes they caule Cicuas. Theyr lyght ladeth for the fpace of three
dayes, and diminiffheth as they begynne to drye vp.
There is alfo a kynd of crowes wbofe breath flynketh in the momynge and is fweete at after noone. The
excremente which they auoyde, is a lyuynge worme.
As touchynge other thynges of this Ilande whereof Peter Martyr hath more largely
intreated in his Decades, I haue thought it fuperfluous to repeate the fame ageyne owte
of this hyftorie of Gonzalus Ferdinandus : but haue here gathered only fuche thynges as
eyther are not touched of Peter Martyr or not fo largely declared : as I haue doone the
lyke in all other notable thynges which I haue collected owt of this Summarie of Gonzalus.
C Of the Ilande of Cuba and other.
F the Ilande of Cuba and the other, as the Ilandes of San6li lohannis and lamaica, the fame
maye be fayde in maner in all thynges as before of Hifpaniola although not fo largely.
Yet in lefie quantitie doo they brynge foorth the lyke thynges: as gold, copper, cattayle,
trees, plantes, fyffhes, and fuch other of the which wee haue fpoken there.
In Cuba, is a certeyne kynde of Partyches beinge verye little, with theyr fethers much
of the colour of turtle dooues : but are of muche better tafle to bee eaten. They are taken
in great number. And beinge brought wylde into the houfes, they becoome as tame within
the fpace of three or foure dayes as though they had byn hatched there. They becoomme exceadynge fatte in
fhort fpace, and are doubtelefle the mod delicate and pleafaunt meate that euer I haue eaten. But to let
pafle many other thynges that myght here bee fayde, and to fpeake of two maruelous thynges which are in this
Iland of Cuba : wherof the one is, that a valley conteynynge twoo or three leaques in length betwene two
mountaynes, is full of a kynde of very harde (lones of fuche perfecte roundeneffe and lyke vnto pellettes of
gunnes that no arte can make better or more exactly polyfflied. Of thefe, fum are as fmaule as pellettes for
handegunnes: and other fo increafynge bygger and bygger from that quantitie, that they may ferue lor all fortes
of artyllerie althoughe they bee of byggeneffe to receaue one or two or more quintales of pouder, euery quintale
conteynynge one hundreth weyght : or of what other quantitie fo euer they bee. Thefe pelletes are founde
through owte al the valley within the earth as in a myne, which they digge and take owte fuch as they
neede of all fortes.
The other marueylous thinge of this Iland is this: That farre from the fea, there iflheweth owt of a
mounta5me a certeyne lycour much lyke the cley of Babilon cauled Bitumen or lyke vnto pytche in great
quantitie and fuch as is very commodious for the calkynge of ftiyppes. This fauleth continually from the rocke
and runneth into the fea in fuche abundaunce that it is feene flotynge aboue the water on euery fide of the fea
there abowt as it is dryuen frome place to place by the wynde or courfe of the water.
Qttintus Curfius wryteth in his hyflorie, that great Alexander came to the citie of Mejni where is a great
caue or denne in the which is a fprynge or fountayne that continually auoydethe a great quantitie of Bitumen
in fuch fort that it is an eafy thing to beleue that the Rones of the walles of Babilon myght bee layde therwith
accordynge as the fayde auctoure wryteth. I haue feene this myne of Bitumen, not only in the Iland of Cuba,
but alfo fuch an other in newe Spayne, which was found of late in the prouince of Panuco where it is much
better then ihe other of Cuba, as I haue feene by experience in calkynge of fhyppes.
341
OIoi
213
Crowes stynkynge
and sweete.
Saynt lohn his
IiAndc
lamaica.
Parlriches.
Pellettes f.,r
gunnes wrought
by nature.
A fount.iyne of the
pytche of Bitumen.
Qitinttts Cursius
nitumen of
Babiloa.
Fanmca.
242
The hyjlorie of the vvejle Indies.
214
Indians
Ryche furres and
syluer.
Idolaters.
C Of the lande ^Bacoaleos cmiled T&rra. Ba.cca.\eavum, fttfate on the
North fyde of the firme Imide.
JHortly after that yowr Maieflie came to the citie of Toledo, there arryued in the moneth of
Nouember, Steuen Gomes the pylot who the yeare before of 1524. by the commaundement
of yowre maieflie fayled to the Northe partes and founde a greate parte of lande continuate
from that which is cauled Baccaleos difcourfynge towarde the Wefl to the. xl. and. xlL degree,
from whenfe he brought certeyne Indians (for fo caule wee all the nations of the new founde
landes) of the whiche he brought fum with hym from thcnfe who are yet in Toledo at this
prefent, and of greater flature then other of the firme lande as they are commonlye. Theyr
colour is much lyke th[e]other of the firme lande. They are great archers, and go couered with the fkinnes of
dyuers beafles both wylde and tame. In this lande are many excellent furres, as marterns, fables, and fuch
other rych furres of the which the fayde pilote brought fumme with hym into Spayne. They haue fyluer and
copper, and certeyne other metalles. They are Idolaters and honoure the foonne and moone, and are feduced
with fuche fuperflitions and errours as are they of the firme.
And to haue wrytten thus muche, it maye fuffice of fuche thinges as haue femed
to me moft woorthy to be noted in the Summarie of Gonzalus Ferditiandus wrytten to
Th[e]emperours maieflie
!.*•»
243
[The Third EngHsh book on America,
Which is also
The First English Collection of Voyages, Traffics, & Discoveries.
Cite Secalre^ nl the netoe tooiilre or iuts^t Inlriaf, etc*
SECTION III.
Antonio Pigafetta.
^he Jirst Circumnavigation of the Globe, by Fernam de
Magalhaens* s Expedition, in 1519-22.
First printed in 1526.]
245
€1 OF OTHER NOTABLE THYNGES
GATHERED OWTE OF DYUERS AUTOURS:
AND FYRSTE OF THE VNIVERSAL CARDE AND NEWE WORLDE,
He hole globe or compafe of the earth was dyuyded
by the auncient wryters into three partes, as Europa,
Affrica, and Afia : whiche partes conteyne in longi-
tude. 1 80. degrees, begynnynge the fyrft degree at the
Ilandesof Canarie. And conteyne in latitude towarde
the North. 63. degrees, begynnynge the fyrfte
degree frome the Equinoctiall : And. 10. degrees
towarde the South. All the refte of the longitude
which conteyneth other. 180. degrees, is difcouered
of late tyme, as the Weft India cauled the newe
worlde, bycaufe none of the owlde autoures had any
knowelege or made any mention therof. All that
therfore is cauled newe which is Weftwarde from the Ilandes of Canarie. And thus
accomptynge thefe. 180. degrees towarde the Eaft difcouered in owlde tyme, with
the other. 180, degrees difcouered of late dayes, they make, 360. degrees, which is al
the circle of the Equinoctiall in the fphere. Alfo the part aboue the. 63. degrees
of the North latitude, was founde by men of late tyme, as Norway and Grutlande
with many other prouinces. Lykewife the part more fouth then. 10. degrees of latitude,
was difcouered of late dayes, althoughe Ariane and Plinie fay that it was knowen in
owlde tyme : whiche yf it were, yet had they no fuche particular defcription thereof as
we haue in thefe dayes.
West India the
newe worlde.
The circumference
of the Equinoctiall
lyne.
The North
regions.
The South
rcgiuQS.
EUEN.
U 2
246
\The vyage rounde about the worlde.']
Don Peter Martyr.
Rome sacked
A day lost m three
yeares and one
moncth.
215
Antonie Pigafetta.
Jacobus Fahtr.
C A DISCOVRSE OF THE VYAGE
MADE BY THE SPANYARDES
ROVNDE ABOWTE THE WORLDE.
He vyage made by the Spanyardes rownde abowtthe
worlde is one of the greateft and mofte marueylous
thynges that hath bynne knowen to owre tyme. And
althoughe in many thynges we excell owre aunciente
prediceffours, in this efpeciallye wee fo farre exceade
all theyr inuentions, that the lyke hath not heretofore
byn knowen to this day. This viage was written par-
ticularly by Don Peter Martyr of Angleria being one
of the counfayle of Th[e]emperours I ndies, to whom
alfo was commytted the wrytyng of the hyftorie and
examination of al fuche as returned from thenfe into
Spayne to the citie of Siuile, in the yeare. M. D.xxii.
But fendynge it to Rome to bee pryntedinthatmifer-
able tyme when the citie was facked it was lofte and not founde to this day or any memory
remaynynge therof, fauynge fuche as fum that redde the fame haue borne in mynde. And
amonge other notable thynges by hym wrytten as touchynge that vyage, this is one, that
the Spanyardes hauynge fayled abowt three yeares and one moneth, and the mofl of them
notynge the dayes, day by day (as is the maner of all them that fayle by the Ocean) they
founde when they were returned to Spayne, that they had lofte one daye: So that at
theyr arryuall at the porte of Siuile beinge the feuenth day of September, was by theyr
accompt but the fixth day. And where as Don Peter Martyr declared the ftrange
effecte of this thynge to a certeyne excellente man who for his fmguler lernynge was
greately aduaunced to honoure in his common welthe and m.ade Th[e]emperours ambaf-
fadoure, this woorthy gentelman who was alfo a greate Philofopher and Aftronomer,
anfwered that it coulde not otherwyfe chaunce vnto them hauynge fayled three yeares
continually, euer folowynge the foonne towarde the Weft. And fayde furthermore that
they of owlde tyme obferued that all fuche as fayled behinde the foonne towarde the
West, dyd greatly lengthen the day. And albeit that the fayde booke of Peter Martyr is
peryfftied, yet hath not fortune permitted that the memorie of fo woorthy and marueylous
an enterpryfe ftiulde vtterly bee extincte : forafmuch as a certeyne noble gentleman of the
cytie of Vincenza in Italie, cauled mafter Antonie Pigafetta (who beinge one of the
coompanie of that vyage and after his returne into Spayne in the fhyppe Victoria, was
made knyght of the Rhodes) wrote a particular and large booke therof which he gaue to
Th[e]emperours Maieftie, and fente a coppie of the fame into Fraunce to the lady
Regente moother vnto the frenche kynge, who committed it to an excellent philofopher
cauled mafter lacobus Fader, hauyng longe ftudyed in Italy, wyllynge him to tranflate it
S46
The vyage rounde about the vvorlde.
247
into the Frenche toonge. This booke therefore was printed fyrft in the frenche toonge
and then in the Italien, with alfo an epiflle to the Cardinall of Salfepurge as touchynge
the fame viage, written by Maximiliane Tranfiluane fecretarie to Th[e]emperours
Maieftie, in the yeare. 1522. And doubteleffe amonge al the cities of Italie, the citie of
Vicenza may herein much glorie, that befide the ancient nobiHtie and many excellent
and rare wyttes whiche it hath browght furth afwell in learnynge as difcipline of warre,
it hath alfo had fo woorthy and valiaunt a gentleman as was the fayde mafter Antonie
Pigafetta, who hauing compafed abowte the ball or globe of the worlde, hath lykewyfe
defcribed that vyage particularly. For the whiche his fo noble and woonderfuU an
enterprife fo happily atchiued, if the fame had byn doone in the owlde tyme when th[e"|-
empyre of the Grekes and Romans floryffhed, he fhulde doubteleffe haue byn rewarded
with an Image of marble or golde erected in a place of honoure in perpetuall memorie
and for a fmgular exemple of his vertue to the pofleritie. In fine, this may we bouldly
affirme, that the antiquitie had neuer fuch knowlege of the worlde whiche the foonne
coompafeth abowte in. xxiiii. houres, as we haue at this prefente by th[e]induftrye of
men of this owre age. But before I fpeake any thynge of the viage, I haue thought it
good fyrft to adde hereunto, the Epiftle of Maximilian Tranfiluane which he wrote to
the Cardinall of Salfepurge as a preface to his fayde booke.
C THE EPISTLE OF MAXIMILIAN TRANSILVANE,
SECRETARIE TO THE EMPEROVRS MAIESTIE:
wrytten to the ryght honorable and reuerende lorde,
the lorde Cardinall of Salfepurge, of the maruey-
lous and woonderfuU nauigation made by the
Spanyardes rounde abowt the worlde in
the yeare of Chrift. M. D. xix.
N thefe daies my moft honorable and reuerend lorde,
returned one of thofe fiue fhippes which the yeare
before Th[e]emperours beinge at Saragofa in Spayne,
were at his maiefties commaundement fent to the
newe worlde heretofore vnknowen vnto vs, to feeke
the Ilandes of fpices. For albeit the Portugales
brynge vs great quantitie of fpyces from that parte
of Eafte India whiche in owlde tyme was cauled
Aurea Cherfonefus (where is nowe thought to bee
the greate and ryche citie of Malacchd) yet in Eafte
India growe none of thofe fpices excepte pepper.
For other fpices, as Sinamome, cloues, nutmegges,
and mafe, (whiche is the huflce that couereth the
ftiell of the nutte) are brought frome other farre con-
treys and from Ilandes fcarfely knowen by theyr names. From the whiche Ilandes they
are brought in fhyps or barkes made withowt any iren tooles, and tyed togyther with
Maximilian
Transiluaue
The rewarde of
noble enterpryses.
The antiquitie had
no suche knowiege
of the worlde as
we haue.
The Ilandes of
Molucca.
Aurea
Cflersottesus.
MaUucha.
Spyces.
248
The vyage rotmde about the vvorlde.
The Ilandes of
Spyces vnknowen
in owlde tyme.
216
Herodotus.
Sinamonie.
The Phcnyx.
Plinie
The nauigstions of
greate Alexander.
Ethiope.
Trogloditl
The nauigation
abowte the worlde
The owlde
autours reproued.
Monsters.
The vyages of the
Spanyardes and
Portugales.
Sinus Magnus.
cordes of date trees : with rounde fayles lykewife made of the fmaule twigges of the
branches of date trees weaued togyther. Thefe barkes they caule Giunche: with the
whiche barkes and fayles they make theyr vyages with onely one wynde in the flearne
or contrarywyfe.
Neyther yet is it a thynge greatly to bee marueyled at that thefe Ilandes where the
fpyces growe haue byn vnknowen fo many worldes pafl vnto owre tyme, forafmuch as all
fuch thynges as vnto this day haue byn wrytten of owld autours of the places where fpices
growe, are all fabulous and falfe : In fo muche that the countreys where they afifirme theym
to growe, are nowe certeynely founde to bee further frome the place where they growe in
deede, then we are from them. For lettynge paffe many other thynges that are wrytten,
I wyll fpeake only of this which Herodotus (otherwife a famous auctour) affirmeth that
Sinamome, is founde in the toppes of the nefles of certeyne byrdes and foules that brynge
it frome farre countreys, and efpecially the Phenyx, the which I knowe no man that euer
hath feene. But Plinie who myght more certeynely afifirme thynges by reafon that before
his tyme many thynges were knowen and difcouered by the nauigations of great Alex-
ander and other, fayth that Sinamome groweth in that parte of Ethiope whiche the people
inhabite cauled Trogloditi. Neuertheleffe it is nowe founde that Sinamome groweth very
farre from all Ethiope and muche further frome the Trogloditi v^hxche. dwell in caues vnder
the grounde. But to owre men which are nowe returned from thofe partes and the Ilandes
of fpices, hauynge alfo good knowlege of Ethiope, it was neceffarie to paffe farre beyonde
Ethiope beefore they coome to thefe Ilandes, and to coompaffe abowte the whole worlde,
and many tymes vnder the greatefl circumference of heauen. The which nauigation made
by them, being the mofl marueylous thynge that euer was doone by man vppon the earth
fence the fyrft creation of the worlde, and neuer founde before, or knowen, or attempted
by any other, I haue deliberated faythfully to wryte to yowre honorable lordfhippe and to
declare the hole fucceffe therof. As touchynge which matter, I haue with all diligence
made inquifition to knowe the trewth afwell by relation of the Capitayne of that fhyppe as
alfo by conference with euery of the maryners that returned with hym. All which, gaue
the felf fame information both to Th[e]emperours maieftie and dyuers other : And this with
fuch faythfulneffe and fmceritie, that not only they are iudged of all men to haue declared
the trewth in all thynges, but haue thereby alfo gyuen vs certeyne knowlege that all that
hath hytherto byn fayde or written of owlde autours as touchynge thefe thynges, are falfe
and fabulous. For who wyll beleue that men are found with only one legge. Or with
fuch fiete whofe fhadowe couereth theyr bodyes ? Or men of a cubite heyght, and other
fuch lyke, beinge rather monflers then men ? Of the which, neyther the Spanyardes who
in owre tyme faylyng by the Ocean fea, haue difcouered al the coaftes of the lande toward
the Weft both vnder and aboue the Equinoctiall, nor the Portugales who compaffynge
abowt al Afifryke haue paffed by all the Eafte and lykewyfe difcouered all thofe coaftes
vnto the great goulfe cauled Sinus Magtius, nor yet the Spanyardes in this theyr
lafte nauigation, in the which they compafed abowt the hole earth, dyd neuer in any
of their vyages wryte of fuch monfters : which doubteleffe they wold not haue
omytted if they myght haue had certeyne knowelege therof But nowe intendynge to
fpeake of the whole world, I wyll not bee longe in my preface, but begynne my narration
as foloweth.
•48
The vyage roitnde about the vvorlde.
249
v^ A BRIEFE DECLARATION OF THE WAGE
OR NAVIGATION MADE ABOWTE THE WORLDE.
GATHERED OWT OF A LARGE BOOKE WRYTTEN HEREOF BY
MASTER ANTONIE PYGAFETTA VINCENTINE, KNYGHT OF THE RHODES
and one of the coompanye of that vyage in the which,
Ferdinando Magalianes a Portugal e (whom
fum caule Magellanus) was generall
Capitayne of the nauie.
Lthowgh Sebaftian Munfter in his vniuerfall Cofmo-
graphie in the fyfthe booke of the landes of the
greater Afia (which I tranflated into Englyfhe
abowte two yeares fence) hath wrytten of the vyage
oi Magellanus, declarynge therein howe the Span-
yardes by the Weft, and the Portugales by the Eafle,
faylyng to the I landes of Molucca, compafed the
hole globe of the worlde betwene them, yet haue I
here thought it good to make a breefe repeticion
of thys vyage, addynge hereunto dyuers notable
thynges which were not touched of Munfter, as I
haue gathered them owt of the bookes of Antonie
Pigafetta and Tranfiluanus wrytten of the fame
vyage. For albeit in deede it was a ftraunge
and woonderful thynge that the Spanyardes and Portugales compafed the hole
circumference of the worlde betwene them, yet is it more marueylous that the
fame was doone with one fhippe and one coompanie of men as dyd the Span-
yardes in this vyage, who keepynge theyr continuall courfe by the Wefte,
returned into Spayne by the Eafte. A thynge doubtleffe fo much more woonder-
full and ftrange then yf they had returned from the halfe circumference by the fame way
they went. In howe muche they were ignorante in the vyage neuer attempted beefore,
befyde the thoufande daungiours and perylles whiche they were daylye lyke to faule into,
afwell by wanderynge in vnknowen coaftes as alfo by faulynge into the handes of the
Portugales by whofe dominions in the Eafte, they fhulde needes paffe of neceffitie, not
truftynge to theyr gentelneffe for the controuerfie which had byn longe betwene them
for the Ilandes of Molucca. I wyll therefore (as I haue fayde) make a briefe rehearfall
of thys vyage from the begynnynge to the endynge : Omyttynge neuertheleffe many
notable thynges whiche are more largely defcribed in the bookes of Maximilianus Tran-
Jiluanus and Antonius Pigafetta.
•49
Sebastian Munster.
The Ilandes of
Molucca.
217
Controuersie
bclwene the
Spanyardes and
Portugales.
250
The vyage rounde about the irvorlde.
Ferdinando
Magalianes.
The Cape of say-nt
Vincent
The Ilandes of
Canarie.
Water engendered
of a clowde.
The Hand of saynt
Thomas.
Capo verde.
Guinea in
Ethyope.
Serraliotia,
Fysshes and
monsters of the
sea.
The fyers of saints
Helene and S.
Nicolas.
A tempest.
The natural! cause
of such fiers as
faule in the shyps.
Cardanus.
Two kyndes of
fyers engendered
of exhalations.
Trewe fyer and
false fyer.
218
Castor and Pollux.
The lyghtes of
saynt Peter and
saynte Nycolas.
They lost the
syght of the North
starre.
The lande of
Bresile.
The South pole.
The tenthe day of Auguft, in the yeare of owre lorde M. D. xix. Ferdinando Magalianes departed from the
porte of Siuile in Spayne with a nauie of fyue fhyppes and two hundreth thirtie and feuen men, wel furnyffhed
with all thynges neceffarie. And faylynge fyrfle downe by the ryuer of Guadalchiber which runneth from the
fayde porte into the fea, they came fyrile to a place named Giouan Dulfaraz where are manye vyllages of the
Moores : And from thenfe arryued at a caftel of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, where is the porte from whiche
they enter into the fea and to the cape faynte Vincent beinge diflant from the EquinoctialL xxxvii. degrees, and
frome the fayde port. x. leaques, and is from thenfe to Siuile betwene xvii. and. xx. leaques. Here they remayned
certeyne dayes to make newe prouifion of fuch thynges as they lacked.
Departynge from henfe the. xx. daye of September, they arryued the. xxvi. day of the fame moneth at one
of the Ilandes Canarie cauled Tenerife, beinge. xxv. degrees aboue the EquinoctialL In one of thefe Ilandes is
none other water but that is continually engendered of a clowde which appeareth dayly at noone tyde as though
it defcended from heauen and compafeth abowt a certeyne great tree from whofe branches diftiUeth greate
abundaunce of water, and faulethe in llreames from the roote of the fame into certeine trenches and ceftames
made and placed to receaue it. This water ferueth fufficiently all th[e]inhabitauntes and cattayle of the Ilande.
The lyke thynge is alfo feene in the Hand of faynt Thomas, lyinge directly vnder the Equinoctiall lyne.
The thyrde day of October abowt mydnyght, the capytayne commaunded theym to lyght fyrebrandes and to
hoyfe vp theyr fayles directynge theyr courfe towarde the South, faylynge betwene Capo Verde of Affryke and
the Ilandes lyinge abowt the fame, beinge from the Equinoctiall. xiiii. degrees and a halfe. They fayled thus,
manye dayes in the fyght of the coafle of Guinea, of Ethiope, where is the mountayne cauled Serra Liona beinge.
viii. degrees aboue the Equinoctiall. In this coaft they had no maner of contrary wynds but a great calme and
fayre wether for the fpace of threefcore and tenne dayes, in the which they came vnder the Equinoctiall lyne.
In thys vyage they fawe many fliaunge fyffhes and monflers of the fea befyde an other flraunge thynge whiche
appeared vnto them. For there appeared in theyr fhyppes certeyne flames of fyre bumynge verye cleare, which
they caul faynt Helen and faynt Nicolas. Thefe appeared as thoughe they had byn vppon the mafl of the
fhyppes, in fuch cleameffe that they tooke away theyr fyght for the fpace of a quarter of an houre : by reafon
wherof.they fo wandered owte of theyr courfe and were difparfed in funder, that they in maner difpayred to
meete ageyne. But as God wolde, the fea and tempefl. beinge quieted, they came fafely to theyr determyned courfe.
And before I fpeake any further of the vyage, I haue here thought good to faye
fumewhat of thefe flraunge fyers, which fum ignorant folkes thynke to bee fpirites or fuche
other phantafies wheras they are but natural thynges proceadynge of natural caufes and
engendered of certeyne exhalations. Of thefe therefore, the greate Philofopher of owre
tyme Hieronimus Cardanus in his feconde booke de Subtilitate, wryteth in this maner.
There are two maner of fyers engendered of exhalations wherof the one is hurtfull and the other without
hurte. That which is hurtful, is fyer in deede, engendered of malicious and venemous vapours which in fucceffe
of time take fyer as apt matters to be kyndeled. The other kynd, is no trew fyer, but lyke the matter that is in
fuch owld putrified wod as giueth the fhynynge of fyer without the fubflaunce or qualitie therof Of the kynde
of trewe fyer, is the fyer baule or ftarre commonly cauled faynt Helen which is fumtyme feene abowt the maft.es
of ftiyppes, beinge of fuche fyery nature that it fumetyme melteth brafen veffelles, and is a token of drownyng,
forafmuch as this chaunceth only in great tempeftes. For the vapoure or exhalation whereof this fyre is
engendered, can not bee dryuen togyther or compacte in forme of fyre, but of a grofe vapoure and by a great
poure of wynde, and is therfore a token of imminent perell : As on the contrary parte, the lyke fyers cauled in
owlde tyme Cajlor and Pollux and nowe named the two lyghtes of faynt Peter and faynt Nycolas whiche for
the moft parte faule on the cables of the fhyppes, leapynge from one to an other with a certeyne flutterynge
noyfe lyke byrdes, are a token of fecuritie and of the tempeft.e ouerpaffed. For they are but vapoures cleauynge
to the cables : which in fuccefle of tyme, the fyer paflynge from one to an other, appere in the fimilitude of a
lyght candell. They are a token of fecuritie bycaufe they are lyttle, nor flowe or grofle, wherby they myght
haue ioyned altogyther in one, and byn thereby more malicious and lafl.ed longer, wheras beinge many and but
lyttle, they are the fooner confumed.
Hetherto Cardanus. But let vs nowe returne to the vyage.
When they had fayled pafle the Equinoctiall lyne, they loft, the fyght of the north flarre, and fayled by
fouthwefte vntyll they came to a lande named the lande of Breffil whiche fum caule Brafilia, beinge. xxii.
degrees and a halfe toward the fouth pole or pole Antartyke. This lande is continuate and one firme lande
with the cape of faynte Augufline whiche is. viii. degrees from the Equinoctiall. In this lande they were
refreffhed with many good frutes of innumerable kindes, and founde here alfo very good fugar canes and diuers
kyndes of beafles and other thynges which I omitte for breuitie. They entered into this hauen on faynt Lucies
The vyage roimde about the vvorlde.
251
day: where the fonne beinge there Zenith (that is the poynt of heauen directly ouer theyr heades) they felte
greater heate that daye then when they were vnder the Equinoctiall line. This lande of Brafile is very large
and great : and bygger then all Spayne, Portugale, Fraunce, and Italie : and is mode abundaunte in all thynges.
The people of this countrey praye to noo maner of thinge : but Hue by th[e]inflincte of nature, and to th[e]age
of C. XX. [one hundred and twenty] and. C. xl. [one hundred and forty] yeares. Bothe the men and women go
naked, and dwell in certeyne longe houfes. They are very docible, and foone allured to the Chryflian fayth.
Therteene dayes after that they arryued at the fayd port, they departed from this lande and fayled to the.
xxxiiii. degree and a halfe toward the pole Antartike where they found a great lyuer of freffhe water and
certeyne Canibales. Of thefe they fawe one owt of theyr fhyppes, of ftature as bigge as a giante, hauynge a
voyce lyke a bul. Owre men purfued them, but they were fo fwyfte of foote that they coulde not ouertake
them. Abowt the mouth of this ryuer, are feuen Ilandes, in the byggell wherof, they founde certeyne precious
flones, and cauled it the cape of faynt Marie. The Spanyardes thought that by this ryuer they might haue
paffed into the fouth fea. But they were deceaued in theyr opinion. For there was none other paflage then
- by the ryuer which is. xvii. leaques large in the mouth.
Thus folowynge this coafle by the tracte of the lande towarde the pole Antartyke, they came to a place
where were two Ilandes replenyflhed with giefe and woolues of the fea which fum thynke to bee thofe fyffhes
that wee caule pikes. Thefe were in fuch number that in an houre all the fyue fhippes myght haue byn lade
with giefe beinge all of blacke coloure, and fuch as can not flye. They lyue of fyffhe and are fo fatte that they
coulde fcarfely fle theym. They haue noo fethers but a certeyne downe : and theyr byls like rauens byls.
Thefe woolues of the fea are of dyuers coloures, and of the byggeneffe of calues, with theyr heades of golden
coloure. Here were they in great daungiour by tempefl. But as foone as the three fyers cauled faynte Helen,
faynte Nycolas, and faynt Clare, appered vppon the cabals of the fhyppes, fuddeynely the tempefle and furye
of the wyndes ceafed.
Departynge frome henfe, they fayled to the. 49. degree and a halfe vnder the pole Antartyke : where beinge
wyntered, they were inforced to remayne there for the fpace of two monethes, all which tyme they fawe no man
except that one daye by chaunce they efpyed a man of the ftature of a giante, who came to the hauen daunfyng
and fyngynge, and (hortly after feemed to cafl duft ouer his heade. The capitayne fente one of his men to the
fhore with the fhyppe boate, who made the lyke figne of peace. The which thynge the giante feinge, was owt
offeare and came with the capitaynes feruaunte to his prefence into a lyttle Ilande. When he fawe the
capitayne with certeyne of his coompany abowte hym, he was greatly amafed and made fignes holdynge vppe
his hande to heauen, fignifyinge therby that owre men came from thenfe. This giante was fo bygge, that the
heade of one of owr men of a meane ftature, came but to his wafte. He was of good corporature and well made
in all the partes of his bodie, with a large vyfage paynted with dyuers coloures, but for the moft parte yelowe.
Vppon his cheekes were paynted two hartes, and redde circles abowt his eyes. The heare of his headde was
coloured whyte, and his apparell was the fkynne of a beafte fowde togyther. This beafte (as feemed vnto them)
had a large heade and great eares lyke vnto a mule, with the body of a camel and tayle of a horfe. The feete
of the giant were foulded in the fkynne after the maner of flioos. He had in his hande, a bygge and fhorte
bowe, the ftrynge whereof was made of a fynewe of that beafte. He had alfo a bundell of longe arrowes made of
reedes fethered after the maner of owrs, typte with fharpe ftones in the fteade of iren heades. The Capitayne
caufed him to eate and drynke, and gaue him many thynges, and amonge other a greate lookynge glaffe : In
the which as foone as he fawe his owne likeneffe, was fuddeynely afrayde and flarted backe with fuch violence
that he ouerthrewe two that ftoode neareft abowte hym. When the Capitayne had thus gyuen hym certeyne
haukes belles and other great belles, with alfo a lookynge glaffe, a combe, and a payre of beades of glaffe, he
fente hym to lande with foure of his owne men well armed.
Shortely after, they fawe an other giaunte of fumewhat greater ftature, with his bowe and arrowes in his
hande, As he drewe neare vnto owre menne, he layde his hande on his heade and poynted vp towarde heauen,
and owr men dyd the lyke. The Capitayne fente his fliyppe boate to brynge him to a lyttle Ilande beinge in
the hauen. This giante was verye tractable and pleafaunt. He foonge and daunfed: and in his daunfynge
lefte the printe of his feete on the grownde. He remayned longe with owre men who named hym lohan. He
coulde wel fpeake and playnely pronounce thefe wordes: lefus: Aue Maria, lohannes, euen as we doo, but with
a bygger voyce. The capitayne gaue hym a fhert of lynnen clothe, and a coate of whyte woollen clothe : Alfo
a cappe, a combe, a lookynge glaffe, with dyuers fuche other thynges, and fo fente hym to his coompany. The
day folowyng, he reforted ageyne to the fhyppes, and brought with hym one of thofe greate beaftes, which he
gaue the capitayne. But after that daye they neuer fawe hym more, fuppofynge hym to bee flayne of his owne
coompany for the conuerfation he had with owre men.
After other, xv. dayes were pafte, there came foure other giantes without any weapons, but had hydde
theyr bowes and arrowes in certeyne buffnes. The capitayne reteyned two of thefe whiche were youngeft and
The greatenesse of
the land of Brafile.
Canibales.
Giantes.
Insula
gemmarum.
Ca^[e] S. Marie.
The pole
An[tjartike.
Geese.
Sea woolues
The. xlix. degree
of the south pole.
Giantes
219
The bygnes of the
giants.
An other giante.
Foure other
giantes.
252
The vyage rounde about the vvorlde.
Two giantes are
taken by a pollicie.
The deuyll
Setebos.
Dcuyls appeK to
the gyantes when
they dye.
PaiagonL
220
The gyantes
feedynge.
They conspire
ageynst thcyr
Capitayne.
Confession.
The straight of
Magellanus.
The South sea.
Ma re padjicum.
The giantes died
for heat.
Cape DesuUrato
Short nighte in the
moneth of October.
Flying fyshes
The gyantes
language.
The gyant is
baptised.
Three monethes
saylyng without
the syght of lande-
Extreme famen.
belle made. He tooke them by a deceyte in this maner, that gyuynge them knyues, fheares, lookynge glafles,
belles, beades of cryflall, and fuche other tryfels, he fo fyUed theyr handes that they coulde hold no more.
Then caufed two payre of fhackels of iren to bee put on theyr legges, makynge fignes that he wold alfo gyue
them thofe chaynes : which they lyked very wel by caufe they were made of bryght and Ihynynge metal. And
wheras they could not cary them bycaufe theyr handes were full, the other gyantes wolde haue caryed them:
but the Capitayne wolde not fuffer them. When they felte the fhakels fafle abowte theyr legges, they begunne
to doubte : but the Capitayne dyd put them in comforte and badde them flande (lyll. In fine when they fawe
how they were deceaued they rored lyke bulles and cryed vppon theyr greate deuyll Setebos to helpe them.
Being thus taken, they were immediatly feperate and put in fundry fliyppes. They coulde neuer bynde the
handes of the other two. Yet was one of them with much difficulte ouerthrowne by nyne of owre men, and his
handes bownde; but he fuddeynely loofed hym felfe and fledde, as dyd alfo the other that came with them.
In theyr flying, they Ihot of theyr arrowes and flewe one of owre men. They fay that when any of them dye,
there appere. x. or. xii. deuyls leapynge and daunfynge about the bodye of the deade, and feeme to haue theyr
boddyes paynted with dyuers colotirs. And that amonge other, there is one feene bygger then the refidue, who
maketh great mirth and reioyfynge. This greate deuyll they caule Setebos, and caule the leffe Cheleule. One
of thefe giantes which they toke, declared by fignes that he had feene deuyls with two homes aboue theyr heades,
with longe heare downe to theyr feete : And that they call furth fyre at theyr throtes both before and behynde.
The Capitayne named thefe people Patagoni. The mofl part of them weare the (kynnes of fuche beades
wherof I haue fpoken before : And haue no houfes of continuaunce, but maketh certeyne cotages whiche they
couer with the fayde (kynnes, and cary them from place to place. They lyue of raw fleffhe and a certeyne
fweete roote whiche they caule Capar. One of thefe which they had in theyr fhippes, dyd eate at one meale a
bafket of byflcette, and drunke a bowle of water at a draughte.
They remayned fyue monethes in this porte of faint lulian, where certeyne of the vnder capitaynes con-
fpirynge the death of theyr general, were hanged and quartered : Amonge whom the treafurer Luigo of
Mendozza was one. Certeyne of the other confpiratours, he left in the fayd land of Patagoni
Departyng from henfe to the. 52. degree toward the pole Antartike lackynge a thyrde parte, where they
founde a ryuer of freffhe water and good fyflhe. Theyr fhyppes were here in great daungiour. They remayned
twoo monethes in this porte where they made newe prouifion of frefflie water, fuell, and fyflhe. Here the
Capitayne caufed all his men to bee confeffed.
Approchynge to the. 52. degrees, they founde the Uraight nowe cauled the llraight of Magellanus, beinge in
fum place. C. x. [one hundred and ten] leaques in length : and in breadth fumwhere very large and in other places
lyttle more then halle a leaque in bredth. On both the fydes of this flrayght, are great and hygh mountaynes
couered with fnowe, beyonde the whiche is the enteraunce into the fea of Sur. This enteraunce the Capitayne
named Mare Pacificum. Here one of the fliyppes flole away priuilie and returned into Spaine. In this
was one of the giantes who dyed as foone as he felt the heate that is abowte the Equinoctiall lyne.
When the Capitayne Magalia?tes was pall the llraight and fawe the way open to the other mayne fea, he
was fo gladde therof that for ioy the teares fell from his eyes, and named the poynt of the lande from whenfe
he fyrfl, lawe that fea. Capo Defiderato.
Suppofing that the Ihyp which Hole away had byn lolle, they erected a crolTe vppon the top of a hyghe
hyll to directe their courfe in the llraight yf it were theyr chaunce to coome that way. They founde that in
this llrayght in the moneth of October the nyght was not part, foure houres longe. They found in this flrayght
at euery three myles, a fafe hauen and excellent water to drynke: woodde alfo and fyflhe, and greate plentie
of good herbes. They thynke that there is not a fayrer flrayght in the worlde. Here alfo they lawe certeyne
flyinge fyffhes.
The other giante which remayned with them in the Ihyp, named breade Capar: water, Oli: redde clothe,
Cherecai: red colour, Cheiche: blacke colour, Amel: And fpoke al his wordes in the throte. On a tyme, as
one made a crofle before him and kylfed it, Ihewynge it vnto hym, he fuddeynely cryed Setebos, and declared
by fignes that if they made any more crolfes, Setebos wold enter into his body and make him bruft. But when
in fine he fawe no hurte coome thereof, he tooke the crofle and imbrafed and kylfed it oftentymes, defyringe
that he myght bee a Chryftian before his death. He was therfore baptyfed and named Paule.
Departynge owt of this flrayght into the fea cauled Mare Pacificum the. xxviiL day ol Nouember in the
yeare. 1520. they fayled three moonethes and. xx. dayes before they fawe any lande. And hauynge in this
tyme confumed all theyr bylket and other vyttayles, they fell into fuche necelfitie that they were inforced to
eate the pouder that remayned therof beinge nowe full of woormes and ftynkynge lyke pyfle by reafon of the
falte water. Theyr frefflie water was alfo putrifyed and become yelowe. They dyd eate Ikynnes and pieces of
lether which were foulded abowt certeyne great ropes of the fliyps. But thefe Ikynnes beinge made verye
harde by reafon of the foonne, rayne and wynde, they hunge them by a corde in the fea for the fpace of foure
The vyage rounde about the worldc.
253
or fiue dayes to moUifie them, and fodde them and eate them. By reafon of this famen and vnclene feedynge,
fumme of theyr gummes grewe fo ouer theyr teethe, that they dyed miferably for hunger. And by this occafion
dyed. xix. men, and alfo the giante with an Indian of the lande of Brafile otherwyfe cauled Terra de papagalli,
that is, the lande of popingiayes. Befyde thefe that dyed. xxv. or. xxx. were fo ficke that they were not able to
doo any feruice with theyr handes or amies for feeblenefle : So that there was in maner none without fum
difeafe. In thefe three monethes and. xx. dayes, they fayled foure thoufande leaques in one goulfe by the fayde
fea cauled Pacificutn (that is) peaceable, whiche may well bee fo cauled forafmuch as in all this tyme hauyng no
fyght of any lande, they had no mifibrtune of wynde or any other temped. Durynge this tyme alfo, they
difcouered only two little Ilandes vnhabited, where they fawe nothing but birdes and trees, and therefore
named theym infortunate Ilandes, beinge one from the other abowte two hundreth leaques diflante. The
firfte of thefe Ilandes is from the Equinoctial toward the pole Antartike. xv. degrees, and the other fyue. Theyr
lailinge was in fuche forte that they failed daily betweene. 1. [fifty] Ix. [fixty] to. Ixx. [feuenty] leaques. So that
in fine, if god of his mercy had not gyuen them good wether, it was neceflary that in this foo greate a fea they
fliuld all haue dyed for hunger. Whiche neuerthelefle they efcaped foo hardely, that it may bee doubted
whether euer the like viage may be attempted with fo good fuccefle.
They confydered in this nauigation that the pole Antartike hath no notable flarre after the forte of the
pole Artike. But they fawe many llarres gathered togyther, whyche are like two clowdes one feparate a little
from an other, and fum what darke in the myddefL Betweene thefe, are two (larres not very bigge, nor muche
(hynninge, whiche moue a little : And thefe two are the pole Antartike. The needell of theyr compaffe varyed
fumwhat, and turned euer towarde the pole Artike. Neuerthelefle, had no fuche force as when it is in thefe
partes of the pole Artike. In fo muche that it was neceflarie to helpe the needle with the lode flone (com-
monly cauled the adamant) before they could faile therwith, bycaufe it moued not as it doothe when it is in
thefe owre partes. When they were in the myddefl. of the goulfe, they fawe a crofle of fiue cleare llarres
directly toward the Welle, and of equall didance the one from the other. ^^ \%^ C^
In thefe dayes they fayled be-
The order of the Jlarres abowt the pole
Atitartike, fumme haue figured
in this maner.
V*.
^
-^J^
V^^
^
\
*ta;!>«poicawa«<6tf »*ffl>8CcDaiff
twene the Wed. and South fo
farrc that they approched to the
Equinoctiall line, and were in
longitude from the place from
whenfe they fyril departed, a
hundreth and twentie degrees.
In this courfe they fayled by two
Ilandes of exceadynge height,
wherof the one named Cipanghu,
is. xx. degrees from the pole An-
tartike: And the other named
Sumbdit. xv. degrees. When
they were pad the Equinoctiall
line, they fayled betwene the
Wed and Southwed at the quar-
ter of the Wed towarde the
Southwed more then a hundreth
leaques, changinge theyr fayles
to the quarter of the Southwed
vntyll they came to the. xiii.
degrees aboue the Equinoctial
towarde the pole Artyke, intend-
yng as much as were poffible, to
approche to the cape cauled of
theowldewrytersCa//4'''^r(7: The
whiche is not foundeasthe owlde
Cofmographers haue defcribed
it, but is towarde the north
abowt. xii. degrees as they after-
warde vnderdode.
When they had thus fayled.
Ixx. [feuenty] leaques of this
Diseases of famen.
221
Vnfortunate
Ilandes.
What they sayled
dayly
The starres abowt
the south pole.
The needle of the
coompasc
The lode stone.
222
The Eqiitnoctial
line.
The Ilandes of
Cipanghu and
Sumbdit
254
The vyage rotinde ahotit the worldc.
Insukt Laironum
People with longe
heare
They coloure
theyr teethe.
The Ilande of
Wyne of date
trees.
The manielous
frute Cocus.
223
The Hand of
Zuluan.
The sea cauled
Archipelago di san
Lazaro.
Gentyles.
vyage in the. xii. degree aboue the Equinoctial, and. C.xlvi. [one hundred and forty-fix] degrees
of longitude (as I haue fayde) the fyxte day of March they difcouered a lyttle Ilande towarde the north-
wede, and two other towarde the fouthwelle: but the one was hygher and bygger then the two other. In the
byggefl of thefe, the generall capitayne wolde haue refled hym felfe a whyle : but he coulde not by reafon the
people of thefe Hands reforted continually to the (hippes with theyr canoas, and flole nowe one thynge and
nowe an other, in fuch forte that owr men could take no rede, and therfore demaunded of the capitayne that
they myght flryke theyr fayles to brynge the fliyppes to land. But the Capitayne beinge prouoked to anger,
wente alande with fortie armed men, and bumte about fiftie of theyr houfes with many of theyr Canoas: And
flewe alfo abowt feuen men, and recouered a (hyppe boate whiche the Barbarians had flolne, and fo departed
folowynge his vyage. The Capitayne named thefe Hands Infula Laironum, that is, the Hands of theeues.
When owr men had fo wounded fumme of theym with arrowes that they were (Iryken throughe bothe fydes, they
pulled furth the arrowes not ceafyng to marueyle at them tyll they fell downe deade : And yet coulde not the other
fo depart, but ftyll folowed the (hyppes with more then two hundreth of theyr boates, approchynge as nere to
the (hyppes as they coulde, and proferynge owre men certeyne fyffhes. As the fhyppes paffed with full fayle in
the myddefle of theyr boates, they fawe in fum of them certeyne women lamenting and tearynge theyr heare,
which owre men thought they did for the death of theyr hufbandes. As farre as they could perceaue, thefe
people lyue at theyr owne libertie without anye ruler or gouernour. They go naked and haue blacke beardes
and blacke heare on theyr heades whiche they weare longe downe to theyr wafles. They are of the fame flature
that we are, and well made, of coloure lyke vnto an olyue. Theyr women are well fauored with blacke and
thicke heare on theyr heades reachynge to the grownde. The menne coloure theyr teeth redde and blacke,
which they elleeme a coomely thynge. They annoynt theyr bodies and heare with the oyle of Cocus. Theyr
boates are fum all blacke, fum whyte, and fum redde, and haue fayles made of the broade leaues of date trees
fowd togyther. In the fleade of a rudder, they vfe a certeyne brode boorde with a flaft'e in the toppe, and
maye when they wyll, make the flerne the forecaflell, or the forecaflell the flerne. They fayle fo fwyftely that
they feeme a farre of, lyke Delphyns fwymmynge aboue the water.
The tenth day of March, in the yeare. i 5 2 i. they wente alande vppon a lyttle Ilande named Zamal. xxx.
leaques dyflant from the Ilande of theeues. Bycaufe this Ilande was not inhabyted, they refted here a whyle,
where the capitayne caufed a pauilion to bee pytched for the ficke and crafed men, and a hogge to bee kylde.
The. xviii. day of Marche, they fawe a boate with nyne men commynge towarde them (hewynge theim
felues ioyfull and reioyfynge of theyr commynge. They brought many prefentes with them, and feemed to bee
people of much humanitie. They gaue the capitayne a great fylhe, and a great veflel of the wyne of thofe date
trees whiche beare the frute Cocus. They made alfo fignes that within the fpace of foure dayes, they wolde
bryng ryffe and dyuers foules and beafls as they dyd in deede.
This Cocus is a frute of certeyne date trees whereof they make breade, wyne, oyle, and vineger. They
make wjoie in this maner. They cutte a bygge braunche of the tree, and hange therat a reede as bigge as a
mans legge, into the which droppeth a fweete licour from the tree lyke vnto newe whyte wine fumwhat tart, and
let the reede continewe there from momynge tyll euenynge, and from euenynge to momynge. The frute of
this tree cauled Cocus, is as bygge as the head of a man or more. The fyrlle rynde of this, is greene and of
the thyckeneffe of two fyngers, hauynge in it certeyne threedes wherof they make cordes with the which they
tye theyr boates. Vnder this rynde, there is a thicke (hell whiche they burne and make pouder therof and vfe
it as a remedie for certeyne difeafes. Vnder this (hell, is a whyte fubflaunce lyke the camell of a nutte being
a fynger in thickeneffe, which they eate with fleflhe and fyf(he as wee doo breade. It hath the tafle of an
almonde, and is vfed in the (leade of breade when it is dryed. In the myddeft of this camell, is a cleare and
fweete water, beinge very holfome and cordiale. This water fumtyme congeleth and lyeth within the (hell lyke
an egge. When they intende to make oyle hereof, they ley it to putrifie in water, and boyle it vntyll it bee
lyke oyle or liquide butter. When they intende to make vineger, they fuffer only the water to putrifie and
then fet it to the foonne where it becommeth vineger lyke vnto that which is made of whyte wyne. And when
they mengle the camell with the water which is in the myddefl of the fmte, and (Irayne it thorowe a cloth,
they make a mylke therof lyke vnto goates mylke. Thefe date trees are lyke vnto them that beare dates, but
are not fo full of knottes. With the iuife of two of thefe date trees, a hole famelie of tenne perfons may bee
maynteyned with wyne vfynge one. viii. dayes, and the other, other, viii. dayes: for they (hulde els bee dryed
and wythered. Thefe trees continue for the fpace of a hundreth yeares. This Ilande where they founde this
humane and gentell people, is cauled Zuluan, and is not verye bygge. Abowt this Ilande they founde manye
other Ilandes, and therefore named this fea Archipelago di San Lazaro, that is, the great fea of faynte Lazams,
beinge tenne degi-ees aboue the Equinoctiall towarde owre pole, and. C. Ixi. [one hundred and fixty-one] frome
the place from whenfe they departed. The people of this Ilande are Caphranita that is gentyles. They go
naked fauynge that they couer theyr priuie partes with a clothe made of the rynde of a certeyne tree. The
The Tjyage roimde about the vvorlde.
255
chiefefl men, haue abowte theyr heades a fylken cloth of needle woorke. They are grofle and brode fet and
of the coloure of an oliue. They annoynte theyr bodies with the oyle of Coats to defend them ageynfl. the
heate of the foonne and dryneffe of the wynde. The. xxv. day of Marche, they departed from henfe and
directed theyr courfe betwene the Wefle and fouthvveft, and fayled betwene foure Ilandes named Cenalo,
Huinanghan, Hibuffon, and Abarien. etc.
The. xxviii. daye of Marche, they came to the Ilande of Buthuan where they were honorably interteyned
of the Kynge and the Prince his foonne who gaue theim muche golde and fpices. The capitayne gaue the
kynge a veflure of red clothe and an other of yelowe made after the Turkyffhe faffhyon, and alfo a red cappe.
And gaue likewife to other that came with hym, certeyne knyues, glafles, and beades of criflalle ; After that,
the capitayne had (hewed the Kynge the fecreates of his (hippe and fuche marchaundies as he had therin, he
caufed a piece of ordinaunce fuddenly to bee fliote of, whereat the kyng was greately amafed vntil the capitayne
comforted hym. Then the Capitaine commaunded one of his men to be armed from the heade to the foote,
and caufed three other to (Irike hym with theyr fwoordes, whereat the Kynge maruayled greately, and fayde to
th[e]interpretoure (who was a flaue borne in Malacha) that one of thofe armed men was able to encounter
with a hundreth of his men. But he maruayled muche more when the capitaine tould hym by th[e]interpre-
toure howe he founde the flraight by the compaffe and lode Hone, and howe many dayes they were without
fight of any lande. Then alkynge licence to departe, the capitayne fente two of his men with him, of the
whiche Antonie Pigafetta was one. When the kynge fawe Antonie Pigafetta write the names of many thinges,
and afterwarde rehearfe them ageyne, he maruayled yet more, makynge fygnes that fuche men defcended from
heauen. The Kynge brought them firfle to his pallaice where he interteyned them honorably and gaue them
manye gyftes, as dyd alfo the Prince in his pallaice beynge in an other Ilande named Cakghan.
As they fyfted a certeyne myne of earthe in the Kynges Ilande, they founde pieces of golde, fum as bigge
as nuttes and other as bigge as egges. All the kynges veffelles were of golde, and his houfe well furnyffhed.
In all the hole nation there was no man of coomlier perfonage then the kinge. He had his heare long downe
to his fliulders, and very blake, with a vaile of filke rowled abowte his head, and two greate ringes of golde
hanginge at his eares. He had abowte hys myddle, a clothe wroughte of cotton and filke impaled wyth golde,
and reacheinge downe to his knees. On his one fyde, he had a long dager with a hafte of golde, and the
fliethe of a fayre kynde of earned woodde. He had on euery finger, three ringes of golde, and had his bodie
annoynted with oyle of llorax and Beniamin. The natural coloure of his face was like vnto the coloure of an
oliue : And all his bodye byfyde paynted with diuers colours. The kynges name was Raia Colambu, and the
Prince was cauled Raia Siagu.
The lafle day of Marche neare vnto Eafter, the capitaine caufed his preefle to fay maffe, and fente to the
kinge by th[e]interpretoure, that his commyng a lande at that tyme was not to dyne with hym, but only to heare
maffe. The Capitayne came alande with fyftie of his men in theyr bed apparel withowte weapons or harneffe,
and all the refydue well armed. Before the boates came to lande, he caufed fixe pieces of ordinaunce to be
fhotte of in token of peace, and fo came aland, where the two kinges embrafed hym, and accompanyed hym
to the place appoynted for maffe to be fayde not farre frome the fea fyde. Sumwhat before the beginnynge of
maffe, the Capitayne fprinkeled the Kynges with damafke water. When the preefle was at mid maffe at the
offitorie, the kings profered them felues to go to kyffe the croffe with the capytayne, but offered nothynge. At
the tyme of facringe when the preefte lifted vppe the bodie of Chrifl, and the Chriflians kneeled downe and
helde vppe their handes ioyned togither, the kynges dyd the like alfo wyth greate reuerence. In the meane
tyme, whyle certeyne of the Chriflians were at the communion, a handegunne was fhotte of to fignifie vnto theym
that were in the fhyppes, to difcharge all theyr ordinaunce. When maffe was fynyffhed, the Capitaine caufed
certeyne of his men to put on theyr harneffe and to make a combat with theyr naked fwoordes, wherat the
kynges tooke great pleafure. This doone, the Capitaine caufed a croffe to be brought furth, with nayles and a
crowne of thomes, gyuynge commaundement to all his men to gyue reuerence therunto, and fignifyinge to the
kynges by th[e]interpretour that that banner was gyuen hym by Th[e]emperoure his lorde and mafler, with
commaundement to leaue the fame in al places where he came to the great commoditie and profite of all fuch
as wolde reuerendly receaue it as an affured token of frendfhip : And that he wold therfore leaue it there afwel
to accomplyfhe his lords commaundement, as alfo that if at any tyme any fhyppes of Chriflians fhulde chaunce
to coome that way, fhulde by feing that croffe perceaue that owre men had byn well enterteyned there, and
wolde therfore not onely abfleyne from doing them any hurte or difpleafure, but alfo helpe to ayde them
ageynffe theyr enemies. And that therfore it fhulde bee requifite to erecte that croffe vppon the toppe of the
hygheffe mountayne that myght bee feene from the fea on euery fyde. Alfo to pray vnto it reuerently. And
that in fo doinge, they fhulde not bee hurte with thunder, lyghtnynge, or tempeft.es. When the kynges harde
thefe woordes, they gaue the Capitayne great thankes, promyfinge gladly to obferue and fulfyll all fuche thynges
as he required. Then the Capitayne demaunded whether they were Moores or gentyles. They anfwered that
Foure Hands
The Hand of
Buthuaxu
The Hand of
Caleghan.
Plentie of gclde
224
The kynge of
Buthuao.
Mass&
A combatte.
The Cros.ie and
crownc of thomes
Monres und
256
The vyage rotmde about the vvortde.
they had none other kynde of religion, but that lyftynge vppe theyr handes ioyned togyther and theyr faces
toward heauen, they cauled vppon theyr god Abba, whiche anfwere lyked the Capita)fne very well, bycaufe the
gentyles are fooner perfuaded to owre fayth then the Moores. etc.
Departynge from henfe, they came to the Ilandes of Zdlon, Zubuth, Meffana, and Calaghan, by the
conducte of certeyne pylottes of the fayde kynges. Of thefe, Zubuth is the belle, and hath the trade of belle
trafique. In the Ilande of Meffana, they founde dogges, cattes, hogges, hennes, goates, ryfe, ginger, Cocus,
mylle, panyke, barlye, fygges, oranges, waxe, and golde in greate quantitie. This Ilande is aboue the Equinoctiall
towarde owre pole. ix. degrees twoo thyrde partes: and. 162. degrees frome the place frome whenfe they
departed. They remayned in this Hand for the fpace of viii. dayes, and then directed theyr vyage towarde
Many Hands
The Hand of
Messana.
Battes as bygge as
Eagles.
Fowles with
homes.
225
Egges hatched in
tand.
The Ilande of
ZubuU
The kynge of
ilubut.
A shyp laden with
gold and slaues.
Calicut.
Malaiha.
the northwefl, and paffed betwene thefe fyue Ilandes, Zeilon, Bohol, Canghu, Barbai, and Caiighan. In this
Ilande of Caiighan, are certeyne great battes as bygge as Eagles, of the which they toke one. They are
good to bee eaten, and of tafle muche lyke a henne. There are alfo (locke dooues, turtle dooues, poping-
iayes, and certeyne foules as bygge as hennes. Thefe foules haue lyttle homes, and lay great egges,
which they couer a cubet depthe in the fande, by the heate whereof and vertue of the foonne, they are hatched,
and the younge byrdes creepe owte of the fande by them felues. From the Ilande of Meffana to Catighan are.
XX. leaques faylynge towarde the Wefl. And bycaufe the kynge of Meffana coulde not folowe the (hyppes, they
taryed for him about the Ilandes of Polo, Ticobon, and Pozon, where the Capitayne tooke hym into his fhippe
with certeyne of his principall men, and fo folowed theyr vyage towarde the Ilande of Zubui, whiche is abowte
fiftie leaques diflante from Catighan.
The. vii. day of Apryll abowte noone, they entered into the porte of Zubtit : And paflynge by many
vyllages and habitacions in trees, they came to the citie, where the Capitayne gaue commaundement to the
maryners to flryke theyr fayles and to fet them felues in order in maner of battayle ray, caufing all the ordi-
naunce to bee fhotte of, wherewith all the people were put in greate feare. After this, the Capitayne fent an
ambafladoure with th[e]interpretoure to the kynge of Zubut. When they approched nere to the citie, they
founde the kyng with a great company of men fore aflonylhed at the noyfe of the gunnes. But th[e]interpre-
tour aduertifed them that it was the cullome of owre men in al fuche places where they coome, to difcharge
theyr ordinaunce in token of frendefhyppe and to honour the lorde of the citie. With which woordes the kyng
and his coompany were well quieted. After this, th[e]interpretour declared that his mafler was the Capitayne
of the fhips of the greatefl Prince in the worlde, and that they wente to difcouer the Ilandes of Molucca: And
further, that hearyng of his good name and fame by the reporte of the kyng of Meffana, they determyned to
vifite hym and to haue Nyttayles for exchaunge of theyr marchaundies. The kynge anfwered that he was well
contented thenvith, and that they were hartely welcoome. Neuertheleffe, that it was a cuflome in that place,
that all fuch fhyppes as entered into that hauen, fhuld pay tribute: And that there were not many dayes palle,
fence a fhyppe laden with golde and flaues dyd fo paye. In token wherof, he caufed to coome before hym
certeyne marchauntes of that coompany whiche yet remayned with hym. To this th[e]interpretour anfwered,
that forafmuch as his lorde was the Capitayne of fo myghtie a Prince, he neuer payde tribute to any kynge in
the worlde, and wolde not nowe begynne. Wyllynge hym to take this for a refolute anfwere, that if he wolde
accepte the peace that was profered hym, he fhulde enioy it, And if he rather defyred warre, he fhoulde haue
his handes full. When th[e]interpretour had fayde thefe woordes, one of the fayde marchauntes (who was a
Moore) fpake to the kynge in this maner. CATACAIA Chita : that is. Take hede fyr. For thefe men are
they that haue conquered Calicut, Malaca, and all the greater India : and are of fuche poure that yf yowe
intreate them otherwyfe then well, yowe may to late knowe what they are able to doo more then they haue
doone at Calicut and Malaca. When th[e]interpretoure harde thefe woordes, he fayde that the kynge his
lorde was of much greater puiflaunce and more dominions, and lorde of more fhyppes then was the kynge of
Portugale: declarynge further that he was kynge of Spayne and Emperour of all Chriftendome Addynge
hereunto that yf he wolde not bee his frende, he wolde hereafter fende thyther fuche a poure of armed men as
fhulde deRroy his contrey. The Moore conferred all thefe woordes with the kynge, who fayde that he wolde
further deliberate with his counfayle, and gyue theym a full anfwere the daye folo\vynge. In the meane tyme
he fente theym certeyne vyttayles and wyne. When all thefe thynges were declared to the kynge of Meffana
who was the chiefefl there abowt nexte vnto hym, and lorde of many Ilandes, he wente alande and repayred
to the kynge of Zubut and declared vnto hym the great humanitie and curtefie of the generall Capitayne.
Shortely after, the Capitayne fente certeyne of his men with th[e]interpretour to the kynge of Zubut to knowe
his pleafure and what aunfwere he wolde make them. As they wente towarde the courte, they mette the
kynge commyng in the (Ireete accompanied with many of his chiefe men. He caufed o^vr men to fit downe
by him, and demaunded of them if there were any more then one Capitayne in theyr coompanie : And whether
it were theyr requefte that he fhulde pay tribute to Th[e]emperour. They anfwered that they defyred none
other thynge but that they myght exercife marchaundies with them, and to barter ware for ware. The kynge
356
The vyage rounde about the worlde.
257
made anfwere that he was well content therwith : wyllynge the Capitayne in token of frendfhippe to fende him
a Uttle of the blud of his lyght arme, affirmyng that he wold do the lyke. etc.
After this the kynge of Meffana with the kynge of Ztibict his neuie (who was the prince) and certeyne other
of his gentylmen, came to the fhyppes and brought the Capitayne many goodly prefentes. They entered into
greate amitie, and had large communication of many thynges. The Capitayne perfuaded them to the
Chriflian fayth, which they gladly embrafed, and tooke fuche pleafure in hearynge the articles of owre beliefe,
that the teares fell from theyr eyes for ioye. They were baptifed, and fhortely after all the people of the
llande. They elleeme nothyng more precious then drynkyng glaffes of Venice woorke.
When they came to the citie, they founde the kyng in his pallaice fittynge vppon a floure or lluorie made
of the leaues of date trees wrought after a curious diuife lyke a certeyne kynde of mattes. He had vppon his
body, none other apparell but only a cloth of bombafme cotton hangyng before his priuie partes. On his
heade, he had a vayle of needle worke : and abowte his necke a chaine of greate price. At his eares, hunge
two rynges of golde wherein were inclofed many precious ftones. He was but of fmaule flature, but fumewhat
groffe, and had the refidue of his body paynted with dyuers coloures wherof fum were lyke vnto flamynge fyre.
Before hym, he had two veffelles made of the fine earth cauled Porcellana, with fodden egges. Alfo four
veflels of Porcellana full of wyne made of date trees, and couered with many odoriferous herbes. The prince
brought them to his houfe, where he had foure doughters verye well fauoured and whyte lyke owres. He
caufed them to daunce all naked, and therwith to fynge, and play on certeyne tymbrelles made of metall.
At this tyme it fo chaunced that one of the Spanyardes dyed in one of the fhyppes. And when certeyne
of theyr coompanye defjaed the kynge to gyue them leaue to burie hym on the land, he anfwered that foraf-
much as he and all his, were at the commaundement of theyr kynge and mafler, how much more ought the
grounde fo to be.
They greatly marueyled at the cerimonies perteynyng to the maner of owre funeralles, and honoured the
croffes whiche were fet at bothe th[e]endes [of] the graue.
They lyue with iuflice, and vfe waightes and meafures. Theyr houfes are made of Timber and fawne
boordes : and are fo buylded aboue the grownde vppon proppes and pyles, that they afcende to the fame by
certeyne flayers. Vnder theyr houfes, they keepe theyr hogges and hennes.
When they came to barterynge, they gaue golde, ryfle, hogges, hennes, and dyuers other thynges for fume
of owre tryfels of fmaule value. They gaue tenne Pefos of golde for. xvi. poundes weyght of iren. One pefus
is in value a ducate and a halfe. The funday folo^vynge, the kynge was baptyfed with great folemnitie. At
which tyme, the Capitayne admonyffhed him before not to bee afrayde at the fliootyng of of the ordinaunce,
bycaufe it was theyr cuftorae fo to doo at fuch folemne feafles. After this, the Capitayne caufed theym to
breake all theyr Idoles, and to fet vppe the croffe in dyuers places, prayinge to the fame bothe mornynge and
euenynge kneelynge on theyr knees and holdynge vp theyr handes ioyned togyther. The kinge in his baptifme,
was named Charles after the Emperours name, and the Prince, Ferdinando after the name of his maiellies
brother. The kynge of Meflana was named lohn, and the Moore Chriftopher. To all other they gaue fuch
names as are commonly vfed in Chriflendome. And thus beefore maffe was begunne, were fine hundreth men
baptifed. When maffe was fynyffhed, the Capitayne inuited the kynge to dyne with bim in his Ihyppe, and at
his commynge, caufed the ordinaunce to bee difcharged.
The queene was alfo baptifed with fortie of her gentlewomen, and her doughter the Princes wife. The
queene was very younge and fayre, hauynge her body couered with a white cloth. Her lyppes were redde,
and fhe had on her head a hat, on the toppe wherof was a triple crowne much lyke the popes This crowne
and the hat, were made of the leues of dates trees.
Within the fpace of. viii. dayes, th[e]inhabitauntes of the llande were baptifed excepte one vyllage of
Idolaters who wolde not herein obey the kynges commaundement. Whervppon the Capitayne fent certeyne
of his menne thyther, who burnt the towne and erected a croffe in that place bycaufe the people of the vyllage
were gentyles (that is) Idolaters. But if they had byn Moores (that is Machumetiftes) they wold haue erected
a pyller of {lone, bycaufe the Moores are more ftooberne and harder to bee conuerted then are the gentyles.
When the queene came to the place where fhee fhuld heare maffe, fliee came furth with great pompe and
folemnitie, hauynge goinge before her three younge damofelles and three men with theyr cappes in theyr handes,
whom fhee folowed apparelled in whyte and blacke, with a great vayle of fylke vppon her heade fringed abowte
with golde, whiche couered her hatte and hunge downe to her flioulders. Shee had alfo a great trayne of
women folowynge her, beinge all barefooted and naked, excepte that vppon theyr heades and priuie partes, they
wore certeyne vayles of filke, and hadde theyr heare fpredde.
Before the kynge of Zubut was baptifed, he was named Raia Humabuon. When the Capitayne demaunded
of hym why all the Idoles in the llande were not burnt accordynge to his promeffe, he anfwered that they
efleemed them no more as goddes, but only made facrifice to theym for the Princes brother who was very fycke,
Eden. X S57
Sheadyng of
bludde is a token
of frendshyppe
226
The kynge of
Zubut is baptised
The kynge of
Zubut his apparell
Well fauoured
women.
Barterynge
Pesus what
They breake the3rt
Idoles and erecte
the crosse.
Fyue hundreth
men baptised.
The queene of
Zubut.
227
The queenes
appareU.
258
The vyage roimde abotd the worlde.
A minicle.
The Hand of
Mathan.
The capitaine
MageUanus is
slayne.
The Hand of
Bohol.
They bumte one ('f
theyr shyppes.
Blackc men.
The Hand of
Chippit
The Hand of
Caghaian.
The Hand of
Pulaoan.
228
The Hand of
Bumei or Pome.
A great citie.
Elcpbantes
The Hand of
Cimbulon.
Leaues of trees
which seeme to
hue.
and as noble and wyttie a man as was in the Ilande. The Capitayne anfwered that if he wolde bume al his
Idoles and beleue faythfully in Chrill, and bee baptifed, he fhulde be immediatly reflored to health, and that he
wolde els gyue them leaue to (Iryke of his heade. By thefe woordes and perfuafions of the Ca])itayne, he
conceaued fuch hope of health, that after he was baptifed he felt no more greefe of his difeafe. And this was a
manifefl. myracle wrought in owre tyme wherby dyuers infidels were conuerted to owr fayth, and theyr Idoles
deflroyed, and alfo theyr altares ouerthrowen on the whiche they were accuftomed to eate the facrifyced flefflie.
The people of the Ilande pay the kynge a portion of vittayles for theyr tribute by all theyr cities and vyllages.
Not farre from this Ilande of Zubut, is the Hand of Mathan, whofe inhabitauntes vfe maruelous cerimojiies
in theyr facrifices to the foonne and burying the deade. They were rynges of golde abowt theyr priuie members.
The Ilande is gouemed by two Princes wherof the one is named Zula, and the other Cilapulapu. And wheras
this Cilapulapu refufed to pay tribute to the kynge of Spayne, the Capitayne went ageynft. hym in his owne
perfon with. Ix. of his menne armed with coates of mayle and helmettes. Cilapulapu diuided his army into
three battayles, hauynge in euery battaile two thoufand and fiftie men armed with bowes, arrowes, dartes and
iauelins hardened at the poyntes with fyer. This continued longe and (harpe. But the Capitayne beinge a
valient man and prefynge hym felfe in the brunte of the battayle, was fore wounded and flayne, forafmuch as
the mode of the Barbarians directed all theyr force ageynft hym. Befyde the Capitayne, were flayne of owre
men abowt. viii. or. ix. Of the Barbarians, were. xv. flayne and many fore wounded. After the death of the
Capitayne, they chofe two other in his place, of the which one was Odoardo BarbefTa a Portugale, and the other
lohn Serrano who was fhortely after betrayde by th[e]interpretour and taken prifoner with dyuers other.
Certeyne dayes before the Capitaynes death, they hadde knowleage of the Ilandes of Molucca whiche they
chiefely fought. Departynge therfore from the Ilande of Mathan, they fayled farre and came to the cape of an
other Hand named Boliol. In the myddeft of this mayne fea (whiche they named Archipelagus) they confulted
to bume the ftiyppe named Conception, bycaufe they were nowe fewe in number, and to fumyfhe the other two
fhyppes with th[e]artillerie therof. Thus directynge theyr courfe towarde South eweft, they came to an other
Ilande named Pauiloghon, where they founde blacke men lyke vnto the Sarafms. Shortly after, they arriued at
an other great Hand, whofe kyng named Raia Calauar, intreated them very frendely in all thynges as dyd the
kyng of Meffana. This Ilande is ryche in golde, and hath plentie of ryfle, gynger, hogges, goates, hennes, and
dyuers other thynges. It is named Chippit, and is. viii. degrees aboue the Equinoctiall line towarde owr pole :
And in longitude from the place from whenfe they firft departed. 1 70. degrees : And abowt. 50. leaques from
Zubut.
Departinge frome henre they came to an other Hand named Caghaian being. 40. leaques from Chippit as
they fayled betwene the wefte and Southe wefte. This Ilande is very greate, and in maner vnhabited. The
people are moores, and were banyilflied owt of the Ilande of Burtiei whiche fum caule Porne.
Frome this Ilande aboute. xxv. leaques betwene the weft and northewefte, they founde a maruelous frute-
fuU Ilande named Pulaoan, beinge towarde owr pole aboue the Equinoctiall. ix. degrees and a thirde parte : And
C.lxxix. [one hundred and feventy-nine] degrees and a third parte in longitude frome the place of theyr departing.
Frome this Ilande. x. leaques towarde the South wefte, they fawe an other Ilande whiche feemed to them
fumtymes to mounte as they fayled by the coaftes therof. As they were enteringe into the porte, there arofe a
boyftious and darke tempefte which ceafed as foone as the fiers of the three fayntes (wherof we haue fpoken
before) appeared vppon the cabells. Frome the beginninge of this Ilande to the porte, are fyue leaques. This
Ilande is greate and riche : and the chiefe citie therof conteyneth. xxv. thoufande houfes. The kynge interteyned
owre men very frendlye, and fent them byfyde many other prefentes, two elephantes trapped with filke to bring
them to his pallaice that brought the prefentes which the Capytaynes fent hym. He hath a magnyfycalle
courte and a greate garde. Alfo a multitude of concubynes. He is a moore, and is named Raia Siripada.
He is a kynge of greate poure, and hath vnder hym many other kynges, Ilandes, and cities. This Ilande of
Bumei is aboue the Equinoctiall towarde owre pole fyue degrees and a quarter. And in longitude frome the
place of theyr departyng. C. Ixxvi. [one hundred and feventy-fix] degrees and two thirde partes.
Departinge frome Burnei, they came to an Ilande cauled Cimbubon, beinge. viii. degrees aboue the
Equinoctiall lyne Here they remayned. xl. days to calke theyr ftiyppes and fumyffhe them with frefftie water
and fuell whiche was to them great payne and trauayle becaufe they were in maner all bare footed, theyr fhooes
and in maner theyr other apparell being wome by reafon of the longe vyage. In the wooddes of this Ilande,
they founde a tree whofe leaues as foone as they faule on the grounde, doo fturre and remoue frome place to
place as though they were alyue. They are muche lyke the leaues of a mulbery tree : And haue on euery fyde
as it were two fhort and blunt fiete. When they are cut or broken, there is no bludde feene come furth of
them. Yet when any of them are touched, they fuddeynely moue and ftarte away. Antonie Pigafetta kepte
one of them in a platter for the fpace of. viii. dayes. And euer when he touched it, it ranne rounde abowt the
platter. He fuppofeth that they line only by ayer.
The vyage rounde about the worlde.
259
Departynge from henfe, they directed theyr courfe by the Wede quarter towarde the Southeafte, to fynde
the Ilandes of Molucca, and fayled not farre from certeyne mountaynes where they founde the fea full of great
weedes and herbes.
From henfe, they came to the Ilandes of Zolo and Taghima, in the which are founde perles of exceadyng
biggeneffe.
Folowyng theyr courfe toward the north Eaft, they came to a great citie named Mangdando, lyinge aboue
the Ilandes of Buthuan and Calaghan, where they tooke a canoa of certeyne of th[e]inhabitaunts : by whome
being informed of the Ilandes of Molucca, they lefte theyr courfe towarde the north Eafte, and folowed the
South eafte nere vnto a cape of the Hand of Buthuan, they were aduertifed for certentie that on the bankes of
a certeyne ryuer, there dwelte men ouergrowen with heare, and of high ftature.
Folowyng ftill theyr courfe by the fouth eafte, and paffyng by many fmaule Ilandes, they came to the
Ilandes oi Molucca the fyxte daye of Nouember and the. xxvii. monethe after theyr departure owt of Spayne.
Beinge therfore ioyfull and gyuyng thankes vnto god, they difcharged all theyr ordynaunce. In the coafte of
all thefe Ilandes, euen vnto the Ilandes of Molucca, foundyng with theyr plummet, they founde the deapthe of
the fea to bee no leffe then a hundreth and two yardes, which is contrary to the faying of the Portugales who
affyrme that no (hyppe can paffe that way without great daungioure by reafon of the fhalownes and rockes or
fhelues : and for the darkenefle which the clowdes caufe in the heauen. All which thyngs they fayned to
th[e]intent that none other ftiulde haue knoweleage of theyr vyagies.
The. viii. day of Nouember in the yeare. 1 5 2 i. before the ryfmge of the foonne, they entered into the
porte of the Ilande of Tidore, being one of the chiefe Ilandes of Molucca, where they were honorably inter-
teyned of the kynge who declared that he had longe before feene a fygne in heauen that certeyne fhyppes
(huld comme from a farre contrey to the Ilandes of Molucca : And that wheras for the better certificat therof
he confydered the Actions of the moone, he fawe therin the commyng of owre fhyppes, and that we were the
men whome he feemed to fee in the fame. Wherupon he profered hym felfe to enter into leaque of frend-
ftiyppe with the kynge of Spayne, and to accepte owre men as his brotheme and chyldren : wyllyng them to
come alande as into theyr owne houfes. Alfo that for theyr commyng, that Ilande fliulde no more bee cauled
Tidore, but Caftile for the greate loue whiche he bore to theyr kynge whom he reputed as his lorde and mafter.
This kynge is a Moore, and is named Raia Sultan Mauzor.
The Ilandes of Molucca are fiue in number, and are thus named : Tarenate, Tidore, Muiir, Macchian, and
Bacchian. Of thefe, Tarenate is the chiefeft.
Directly ageynfte the Ilande of Tidore, there is an other great Ilande named Gilolo, inhabited of Moores
and Gentyles. The Moores haue two kynges, of the which one hath fyxe hundreth chyldren, and the other
fixe hundreth and fiftie. The Gentyles kepe not fo many women as doo the Moores nor yet lyue in fuche
fuperftitions. They praye to the fyrfte thynge that they meete in the momynge when they go furth of theyr
houfes, and honoure that as theyr god for that day. The kynge of the gentyles is very ryche in golde. In
the fayde Ilande of Gilolo, are reedes as bygge as a mans legge, and full of cleare water holfome to bee drunke.
The. xii. daye of Nouember, the kynge of Tidore appoynted owre men a ware houfe in the citie where
they might fell theyr marchaundies. Theyr maner of exchange was in this fort. For tenne yardes of good
redde cloth, they had one Bahar of cloues, whiche amounteth to foure Cantari and fyxe pounde weight: .
And one Cantar is a hundreth pounde weight. For. xv. yardes of cloth fumwhat woorfe then the other, they
receaued in Gamble, one Bahar. For. xxxv. drynkynge cuppes of glaffe, they had one Bahar. For. xvii.
Cathyls of quicke fyluer, one Bahar. They came dayly to the fhyppes with many of theyr barkes full of goates,
hennes, fygges of a fpanne longe, alfo the frute cauled Cocus, with dyuers other kyndes of vyttayles in fuch
quan title that it was a marueylous thynge to beholde. They fumyfftied alfo theyr fhyppes with frefflie water
which is hotte as it iflheweth owt of the fprynge, but is very coulde when it hath ftoode a while in an other
place. It fpryngeth from the mountaynes on the which the cloue trees growe. They fawe a cloude ryfe in
maner dayly, which compafeth about the fayde mountaynes.
The kynge of the Ilande of Bacchian, fente the kynge of Spa5me two deade byrdes of ftraunge forme.
They were of the byggenes of turtle dooues, with lyttle heades and longe bylles : alfo longe and fmaule legges
and no wynges, but in the fteade therof certeyne longe fethers of diuers colours, and tayles lyke turtle dooues.
All the other fethers are of one coloure much lyke vnto tawny, except thofe of the wynges. They flye not but
when the wynde bloweth. Thefe Moores are of opinion that thefe byrdes comme from the heauenlye Paradyfe,
and therfore caule them Manuccodiata, that is the byrdes of god.
When they were determyned to depart from the Ilandes of Molucca, certeyne kynges of the Ilandes
accompanied them with theyr canoas, and conducted them to an Ilande cauled Mare where they refreffhed
theyr fliyppes with freflie water and fuell. The kynges fent Th[e]emperours maieftie many prefentes : and
embrafynge owre menne, departed with the teares in the)T eyes : And owre men for theyr lafte farewell, fliotte
A sea full of
weedia.
Perles.
Men ouergrowen
with heare.
The Ilandes of
Molucca.
The Portugales
are reproued.
Tidore one of the
Ilandes of
Molucca.
A vision in the
pianettes
229
The fyue Ilandes
of molucca.
Tarenate.
The Hand of
Gilolo.
Moores and
gentyles.
Golde.
Water in reedes.
Theyr maner of
barteringe.
Water of a
straunge quail tie
Byrd« of ■»
straunge fcnne
26o
The vyage rounde about the vvorlde.
They leaue one of
theyr shyppes
behynd them.
The Ilandes of
Molucca.
Hony of flyes.
Popingiayes-
The Hand of
Tidore.
Terenate.
Mutir.
Macchian.
230
Bacchian.
Many llands
The Hand of
Mallua.
Pepper.
Lyttle men with
longe cares.
The Hand of
Timor.
Whyte Sanders
and ginger.
The deuyll
appearetn.
Saynt lob his
disease.
Cinamome
The Ilandes of
Giaua.
Malaccha.
The greate goulfe
of Chinx
The cape of
Malaccha.
The names of
many regions.
Reubarbe.
The greate kynge
of China.
of all theyr ordinaunce. When in the Ilande of Mare, they perceaued that one of theyr fliyppes leaked and
toke water very fore : wherby they were inforced to tary there three dayes. But feinge that they coulde fynde
no remedie for the fame but in longe tyme, they determined to leaue it, gyuynge order that if afterwarde it
coulde bee repayred, they fhuid returne into Spayne as well as they coulde.
In all the Ilandes of Molucca is founde cloues, ginger, breade of the roote of Sagu, ryfe, goates, flieepe,
hennes, fygges, almondes, fweete pomegranates and fowre, oranges, lemondes, and hony which is made of
certeyne flyes lefle then antes : Alfo canes of fuger, oyle of Cocus, mellons, gourdes, and a marueilous coulde
frute which they name Camulicai and dyuers other frutes. Furthermore whyte and redde popingiayes, and
other of variable coloures. It is not palle fiftie yeares fence the moores fyrfle inliabited anye of thefe llands,
which were before inhabited only with gentyles.
The Ilande of Tidore, is aboue the Equinoctiall line towarde owre pole, abowt. 27. minutes: And in
longitude from the place from whenfe they departed. 171. degrees. And from the Archipeiagus m the which
is the Hand of Zamal which our men named the Hand of theeues. ix. degrees and a halfe, and runneth to the
quarter of fouth fouthweft, and north northeaft, Terenate, is vnder the Equinoctial line foure minutes vnder
the pole Antartike. Mutir, is directly vnder the Equinoctiall line. Macchian is. xv. minutes toward the pole
Antartike, and Bacchian one degree. Thefe Ilandes are lyke foure (harpe mountaynes, except Macchian which
is not fharpe. The bygged of all thefe, is Bacchian.
Departynge from the Hand of Mare and directyng their courfe towarde the fouthweft, with onely. xlvi. men
in theyr fliyppe and. xiii. Indians, they paffed by the Ilandes of Chacouan, Lagoma, Sico, Gioghi, Caphi, Sulacho,
Lumatola, Tenetum, Buru, Ambon, Budia, Celaruri, Benaia, Ambalao, Bandan, Zorobua, Zolot, Noceuamor,
Galian, and Mallua, with dyuers other Ilandes both great and fmaule, of Moores, Gentyles, and Canibales.
0\vre men remayned xv. dayes in the Ilande of Mallua to repayre theyr fliyppe in certeyne places where it
tooke water. All the fieldes of this Ilande is full of longe and rounde pepper, and is fituate towarde the pole
Antartike vnder the Equinoctiall line. viii. degrees and a halfe, and is in the longitude of. 169. degrees and. 40.
minutes.
The pilote which owre men brought owt of the Ilandes of Molucca, toulde them that not farre from thenfe,
was an Hand named Arucetto in the which are men and women not part, a cubite in height, hauynge eares of
fuch byggenefle that they lye vppon one and couer them with the other. But owr men wolde not fayle thyther,
bothe bycaufe the wynde and courfe of the fea was ageynfte theym, and alfo for that they gaue no credite to his
reporte.
The. xxv. day of lanuary in the yeare. 1522. they departed from Mallua, and the day folowyng, anyued at
a greate Hand named Timor, beinge fine leaques diftante from Mallua betwene the fouth and fouthweft. In
this Ilande is founde the woodde of whyte fanders and ginger, and dyuers kindes of frutes. Alfo fundry kyndes
of beaftes, and plentie of vyttayle and golde. They of the Ilandes of Giaua, Molucca, and Lozon, refort to this
Ilande for fanders. Th[e]inhabitauntes are gentyles. They fay that when they go to cut the woodde of faunders,
the deuyll appeareth to them in dyuers formes and aflceth theym what they haue neede of: And that after this
vifion, many of them are longe ficke. In al the Ilandes of this Archipeiagus, rayneth the difeafe of laynt lob
(whiche wee caule the frenche poxe) more then in any other place in the worlde.
Farre from this Ilande betwene the weft and northweft th»y came to an Ilande named Eude, in the whiche
growethe great plentie of Sinamome. In this tracte are founde manye Ilandes lying in order as it were one
directly behynde an other, euen vnto the Ilande of the greater Giaua, named Giaua maior, and vnto the cape
of Malaccha, beinge in Eaft India. Giaua the lefle, is as bygge as the Ilande of Madera, and is but halfe a
leaque diftante from Giaua maior. Here they were informed that aboue Giaua maior toward the north, is a
great goulfe cauled the goulfe of China, in the which are trees of exceadyng byggenefle, inhabyted with foules
of fuche greatenes that they cary great beaftes in the ayer. The frutes of thefe trees are as bygge as cucummers.
The cape of Malaccha is one degree and a halfe aboue the Equinoctiall line towarde the pole Artike. On
the liaft fide of this cape, runneth a very longe coafte in the which are many regions and cities wherof fum are
cauled by thefe names, Cingaporla which is the cape. Alfo Pahan, Calantan, Patani, Braalin, Bentu, Longon,
and Odia wherin is the citie in the which dwelleth the kynge of Sian named Zacabedera. Theyr cities are
builded as owres are, and fubiecte to the kynge of Sian. After the realme of Sian, are the regions of lamgoma
and Campaa where Reubarbe groweth, of the which are dyuers opinions, fume fuppofynge it to bee a roote, and
other a putrifyed tree, affirmyng that yf it were not putrified, it fliulde not haue fo great a lauour. They caule
it Calama. Next vnto this, is found the great China, whofe kyng is thought to bee the greateft prince in the
worlde, and is named Santoa Raia. Furthermore, al that is written hereafter of this kyng and thefe regions,
they lerned by th[e]information of a Moore that was in the Ilande of Timor. He aflSrmed that the fayde kynge
hathe threefcore and tenne crowned kynges vnder his empyre, and hathe a porte in the fea named Canthan :
And two principal cities named Nauchin and Connulaha where he remayneth hym felfe, and hath euer foure of
The vyage rounde about the vvorlde.
261
his chiefe prmces lying abowt his pallaice on euery fyde, towarde the Eafle, Wefte, Northe, and South giuinge
dylygente attendaunce what is doone in euerye of theyr quarters. All the prynces of the greater India (cauled
India Maior,) and of that wherof I haue fpoken before, are obedient to this kynge. And in token that they
are trewe fubiectes, they keepe in theyr pallaices which are in the middeft. of theyr cities, the befle cauled Lin:^,
being fayrer then a lyon, And is the great kynges fignette, whiche all fuche as intende to go to China, beare
with them fealed in waxe or on a piece of luerye for theyr fafe conducte, withowt the which they may not enter
into the hauen.
When any of his kyngs rebell or are difobedient, he caufeth them to be flene, and falted and dryed at the
foone : Then to bee fluffed with chaffe, and fette vppe on fum hygh thyng in the myddeft. of the chiefe flreate
of the citie where al the people may fee it. He neuer fuffereth his owne perfon to bee openly feene to any
man. But when his noble men of the courte are defyrous to fee hym, he commeth downe frome hys pallaice
into a ryche pauylyon accompanyed with fyxe of hys principall concubynes appareyled with lyke veflures as is
he hym felfe. All thys way he is not feene by reafon of the pauylyon. When he hath paffed through the
pauylyon, he entereth into a ferpent named Nagha, being the mod marueylous and ryche woorke of the worlde,
and placed in the greatefl courte of the pallaice. When the kynge entereth into this with the women, to
th[e]intent that he may not be knowen among them, he caufeth the fayd noble men only to looke in at a
glafle which is in the brefte of the ferpente, where they fee the kynge amonge the women, but can not dicerne
which is he. He ioyneth in mariage with hys fyfler that the blud royall bee not myxt with any other. His
pallaice is enuironed with feuen large walles, the one being farre dyflante from the other. And hath in euery
fuch circuite tenne thowfande men for the garryfon of hys pallaice, who haue theyr waytinge dayes appoynted
them courfe by courfe with freffhe men in theyr places, and thus keepe theyr watch continually both daye and
nyght. In this pallaice are Ixxix. haules, in the which is an infinite number of women that ferue the kynge
hauyng euer lyght torches in theyr handes for the greater magnyfycence. He that wolde fee all the pallaice,
fhulde fpend a hole day therin. Amonge other, there are foure principal haules where fumtymes the kynge
gyueth audience to hys noble men. Of thefe, one is couered both aboue and beneth with metall, an other all
ouer with fyluer, the thyrde with gold, and the fourth mth pearles and precious flones. Thefe people of Chirm,
are whyte menne, appareled as we are, and eate theyr meate on tables as wee doo. They haue the croffe in
fum eflimation, but knowe not the caufe whye. Beyonde the coafle of China, are dyuers other nations and
people as Chenchii where pearles and cynamon are founde. Alfo the people named Lichii, where reyneth the
great kynge of Mien, hauyng vnder hym. xxii. kynges, and is fubiecte to the kyng of China. Here is alfo
founde the great citie of CATHAY in the Eaft, and dyuers other nations in the fayd firme land, of the
which fum are brutyffhe and befliall which vfe to kyll and eate theyr parentes when they are owld, thinking
therby that they (hall reuyue in them. All thefe people are gentyles.
The. xi. day of February in the yeare. 1522. they departed from the Hand of Timor and were ingulfed by
chance in the great fea cauled Lantchidol, and tooke theyr courfe betwene the wefle and fouth welle, leauynge
the northe coafles on theyr ryght hand, fearyng leafl. if they fhuld fayle toward the firm land, they myght bee
feene of the portugales who are of great power in Malaccha : and therfore dyrected theyr cours withowt the
Hand of Sumatra cauled in owld tyme Taprobana : Leauyng alfo on theyr ryght hand vpon the fyrm land, the
prouinces and regions of Pegii, Bengala, Calicut, Canonor, Goa, Cambaia, the goulfe of the Ilande of Ormus,
and all the coaftes of the greater India. And more fafely to pafle the cape of Buona Speranza being aboue
Affrike, they fayled about xlii. degrees toward the pole Antartike, and remayned feuen weekes abowte that
cape with many fetches compaffyng the wynd with theyr fayles contynually alofte, becaufe they had a wed and
north welle wynd in the proos of theyr (hyppe which wolde not fuffer them to paffe. The cape of Buona
^israwza, is toward the pole Antartik beneth the Equinoctiall line, xxxiiii. degrees and ahalfe: and. 1600.
leaques from the cape of Malaccha: And is the greatede and mode daungyerous cape that is founde at thys
day in al the worlde.
When they had by thefe perels ouerpaffed thys cape, certeyne of them afwell for lacke of vytayles as alfo
by reafon of fyckeneffe, were raynded to fayle to a hauen of the Portugales named Mouzambique aboue Affryke.
But the other anfwered that they wold rather dye then go to any other place then directly to Spayne. They
folowed theyr courfe therfore faylynge towarde the Southwed two monethes continually without touchynge at
any porte : In whiche tyme there dyed abowte. xxi. of theyr coompany, whom they cad into the fea. And
fuerly if god of his infinite mercie had not preferued the refidue in tyme, they hadde all dyed of famen.
In fine, beinge inforced of neceflitie, and halfe of theyr companye deade, they fayled to one of the
Ilandes of Capo verde cauled Infula SanHi lacobi, that is, faynte lames Ilande, parteyning to the kyng of
Portugale. Where, as foone as they arryued, they fent certeyne alande in the fhippe boate for vyttayles,
declarynge to the Portugales with all loue and fauour what neceffitie they were dryuen to and what miferies
and trauayles they had fufteyned, informynge them further of theyr marueylous viage and fuche thynges as they
The ^eater India
231
The beast cauled
Hnx.
The puntshenient
of re belles.
The kynge is net
scene but at a
glasse.
A thyng of strangt
workmanshyppe.
The kynge
maryeth his systei
His pallaice.
A marueilous
garde.
Women seme the
kynge.
Foure maruclous
haules
The people of
China.
The Cro:;£c.
The greate kyng
of mien
CATHAY.
The sea of
Lantchidol.
Malaccha.
The Hand of
Sumetra.
Pegu.
Bengala.
Calicut.
Canonor.
Goa.
Cambaia.
Ormus.
East Indix
Ca/M de Buona
Speranza,
The port of
Mouzambique,
232
Famen.
Capo Verde.
S. lames Ilande.
262
The vyage rounde about the vvorlde.
hadde feene in both the Ead and Weft. India, with fuch other gentel woordes wherby they obteyned certeyne
meafures of rife. But when afterwarde. xiii. of theym returned for more ryfe, they were deteyned : Where-
uppon the refl.e whiche remayned in the fliippe, fearynge the lyke chaunce, departed with full fayles, and the.
viL day of September with the helpe of god entered into the hauen of San Lucar nere vnto Siuile, where
difchargynge all theyr oidinaunce for ioy, they wente immediatly to the greate churche in theyr fhertes and
barefooted with a torche before them to gyue thankes to almyghtie god who had brought them fafe to theyr
owne countrey, and reftored them to theyr wyues and chyldren.
As touchynge th[e]ende of this viage, Tranfiluanus wryteth fumwhat more largely
as foloweth.
The ingratiWude
of the Portugales.
The port of saynt
Lucar nere vnto
SiuUe.
What became of
the other shyppe.
Dariena
The cape of
Cattigani.
Ptolome.
The vyage hardly
performed.
They bye slaues
for lacke of helpe
Maryners woorthy
immortal fame.
ArgOHauti.
The viage of lason
to wyn the golden
fieese.
The shyppe more
woorthy fame then
owlde Argo of
Grecia.
The vyage
The Other fliyppe which they lefte behynde them to bee repayred, returned afterwarde by the Archipelagus
aforefayde and by the great fea to the coaftes of the firme of the weft India, and arryued at a region of the
fame being ageynft Dariena, where the South fea of Sur is feparate but by a lyttle fpace of lande from the
Wefte Ocean in the which are the Ilandes of Jlifpaniola and Cuba, and other Ilandes of the Spanyardes. The
other fhyppe which returned into Spayne by compafmg abowt the whole bowle of the worlde by the coaftes of
Eaft India and Affrike, departynge from the Hand of Tidore, and faylynge euer on this fyde the Equinoctial!,
dyd not fynde the cape of Cattigara beinge aboue Afia, and (by the defcription of Ptolome) rechynge many
degrees beyonde the Equinoctial. But hauynge fayled many dayes by the mayne fea, they came to the cape
of Buona SperaJiza and frome thenfe to the Ilandes of Capo verde, where their ftiyppe beinge foore broofed by
reafon of the longe viage, leaked and tooke water, in fuche forte that the mariners being nowe but fewe in
number, and thofe alfo weake and feeble by reafon of longe fickeneffe and hunger, were not able both to drye
the poompe continually and otherwyfe goueme the (hippe : and were therfore of necefTitie inforced to goo
alande at the Ilande of faynte lames to bye theym certeyne flaues to helpe theim. But beinge deftitute of
mony, according to the cuftome of the mariners, they profered them cloues for theyr flaues. The which
thyng when it came to the eares of the Portugale that was Capitayne of that Ilande, he caft. xiiL of them in
prifon. Wherby the refidue that remayned in the fliippe (beinge nowe but. xviii. in number) were put in fuch
feare that they departed immediatly without refcuing theyr felowes, and fayled continually both by daye and
by nyght by the coaftes of Affrike, and came in fine to Spayne the. vi. day of September in the yeare. 1522.
and arryued at the porte nere vnto Siuile the. xvi. moneth after they departed from the Ilande of Tidore.
Mariners doubtleffe more woorthy to bee celebrate with eternal memorie then they whiche in owlde tyme were
cauled Argonauti that fayled with lafon to win the golden fleefe in the region of Chokhis and the riuer of
Phafis in the greate fea of Pontus. And the fhyppe it felfe, more woorthye to bee placed amonge the ftarres
then that owlde Argo which departynge owt of Grecia, fayled to th[e]ende of that great fea. For this owre
marueylous fhyppe, takynge her vyage from the ftraightes of Gibilterra and faylynge by the greate Ocean
towarde the South and pole Antartike, and turnynge from thenfe to the Wefte, folowed that courfe fo farre that
pafTynge vnder the great circumference of the worlde, fhee came into the Eafte, and frome thenfe ageyne into
the Wefte, not by retumynge backewarde, but ftyll faylynge forwarde, fo compafynge abowt the baule of the
world vnder the hole circumference of heauen vntyll fhee were myraculoufly reftored to her natiue region of
Spayne and houfe of Siuile.
\The prices of precious Jlones and /pices. 1
263
« OF THE PRICES OF PRECIOVS STONES AND SPICES,
WITH THEYR WEIGHTES AND MEASVRES
as they are accuftomed to bee foulde bothe of the
Moores and the gentyles: And of the
places where they growe.
233
aSBSBBBSSBSBsroOrafmuch as in dyuers places of this hiflorie, men-
'' ~* tion is made of precious ftones, I haue thought
good to declare fumewhat afwell of theyr prices
as of the places of theyr generation, that wee may
not vtterly bee ignorant of the thinges which we
fo grately efteeme and bye fo deare.
Of the Rubie.
He Rubies growe in India : and are founde
for the mofl parte in a ryuer named Pegu.
Thefe are of the befle kind and finefle,
whiche they of the lande of Malabor caule
Nunpuclo, and are well foulde if they bee
— —_««._— ^^y^ ^^^ cleane without fpottes. The
J5^ I ■■i»iiiiiiiiwii| jjj(jjans to knowe theyr fineneffe, put them
vppon theyr toonges, coumptynge that to bee bed that is couldell and mofl harde. And to fee theyr fineneffe,
they take them vp with a piece of waxe by the fharpeft poynt : and lookynge ageynfl the lyght, efpie in theim
euery fmaule fpot or flake. They are alfo founde in certeyne diepe foffes or pittes which are made in moun-
taynes that are beyonde the faid ryuer. They are fcoured and made cleane in the countrey of Pegu. Yet can
they not fquare and polylhe them. But for this purpofe fende them to dyuers other contreys, and efpecially to
Paleacate, Narfinga, Calicut, and the region of Malabar, where are many cunnynge Lapidaries.
And to gyue yow intelligence of the value of thefe Hones, ye (hall vnderilande that this woorde Fanan,
fignifiethe a weight fumwhat more then two of owre carattes : And. xi. Fanans and a quarter, is one Mitigal :
And. vi. Mitigales and a halfe, make one vnce. This Fanan, is alfo a kynde of money which is in value, one
ryale of fyluer. And therefore after this accompte I fay that
Eight fine rubies of the weyght of one
Fanan (which are in all, abowt two
carattes) are in value. Fanan *x.
Foure Rubies that wey one fanan, are
worth Fanan xx.
Two that wey one fanan Fanan xl.
One thatweyth three quarters of one fanan Fanan xxx.
One that weyth one fanan Fanan 1.
One that weyth one fanan and a quarter. Fanan Ixv.
One that weyth one fanan and a halfe Fanan C.
One that weyth one fanan and three
quarters Fanan C 1.
One that weyth two fanans. Fanan CC.
One that weyth two fanans and a quarter Fanan CC 1.
One that weyth two fanans and a halfe Fanan. ccc.
One that weyth two fanans and
thre quarters Fanan cccl.
Of three fanans Fanan ccca
Of three and a quarter Fanan D.
Of three and a halfe Fanan D 1.
Of three and three quarters Fanan D c
Of three and three quarters and a halfe Fanan D cxxx.
Of foure fanans Fanan D clx.
Of foure and a quarter Fanan D cc.
Of foure and a halfe Fanan D cccc
Of fyue fanans Fanan M.
Of fyue and a halfe Fanan M cc.
Of fyxe fanans, which are about xii.
carattes. Fanan M D. which make.
150. crownes of golde.
And thefe are commonly the prices of perfecte Rubies. But fuche as are not perfecte, and haue any
fpottes in them, or are not of good coloure, are of leffe prife accordynge to the arbitriment and eftimation
of the byer.
•«3
One carattc is iiii
grames
{♦Which is one
(crown of golde
264
The prices of precious Jiones and f pices.
234
♦Which are iii. )
crow[n]esofgoIdef
C Of the Rubies which growe in the Ilande of Zeilam.
ilN the Ilande of Zeilam, beinge in the feconde India, are foun^le many Rubies which the
Indians name Manecas, the greatefl. parte wherof do not arriue to the perfection of the
other aforefayde in coloure, bycaufe they are redde as though they were wafflied, and
of a flefhye colour. Yet are they very coulde and harde. The perfectefle of theym
are greatly efleemed amonge the people of the Ilande, and referued only for the kynge
hym felfe if they bee of any great quantitie. When his iewelers fynde any bygge piece
of this rocke of the belle kynde, they put it in fyer for the fpace of certeyne houres. Which
if it coomme owt of the fyer vncorrupte, it becommeth of the coloure of a bumynge cole, and was therfore
cauled of the Greekes, Anthrax, which fignifieth a bumyng cole. The fame that the Greekes caule Anthrax,
the Latines caule Carbunculus. Thefe they greatly efleeme. When the kyng of Narfmga can get any of theym,
he caufeth a fine hole to bee boored in the vndermoft. part of them to the myddell: And fuffereth none of
them to paffe owt of his realme : efpecially if they haue byn tryed by the fayde profe. Thefe are of greater
value then the other of Pegu, if they bee in theyr naturall perfection and cleaneneffe.
Of thefe, one that weith a
carratte
Of fixe carattes and a halfe
Fanan
Dbc.
(whiche is halfe a fanan) is
woorthe
Of feuen carattes
Fanan
Dcxxx.
in Calecut.
Fanan
•xxx.
Of feuen carattes and a halfe
Fanan
Dcbc
One of two carattes
Fanan
Ixv.
One of. viii. carattes that hath
bynne
Of three carattes.
Fanan
cl.
wel proued in the fier, is woorthe
Fanan
Dccc.
Of three carattes and a halfe
Fanan
cc.
Of. viiii. carattes and a halfe
Fanan
Dcccc
Of foure carattes
Fanan
ccc.
One fuch of tenne carattes
Fanan
Mcca
Of foure carattes and a halfe
Fanan
cccl.
One of. X. carattes and a halfe
Fanan
MDc
Of fyue carattes
Fanan
cccc
Of. xii. carattes
Fanan
MM
Of fyue carattes and a halfe
Fanan
cecal.
Of. xiiii. carattes
Fanan
MMM
Of fyxe carattes
Fanan
Dxxx.
Of. xvi. carattes
Fanan
6000.
€1 Of the kynde of Rubies cauled Spinelle.
Here is alfo founde an other kynde of Rubies which wee caule Spinelle and the Indians,
Caropus. They growe in the felfe fame countrey of Pegu where as are the fine Rubies :
And are found in the mountaynes in the vpper cruft or floure of the earth. Thefe are not
fo fine nor of fo good colour as are the trewe Rubies : But haue fumwhat the colour of a
granate which we commonly caule a garnet. Yet of thefe fuche as are parfecte in theyr
coloure, are of value halfe leffe then trewe Rubies.
C Of the Rubies cauled Balafft.
Alafli, are of the kyndes of Rubies, but are not fo harde. Theyr colour is fumwhat lyke a rofe,
and fum are in maner whyte. They growe in Balafiia, whiche is a region within the fimie
lande aboue Pegu and Bengala: And are browght from thenfe by marchauntes of the
Moores to Calecut where they are wrought and polyfflied : And are fould of the fame price
that are Spinelle.
C Of the Dianiundes of the owlde myne.
Hefe Diamundes are founde in the fyrlle India in a kyngdome of the Moores named Decan,
from whenfe they are brought to other regions. There are alfo founde other Diamundes
whiche are not fo good, but fumewhat whyte, and are cauled Diamundes of the newe myne
which is in the kyngedome of Narfinga. They of the owlde myne, are not polyfhed in
India, but in other places. There are made lykewyfe in India, other falfe Diamundes of
Rubies, Topafes, and whyte Saphires, whiche appere to bee fine : and are alfo founde in
the Ilande of Zeilam. Thefe Hones differ in none other, fauynge that they haue lofte theyr
s64
The prices of precious Jiones and f pices.
265
naturall colour. Of thefe, fumme are founde that haue halfe the coloure of Rubies, and other of Saphires :
other alfo of the coloure of a Topafe. Other haue all thefe coloures mengled togyther. They bore a fine hole
in thefe throughe the myddefl, wherby they appere lyke the eyes of a catte. Of the whyteft, they make many
fmaule diamundes whiche can not bee knowen frorn the trewe, fauynge by touchinge of fuch as are fkylfull in
that practife. They are foulde by a poyfe or weight which they caule Mangiar, which wayeth two Tarre, and
two thyrdes, which amount to two thjTdes or thirde partes of one caratte. For foure Tarres, wey one fanan
whiche is abowt two carattes.
Viii. Diamundes that wey one mangiar
(which is two third partes of a caratte)
are in value. Fanan xxx.
which are three crownes of golde.
235 vi. Diamundes that wey one mangiar
Foure that wey one mangiar
Two that wey one mangiar
One that weith one mangiar
One of one mangiar and a quarter
One of one mangiar and a halfe
Of one mangiar and three quarters
Of two mangiars
Fanan
xl.
Fanan
Ix.
Fanan
Ixxx.
Fanan
C.
Fanan
clxv.
Fanan
clxxx.
Fanan
ccxx.
Fanan
cccxx.
Of two mangiars and a quarter Fanan ccclx.
Of two mangiars and a halfe Fanan ccclxxx
Of two mangiars and three quarters
ful perfect Fanan 420
Of three mangiars of lyke perfection Fanan ccccl.
Of three mangiars and a halfe Fanan cccclxxx.
Of foure mangiars Fanan Dl.
Of fyue mangiars Fanan Dccl.
Of fyxe mangiars Fanan Dccc.
Of feuen mangiars. Fanan Mcc.
Of eyght mangiars Fanan Mecca
And thus they proceade, increafynge the price as they increafe in weight.
C Of Saphires.
N the Ilande of Zeilam are founde the belle and molle trewe Saphires, beinge very harde and
fine, and of the coloure of azure. They are of price as foloweth.
One that weith one caratte is of value Fanan il which are abowt two marcels of fyluer.
One of the weight of two carattes Fanan v.
Of three carattes Fanan x.
Of foure carattes Fanan xv.
Of fyue carattes Fanan xviii.
Of fyxe carattes
Of feuen carattes
Of eyght carattes
Of nine carattes
Of tenne carattes
Of xi. carattes
Of xiL carattes
Fanan
Fanan
Fanan
Fanan
Fanan
Fanan
Fanan
Of xiiii. carattes
Of XV. carattes
Of xvi. carattes
Of. xviii. carattes
One that weith a mitigal, which is. vi.
fanans and a quarter that is abowt
xxiii. carattes
Fanan
Fanan
Fanan
Fanan
Clx.
Clxxx.
CC.
CCl.
Fanan CCCl.
xxviu.
XXXV.
1.
Ixv.
1.
Ixv.
Ixxv.
Of xiii. carattes in all perfection of coloure Fanan Cxv.
Lykewyfe in the Ilande of Zeilam, is founde an other forte of Saphires which they caule Quinigelinam. Thefe
are not fo ftronge, of darker colour and of much leffe value then are the other of the beft kynde, wherof one is
woorth. xiii. of thefe of cquall poife. Alfo in the kyngedome of Narfmga, in a mountayne aboue Bacanor and
Mangalor, is founde an other fort of Saphires more tender and of woorfe colour, whiche they caule Cingano-
1am. Thefe are fumwhat whyte and of fmaule value : So that the moft perfect of this kynde, weyinge. xx.
carattes, is not woorth one ducate. Theyr colour is inclynynge fumwhat to yelowe. There is lykewyfe found
an other kynde of Saphires vppon the fea coaRes of the kyngedome of Calicut, in a place named Capucar.
Thefe the Indians caule Carahatonilam. They are of a darke afure coloure not fliynynge but in the cleare
ayer. They are alfo tender and brickie, and of fmaule eftimation amonge the Indians. They feeme on the
one fyde lyke glafie.
C Of Topafies.
He natural Topafies, growe in the Ilande of Zeilam, and are named of the Indians Furceragua.
It is a harde and fine Hone: and of equall eftimation with the Rubie and the Saphire,
bycaufe all thefe three are of one kynd. The perfecte colour of this, is yelowe lyke vnto
fine beaten golde. And if it bee perfect and cleane, whether it bee greate or lyttle, it is
woorth in Calicut as much fine gold as it weyeth. But if it bee not perfect, it is woorth the
weight of gold the fanan, which is leffe by the halfe. And if it bee in maner whyte, it is
woorth much leffe. And of thefe, are fmaule diamundes counterfecte.
265
A marcell, is a
syluer coine of
Veniccj of xi.
vnces. lii. d. with
fine, wherof ten
make an vn[c]c
266
The prices of precious Jlones and f pices.
C Of Turqueffes.
Vrqueffes are founde in Exer a place of Siech IfmaeL Theyr mine is a drye earth that is
236 Rjuii wBmi^m founde vpon a black (lone, which the Moores take of in fmaule pieces, and carye them to
the Hand of Ormus, from whenfe they are brought to dyuers partes of the worlde by fea
and by lande. The Indians caule them Perofe. They are foft (tones, of fmaule weight and
not much coulde. And to knowe that they are good and trewe, in the day they (hall appere
of the verye colour of the Turqueflfe : and in the nyght by the lyght, they (hall appere
greene. They that are not fo perfect, do not fo change their colour to the fight If thefe
(lones bee cleane and of fine colour, they haue vndemeth in the bottome, a blacke (lone, vppon the which
they growe. And if any lyttle vayne ryfe vppon the fayde (lone, it (halbe the better. And to knowe more
certeynely that they are trewe Turqueffes, they put on the toppes of them a lyttle quicke lime tempered with
water after the maner of an oyntment So that if the quicke lime appere coloured, they are iudged perfecte,
and are of value as foloweth.
Fanan CC.
Fanan CCC.
Fanan CCCCl.
Fanan DL
One that weith one caratte, is worth in
Of viii. carattes
Malabar.
Fanan.
XV.
Of x. carattes
One of two carattes
Fanan
xl.
Of xii. carattes
Of foure carattes
Fanan
xc.
Of. xiiii. carattes
Of. vi. carattes
Fanan
CI.
Of greater then thefe they make none accompte bycaufe they are lyghter pieces and of greater circuite.
of the byggefl forte the Moores carie into the kyngedome of Guzerath.
Thef^
C Of lacinthes.
lAcinthes growe in the Ilande of Zeilam. They are tender ftones and yelowe. They are bed
that are of diepefte colour. The greatefl part of thefe, haue in them certeine pimples or
burbuls, whiche diminifhe theyr fayreneife. And they that are in theyr perfection cleane
from this deformitie, are neuertheleffe of fmaule value. For in Calicut where they are
polyf(hed, they that wey one fanan are woorth no more then halfe a fanan. And they of
xviii. fanans, are not worth, xvi. fanans.
There are alfo founde other (lones lyke vnto cattes eyes, as Chrifolites, and Amethiftes,
whiche they doo not muche efteeme bycaufe they are of fmaule value, as alfo the (lones cauled Giagonze.
C Of Smaragdes or Emeraldes.
Maragdes growe in the countrey of Babilon, where the Indians caule the fea Dieguan. They
grow alfo in other partes of India. They are (lones of fayre greene colour, and are lyght and
tender. Of thefe (lones, many are conterfecte. But lookyng on them curioufly towarde the
lyght, the conterfectes fhewe certeyne burbuls, as dooth glalTe. But in the trewe, there is no
fuch feene. But rather there appeareth to the eye a certeyne verdour (hynynge lyke the
beames of the foonne. And beinge rubbed vppon the louche (lone, they leaue the coloure
of copper. And the Smaragde of this forte is the bed and mod trewe : And is in value in
Calicut, as muche as a diamunde and fumwhat more : And this not by weyght, but by greateneffe, bycaufe the
diamunde quantitie for quantitie, is of greater weyght then the Smaragde. Ther is lykewyfe founde an other
kyndc of Smaragdes, whiche are greene dones, but not fo much edeemed. Neuertheleffe, the Indians referue
thefe to fet them foorth with other precious dones. They leaue not any greene coloure vppon the louche.
<«6
The prices of precious Jiones and f pices.
267
i[ Of dyvers kyndes of Spices, where they grow,
WHAT they are WOORTH IN CaLICUT, AND WHITHER
THEY ARE CARIED FROM THENSE.
C Of Pepper.
Yrfle in all the kyngedome of Malabor and Calicut pepper groweth: and is fould in Calicut by
euery. CC. [two hundred] Bahars, fine, for. CCxxx, [two hundred and thirty] fanans, euery
fanan (as I haue fayde) beinge in value, one ryall of plate of Spayne : which is as muche as
one marcell of fyluer in Venice. Bahar, weith foure cantares of the owld weight of Portu-
gal e, by the whiche they fell all fpices in Lifbona. Can tar, is in Venece. Cxii. [one
hundred and tvvelue] pounde weyght of the grofe pounde (beinge. xviii. vnces) and of the
fubtyle pounde. C. Ixxviii. [one hundred and feuenty-eight] So that the fayde. 7 1 2. poundes
of Venece fubtile, wyl cofl abowt. xx. frenche crownes of golde : which amount to abowt two Marchetti (whiche
make one peny) the pounde. They pay alfo to the kyng of Calicut for cuflome. xii. fanans euery Bahar by the
lode. They that bye them, are accuflomed to brynge them to Cambaia, Perfia, Aden, and Mecha, and from
thenfe to Alcayre and Alexandria. Nowe they pay cuflome to the kynge of Portugale after the rate of. 6562.
Maruedies the Bahar, vhich are. 193. fanans. Maruedies are Spanyfhe coynes wherof. vi. go to a peny. This
doo they partly bycaufe there arryueth no more fo greate diuerfitie of marchantes to bye them, and partly by
the agreement which the fayde kynge of Portugale made with thofe kynges, and the Moores, and marchauntes
of the countrey of Malabar.
Much pepper groweth lykewyfe in the Ilande of Sumatra nere vnto Malaca, which is fayrer and bygger then
that of Malabar, but not fo good and flronge. This is brought from Bengala to China, and fumme parte to
Mecha, priuilie and by flelth, vnwares to the Portugales which wolde not otherwyfe fuffer them to paffe. It is
woorth in Sumatra, from. iiii. C. [four hundred] vnto. vii. C. [feuen hundred] marauedis the cantar of Portugale,
of the newe weight. And frome the newe to the owlde weight in Portugale, the difference is, twoo vnces in the
pounde weight. For the owlde pounde confiileth of. xiiii. vnces, and the newe pounde of xvi. vnces.
237
C Of Clones.
I.oues growe in the Ilandes of Molucca, from whenfe they are brought to Malacha, and then
to Calicut and the countrey of Malabar. They are woorth in Calicut euery bahar (which is.
712. poundes of the fubtyle pound of Venece) from. 500. to. 600. fanans (which are abowte
fyftie frenche crownes,) which are in value abowte. xii. marchetti the pounde weight. And
beinge cleane from flalkes and hufkes are in value 700 fanans. To cary theym frome thenfe
into other regions, they paye for pafporte. xviii. fanans the bahar, which is woorth in
Malacca from. x. to. xiiii. ducades accordynge to the rate and cuflome of the marchauntes.
C Of Cinamome.
Inamome of the befl fort, groweth in the Ilande of Zeilam : and in the countrey of Malabar,
growethe the woorfl. That of the befle kynde, is of fmaule price in Zeilam. But in Calicut
(if it bee choife and frefhe), it is woorth CCC. [three hundred] fanans the bahar, whiche are
abowte fiue marchetti the pounde.
•67
268
The prices of precious /tones and f pices.
C Of Ginger cauled Beledi.
Inger Beledi, groweth on euery fyde abowte Calicut from fyxe to nine myles : And is woorth
the bahar. xl. fanans, and fumtymes fiftie, whiche is leffe then one marchetto the pounde.
They brynge it from the mountaynes and owt of the contrey to the citie, where they fell
it by retayle to the Indian marchauntes, who gather it togither in greate quantitie and ke|)e
it to fuch tyme as the Moores fliyppes arryue there, to whom they fell it, by the price of
xc. [ninety] fanans, to Cx. [one hundred and ten] whiche is leffe then two marchetti the
pound, bycaufe the weight is greater.
239
C Of Ginger Mechino.
Inger Mechino groweth, begynnynge from the mountayne of Deli, vnto Canonor. It is fmaule,
and not fo whyte nor fo good as the other. It is woorthe the bahar in Cananor, abowt. ly.
fanans whiche is abowte one marchetto the pounde. They pay for the bahar fyxe fanans
in money for the cuflonie. It is fould vnclenfed or vnpurged.
C Of greene Ginger in conferues.
N Bengala is founde greate plentie of Ginger Beledi, of the whiche they make muche Ginger in
conferues with fuger, and cane it in flone pots from Martabani to bee fould in the countrey
of Malabar. And is woorth the farazuola (which is. xxii. poundes and fyxe vnces) after the
rate of xiiii. xv. or. xvi. fanans.
That that is frefhe and made in conferues, is woorth in Calicut, xxv. fanans the farazuola,
bycaufe fuger is dere there. Greene ginger to put in conferues, is woorth in Calicut three
quarters of one fanan the farazuola, which is abowte twoo poundes for one marchetto.
C Of the Apothecaries drugges: And of what price
they are in Calicut and Malabar.
Acca of Martabani, if it bee of the belle, is woorth the farazuola, which is. xxii. pounde weyght
and fyxe vnces of Portugale after, xvi. vnces the pounde (whiche is abowte. xl. pounde
weyght of the fubtyle pounde of Venece) And is in value, xviii. fanans : whiche are. xviii.
marcels of filuer. For one fanan, is in value abowte one marcell of fyluer.
Lacca of the contrey, is woorth the farazuola
Borace that is good and in great pieces is woorthe the farazuola.
Camphire that is groffe in cakes, is woorth the farazuola
Camphire to annoynt Idoles,
Camphire for theyr chyldren to eate, is woorth the mytigal.
Aguila is woorth the farazuola
Lignum aloe, blacke, heauy, and fine, is woorth
Mufke of the bed is woorth the vnce
Beniamin of the befle, is woorth the farazuola
Tamarindi being newe, are woorth the farazuola
Calamus aromaticus, the farazuola
Endego to dye filke, trewe and good, the farazuola
Mirre, the farazuola.
Frankenfence good and in graynes, is woorth the farazuola
Frankenfence in pafle of the bafeft forte, the faraz[uola].
Ambracan or amber greefe that is good, is woorthe the metical
Fanan
xu.
Fanan.
XXX. to. xl. and 1.
Fanan.
Ixx. to. Ixxx
«
• •
Fanan
iii.
Fanan.
ccc. to. cccc.
Fanan.
M.
Fanan
xxxvi.
Fanan
Ixv.
Fanan.
iiii.
Fanan
xii.
Fanan.
XXX
Fanan
xviii. to. XX.
Fanan
XV.
Fanan.
iii.
Fanan
ii. to. iii.
The prices of precious Jlones and f pices.
269
Mirabolanes in conferue of fuger, the faraz[uola].
Caffia, freflie and good, the farazuola.
Redde Sanders, the farazuola
Whyte Sanders and citrine, whiche growe in the Ilande of Timor, the farazuola
Spikenarde, frefhe and good, the faraz[uola].
Nutte megges, whiche coome frome the Ilande of Bandan where the bahar is woorth
from. viii. to. x. fanans, (which importe. vi. poundes weight to the marchetto)
are woorthe in Calicut, the faraz[uola].
Mace which is brought from the Ilande of Bandan where the Bahar is woorth fiftie
fanans (which import abowt one marchetto the pounde) are woorth in Calicut
the farazuola.
Turbithes, are woorth the farazuola
Woorme feede of the bell kynde, cauled Scmenzina, is woorthe the farazuola.
Zerumba, the farazuola
Zedoaria, the farazuola
Gumme Serapine, the farazuola
Aloe cicotrine, the farazuola
Cardamome in graynes, the farazuola
Reubarbe groweth abundantly in the councrey of Malabar: And that which commeth
from China by Malacha, is worth the farazuola
Mirabolani emblici, the farazuola
Mirabolani belirici, the farazuola
Mirabolani citrini and chebuli, which are al of one fort.
Mirabolani Indi, which are of the fame citrine trees
Tutia, the farazuola
Cububes which growe in the Ilande of laua or Giaua, are there of fmaule price, and
fould by meafure withowt weight.
Opium which is browght from the citie of Aden where it is made, is woorth in
Calicut the faraz[uola].
Opium of an other fort which is made in Cambaia is woorth the farazuola,
Fanan.
xvi. to. XXV
Fanan
one and a halfe
Fanan.
V. to. vi.
Fanan.
xl. to. Ix
Fanan.
XXX. to. xl.
Fanan
x. to. xii.
Fanan
XXV. to. XX.K.
Fanan
xiii.
Fanan
Fanan
XV.
ii.
Seedes that kyll
lyse.
Fanan
i.
Fanan
XX.
Fanan
xviii
Fanan
XX.
Fanan xl. to. 1.
Fanan ii.
Fanan one and a halfe.
Fa[nan] iL
Fa[nan] iii.
Fanan xxx.
Fanan. cclxxx. to. cccxx
Fanan cc. to. ccl.
€1 Of the weyghtes of Portugale and India : And howe they agree.
He pound of the owld weight, conteyneth. xiiii. vnces. The pound of the newe weight con-
teyneth. xvi. vnces. viii. cantares of the owlde weyght, make. vii. of the newe. And euery
newe cantare, is of. C. xxviii. [one hundred and twenty-eight] poundes after, xvi. vnces to
the pounde
Euery owlde cantare, conteyneth three quarters and a halfe of the newe cantar : And is
of C. xxviii. [one hundred and twenty-eight] poundes, after, xiiii. vnces the pounde.
One farazuola, is. xxii. poundes of xiiii. vnces, and vi. vnces more, with two fifte partes.
Twentie farazuoles, are one Bahar.
One bahar is. iiii. cantares of the owld weight of Portugale. All the Spices and drugges, and all fuche
other thinges as coome from India, are fould in Portugale by the owld weight and all the refle by the newe
weyght
C Hereby may we well confider that as we owght to reioyfe and gyue god thankes
for the abundaunce of al thefe thynges which he caufeth the earth fo plentifully to brynge
foorth to owre vfe, io may we lament th[e]abufe of men whofe couetoufneffe caufeth
great dearth and fcarfeneffe in the myddeft of abundance : herein no leffe offendyng the
lawe of nature then doo fuch as by wychcrafte intermingle poyfon with thynges created
for the health of man, or by inchauntment corrupt the feedes in the ground : ye rather as
the vnnatural mother who deftroyeth the chylde whom fhe hath longe nuryfhed.
238
270
[Two Notes added by Eden, apparently to fill up the Leaf.]
Jr^ Of the Dooues of the Ilande of Madera.
Adamuftus wryteth, that before the Portugales came to this Ilande, it was ouergrowen
with trees and vnhabited. Yet were there many beafl.es, and great plentie of dooues which
were vtterly without feare of men bycaufe they had neuer feene any men before, nor yet
were accuftomed to bee put in feare. In fo much that they ftode fl.yl whyle fnares were
put abowte theyr neckes with longe rods and poles. The which thynge he fayth he hath
alfo feene in other Ilandes. There are many ryche men in this Ilande, and great abun-
daunce of flefhe, bycaufe the hole Ilande is in maner one gardeyne.
C Of the Ilande of faynt Thomas vnder the Equinoctiall line
He chiefefl occupacion and liuynge of th[e]inhabitauntes of this Ilande, is the makynge of
fuger, which they fell yearely to the fliyppes that coomme for it owt of Spayne and Portu-
gale laden with buttes of meale and floure, alfo wyne, oyle, cheefe, lether, fwoordes, cuppes
of glaffe, beades, certeyne fcaruels of the fine whyte earthe cauled Porcellana, of the which
are made the earthen dyffhes of the woorke of Maiolica. And if it were not that fuch
vyttayles and prouifions were brought them owt of Spaine and Portugale, the whyte mar-
chauntes which dwell in that Ilande (perteynynge to the dominion of the kinge of Portugale)
fliulde not bee able to lyue there, forafmuch as they are not accuRomed to eftte fuch meates as doo the Ethi-
opians or Negros. And therfore the Portugales whiche inhabite this Ilande, haue certeyne blacke flaues of
Guinea, Benin, and Manicongo, which they fet to tyll and laboure the grounde and make fuger. Amonge thefe
whyte inhabitauntes, there are many ryche men which haue. 150. or. 200. and fum. 300. blacke flaues of men
and women to tyll the grounde and doo other laborious woorkes. This Ilande was difcouered foure fcore yeares
fence by the nauigations of the Portugales and was vnknowen to the owlde wryters. It lyeth in the greate
goulfe of Affrike in the. 30. degree of longitude from the Weft to the Eaft, and is in maner rounde. It is of
largenefle from fide to fyde. Ix. Italian myles, (that is to fay) one degree. The horizontal line of the Hand,
pafleth by the two poles, Artike and Antartyke : and hath euer the day equall with the nyght without any fenfi-
ble difference, whether the fon bee in Cancer or in Capricorne. The ftarre of the pole Artike, is there inuifible :
But the wardens are feene fumwhat to moue about : And the fl.arres cauled the Crofle, are feene very hyghe.
Of this Ilande with the other landes and Ilandes lyinge betwene Portugale and the fame, a certeyne pylotte of
Portugale hath wrytten a goodly vyage to Conte Rimondo.
•JO
\Contencion for the trade of fpicesT^
271
C THE DEBATE AND STRYFE
BETWENE THE SPANYARDES AND PORTUGALES,
for the diuifion of the Indies and the trade of Spices: and
alfo for .the Hands of Molucca, which fum caule
Malucas. IVrytten in the Spanyfte toonge by
Francisco Lopez de Gomara.
He[e]mperoiirs maieftie was verye gladde that the Malucas and
Hands of the fpicery were difcouered : and that he myght paffe
vnto them through his owne countreys withowt any preiudice or
hurte to the Portugales : And bycaufe alfo that Almanzor, Luztu,
and Corala which were the lordes of the fpicerie, fhewed them
felues to bee his frendes and became tributaries to hym. He
alfo gaue certeyne gyftes and rewardes to lohn Sebaflian for his
great paynes and good fejuice, forafmuch as he craued a rewarde
for the good newes that the Ilandes of the Malucas and other
Ilandes rycher and greater then they, were found to bee in
his part of thofe countreys which perteyned vnto hym accord-
ynge to the popes bull. And hereby it came to pafle that
there was great contention and flrife betwene the Spanyardes
and the Portugales abowte the fpicerie and the diuifion of the
Indies by reafon of the retume of lohn Sebaflian and th[e]in-
formation whiche he gaue therof Who alfo affirmed that
the Portugales had neuer any enteraunce before that tyme
into thofe Ilandes. Here vppon, the counfayle for the Indies, aduertifed Th[e]emperoure to maynteine his
fleete for thofe partes, and to take the trade of fpices into his owne hand, forafmuch as it was his owne of
dewtie, afwell for that thofe Ilandes fell on his parte, as alfo that he had nowe founde paflage and waye through
his weft. Indies into thofe regions. And finally to confyder that he fhulde thereby obteyne and gette to him
felfe greate reuenues befyde th[e]inrychynge of his fubiectes and realmes, and that with fmaule coafle and
charge. The[e]emperoure beinge thus aduertifed of the truth, tooke it for good counfayle, and commaunded
all thynges hereunto apperteynynge to bee fumyffhed accordyngely. In this meane tyme, when kynge lohn of
Portugale had knowleage what th[e]emperour determyned to doo, and the fpeedy hafl his counfayle made for
the performance herof, and of the commynge home of lohn Sebaflian of Cane, with th[e]information he made,
what of floutneffe of mynde and what for greefe, was puffed vp with anger as were alfo the refle of the Portu-
gales, flormynge as thowgh they wolde haue plucked downe the fkye with their handes, not a lyttle fearynge
leafle they fhulde lofe the trade of fpices, if the Spanyardes fhulde once put in theyr foote. Whervppon the
kynge immediatly made fupplication to Th[e]emperoure, not to fet forwarde any fhyppes vntyll it were deter-
myned to whether of theym thofe Ilandes fhulde belonge : And that he wolde not fo muche endomage hym as to
caufe him to liefe the trade of fpices which was fo commodious and profitable to hym. And finally to auoyde
th[e]occafion of murther and bludfhed whiche were lyke to enfue thereof, yf the Spanyardes and Portugales
fhyppes fhulde meete togyther. Th[e]emperoure althowghe he knewe that all this was but to make (^lays and
prolongynge of tyme, yet was he gladde to haue it tryed by iuflice for the better iuflification of his caufe and
ryght In fine, both parties were agreed to appoynt lerned men, Cofmographers and Pylots which fhulde
determine the controuerfie betwene, them: promyfynge on bothe parties to abyde and flande to the fentence
and determination made by thofe perfons appoynted and fwome to iudge indifferentely.
240
lohn Sebastian.
The cause of
contencion.
The trade of spice
perteyneth to
Th[e]emperoure.
lohn kyng of
Portugale.
The trade of
Spices.
The controuerste
determined by
CosmographeiS
yiots.
and Pylc
^
272
Contencion for the trade of fpices.
The arbytrers on
the Emp[e]rours
syde.
241
Sebastian Cabote.
Instruments of
Cosmographie.
The Ilandes of
Maluca.
The arbitrers on
the Portugales
syde.
The place where
they mette.
Th[e]order of
theyr proces.
The Portugales.
Contention fur
drawynge the line
of the diuision.
Howe the
Portugales were
deceaued.
The Sisanyardes
allegations
Samatra.
Malacha.
China.
Magallanes.
Buena Vista.
The Ilandes of
Cabo Verde.
242
w
s
■ '. ••(>*• ■ ■*.
C The repariicion and diuifion af the Indies and newe worlde betwene
the Spanyardes and the Portugales.
His matter concemyng the trade of fpices and the newe worlde of the Indies, by reafon of the
greate ryches therof was of greate importaunce and very difficuhie to bee Umitted and
and drawen foorth by lines. By reafon wherof, it was neceflarie and conuenient to feeke
wyfe and woorfhypful men expert in nauigations, in Cofmographie, and the mathematical!
faiences. Th[e]emp[e]roure for his fyde, chofe and named for iudges of the poffefTion, the
licentiate Acuna, one of the kynges confayle. Alfo the Ucentiate Barrientos of the counfayle
of the orders : The licentiate Petro Manuel auditour of the courte of the Chauncerie in
Valladolith. For iudges of the propertie, he chofe Don Fernando Colono the foonne of Chriflopher Colonus :
Alfo doctor Sancho Salaya, Peter Ruiz of Villegas, fryre Thomas Duran, Simon of Alcazaua, and lohn
Sebaftian of Cano. His aduocate and atturney, he made the licentiate lohn Rodriguez of Pifa: and for his
fyfcal doctor Ribera, and his fecretarie, Barthalome Ruiz of Callaneda. He alfo apoynted that Sebaftian
Cabote, Steuen Gomes, Nunnio Garcia, Diego Riuero, being al expert pilots and cunning in making cardes
for the fea, fhuld be prefent, and brynge foorth theyr globes and mappes with other inftrumentes neceflarie to
declare the fituation of the Ilandes of the Malucas abowt the which was al the contention and ftryfe. But
order was taken that they fhulde fhewe theyr myndes on neyther fyde, nor enter into the coompany of the other
but when they were cauled. Al thefe and diuers other, wente togyther to a towne cauled Badaioz : and as many
Portugales came to Elbes, or rather more. For they browght with them two fifcals and two aduocates. The
principall of theym, was the licentiate Antonie de Afleuedo, Diego Lopes of Sequeyra the clarke of the weightes
and receptes, who had before byn gouernour in India. Alfo Peralfonfo of Melo, clerke : Simon of Tauira, with
dyuers other whofe names I knowe not. Before they mette togyther, the one parte remaynynge at Badaioz and
the other in Elbes, there was much ^00 amonge them beefore they coulde agree vppon the place where they
(hulde mete and who fhuld fpeke fyrfte. For the Portugales doo greatly weighe fuche circumftances. At the
laft, they concluded to meete togyther at Caya a lyttle ryuer which diuideth Caftile from Portugale, flandynge
in the mydde way betwene Badaioz and Elbes. And when they were affembled togyther one day at Badaioz
and an other daye at Elbes and faluted the one the other, bothe parties were fwome that they fhulde proceade
and fpeake accordynge to truth, iuftice, and equitie. The Portugales refufed Simon de Alcazaua becaufe he
was a Portugale : and fryer Thomas Duran bycaufe he had fumetyme byn preacher to theyr kynge : So that
Simon was by confent put owte of the coompany, in whofe roome was placed mafter Antonie of Alcaraz. Yet
fell they not to reafonynge the matter vntyll the fryer was put owt. They were manye dayes in beholdynge
globes, mappes, and cardes of the fea, and hearynge what myght bee fayde, both fydes alleagynge for the right
which they pretended. But the Portugales ftandynge in vayne contention, fayde very angerly the Ilandes of
Maluca whereuppon theyr meetynge and refonynge was at that prefente, fell of theyr parte and was of theyr
conqueft. And that they both had byn there, and had them in theyr pofleflion before lohn Sebaftian had euer
feene them. Lykewyfe that the line fliulde bee drawen from the Ilande of Bonauifta, or the Hand cauled de
la Sal, which are the moft Eafterly Ilandes from Cabouerde, and not from the Ilande of Santanton or faynt
Antonie, which lyeth towarde the Weft, and are. Ixxxx. leaques the one from the other. Al this was no more
but to contend : and the other of the Malucas, is vntrewe. But they that haue a nawghtie matter muft fet it
foorth with woordes and brabelynge. Here they founde howe greatly they were deceaued in that they
demaunded that the line (hulde bee drawen three hundreth. Ixx. leaques more to the Weft from the Ilandes of
Cabouerde (as appeareth hereafter) and not one hundreth accordyng to th[e]afrignement of the popes bul. The
Spanyardes on the contrary parte affirmed and made demonftration, that not only the Ilandes of Bumey,
Gilolo, Zubut, and Tidore, with the other Ilandes of the Malucas. But afwell Samatra, Malacha, and a great
parte of China, fliuld belonge to the Caftilians : and that thofe countreys fell on theyr fyde and on the parte of
theyr conqueft : Alfo that Magallanes and lohn Sebaftian were the fyrfte Chriftian men that founde them and
obteyned them for Th[e]emperour, as the letters and prefentes of Almanzor doo teftifie. And although the
Portugales had byn there fyrfte, yet wente they thyther after the donation of the pope: neyther got they any
ryght df iufte tytle thereby. For althowgh they fhulde drawe the Hne by Buena Vifla, what inconuenience
fliulde folowe thereof, fith afwell by the one way as the other, the Ilandes of the Malucas muft perteyne to the
Caftilians : yea and moreouer, the Ilandes of Cabo verde fliulde alfo perteine to the Caftilians, forfomuch as
drawynge the line by Buena Vifta, the Ilandes of the Malucas doo remayne within the line on the Emperours
fyde. They continued in thefe controuerfies for the fpace of two moonethes without anye refolution or ende
Contencion for the trade of f pices.
273
made. For the Portugales prolonged and put of the matter, flying from the fentence with cauillations and could
reaibns to th[e]ende that they myght dilTolue that affemble without any conclufion or determination : for fo it
floode them vppon. The Caftilians which were the Judges of the propertie, drewe a line in the great globe three
hundreth and. Ixx. [feuenty] leaques from faynt Antonies Ilande, lyinge by Wefle Cabo Verde accordynge to the
intreatie and determination whiche was agreed vppon betwene the Catholike princes and the kynge of Portugale.
Thefe iudges gaue fentence vppon this matter, caulynge the contrary parte before them vpon the bridge of
Caya in the yeare. 1524. The Portugales coulde neyther difturbe or deferre the fentence, nor yet wolde they
alowe it to bee iuft and accordynge to ryght : Sayinge that there was not fufficient proceffe made that they
fhulde paffe to the gyuynge of fentence. And fo departed threatenyng to fley the Caftilians as many as they
fliulde fynde in the Ilandes of the Malucas. For they knewe ryght well that heyr contreymen the Portugales had
alredy taken the fhyppe cauled the Trinitie and had alfo taken the Caftilians in Tidore. Then alfo departed
owre men, takynge theyr iomey to the courte gyuynge vp to Th[e]emperour all theyr wrytynges and declaration
what they had doone. And accordynge to this declaration muft bee figned and marked all globes and mappes
which good Cofmographers and mafters doo make. The line alfo of the reparticion and laft diuifion of the
newe world of the Indies, ought to paffe (lyttle more or leffe) by the poyntes of Humos and Buen Abrigo, as I
haue fayde in an other place. And thus fhall it appeare euidently that the Ilandes of Spices, and alfo the greate
Ilande of Zamotra, do perteyne to Caftile. But the lande of Brafile perteyneth to the kynge of Portugale where
the cape of faynt Auguftine is, beinge. viii. degrees beneth the Equinoctiall. This lande reacheth from the
poynte of Humos to the poynte of Buen Abrigo : and is in lengthe North and South, viii. hundreth leaques.
Beinge alfo fum way two hundreth leaques Eaft and Weft.
And hereafter thefe ferious matters, wee wyll rehearfe one mery thynge, which was this. It fo chaunced
that as Frances de Melo, Diego Lopes of Sequeyra, and other of thofe Portugales of this affemble, walked by
the ryuer fyde of Guadiana, a lyttle boy who ftoode keepynge his mothers clothes which fhe had waflied,
demaunded of theym whether they were thofe men that parted the world with Th[e]emperour And as they
anfwered, yea: he tooke vp his (hert and fhewed them his bare arfe, fayinge: Coomme and drawe yowre line
here throughe the myddeft. Which fayinge was afterwarde in euery mans mouth and laughed at in the towne
of Badaioz : yea euen amonge the commiffioners them felues, of whom fum were angry, and fumme maruayled
at the fayinge of the chylde.
C The cattfe and auforitie wherby they diitided the Indies.
He Caftilians and Portugales had longe debated and reafoned abowt the golde m}-ne of Guinea
which was found in the yeare of owre lorde 147 1, in the tyme of the reigne of Don Alonfo
Kynge of Portugale the firfte of that name. This was a matter of greate importaunce. For
the negros or blacke Moores, for thynges of no value, gaue golde by hole handefuls whyche
was at that tyme when the fayde Kynge of Portugale pretended title and clayme to the
kingedome of Caftile in the right of his wyfe Queene lohn (cauled the excellent) ageynfte
the Catholike princes Ifabel and Don Fernando whofe it was in deede. But that ftryfe was
ended as fone as Don Fernando had vanquiffhed Don Alonfo at a place cauled Temulos not farre from Toro,
which place* Don Fernando chofe rather to make warre ageinft the Moores of Granada, then to bye and fell
with the blacke Moores of Guinea. And thus the Portugales remained with the conqueft of Affryke from the
ftreightes forwarde : whiche began where the infante of Portugale Don Henrique (fonne to kynge lohn the
baftarde and mafter of Auis) dyd begynne to enlarge it. When pope Alexander the. vi. (beinge a valentinian
borne) had knowleage hereof, he mynded to gyue the Indies to the kinges of Caftile withowt any preiudice to
the Portugales who had conquered the fea coaftes of Affryke. Thefe Indies, the pope gaue of his owne mynde
withowte the motion of anye other, with this burden and charge that they fliulde conuert the Idolatours to the
faythe of Chryfte : And commaunded a line or meridian to bee drawen Northe and fouth from one hundreth
leaques Weftwarde beyond one of the Ilandes of Cabo Verde towarde the Wefte, bycaufe the Spanyardes fliulde
not meddle in Affryke perteynynge to the conqueft of the Portugales, to th[e]auoydynge of all ftryfe betwene
them. Kynge lohn of Portugale, the feconde of that name, was greatly offended when he redde the bull and
donation of the pope, althowgh his owne ambaffadours had made the felfe fame requeft vnto his holyneffe. He
alfo found hym felfe agreeued with the Catholyke princes Ifabell and Fesnando, that they had fliortened the
courfe of the landes he had difcouered, depriuynge hym of the rycheffe which belonged to hym. And therfore
refufed to ftande to the popes bull in this cafe: defyrynge the Catholyke princes Ifabell and Fernando to graunt
him three hundreth leaques more to the Wefte, befyde the one hundreth which they had graunted before : and
therwith fent his fliyppes to kepe the coaftes of Affryke. The princes Catholyke were content to fatiffie his
Eden. • There is a hiatus here.- E. A. Y n%
The Portugales
cauillations.
The line of
diuisiun.
The sentence.
The Portugales
threaten death to
the Castilians.
The line of the
last diuision.
The great Hand
of Samotra.
The lande of
Brasile, perteineth
to the Portugales
A mery tale.
The golde myne
of Guinea.
Alonso kynge of
Portugale.
Gold for thynges
of smaul value.
Contention for the
kyn^dome of
Castile.
Warre agenst the
Moores of
Granada.
The conquestes of
the Portugales in
AfTrike.
Pope Alexander.
243
The Pope makcth
the diuisioa.
The kynge of
Portugale refuseth
to stand to the
Popes buU.
274
Contencion for the trade of f pices.
The agreement of
the last diuision
VTierein the
Portugales were
deccaued.
Sebastian Cabote.
Thrclemperour
and the kinge of
Portugale ioyned
in aliance by
mariage.
The Portugales
robbe the
Castilians
The coronation of
Th[e]emperour.
244
The gageing of the
1 lands of Matucas.
zamatra and
Malaca.
mynde and to pleafe hym accordynge to theyr gentle nature and for the aliance that was betwene theym: And in
fine, with the confent and agreement of the pope, graunted twoo hundreth. Ixx. [feuenty] leaques more then the
bull made mention of : At Tordefillas the. vii. day of lune, in the yeare of owt lord 1494. And wheras owt kynges
thought that they (hulde haue lofl grounde in grauntynge fo many leaques that way, they woonne by that meanes
the Ilandes of the Malucas with many other ryche Ilandes. The kynge of Portugale alfo, herein deceaued him felfe
or was deceaued of his whom he put in trud, hauynge no certeyne knowleage of the fituation of the Ilandes of the
riche Spicery in demaundyng that which the kynge dyd demaunde. For it hadde byn better for hym to haue
requeued the three hundreth and. Ixx. leaques rather Eaftwarde from the Ilandes of Cabo Verde then towarde
the wefl. And yet for all that, I double whether the Malucas fliulde haue faulen within his conquefl accordynge
to the ordinarie accoumpte and dimenfion which the pylotes and Cofmograpliers doo make. And after this
maner they diuidcd the Indies betwene them by th[e]autoritie of the pope for the auoydynge of further (Iryfe
and contention,
^ Howe and by what occafton Th\e'\emperoiire layde the Ilandes of
the Malucas to pledge to the kynge of Portugale.
Hen the kynge of Portugale Don luan the thyrde of that name, had knowleage that the Cofmo-
graphers and pylottes of -Caflile hadde drawen the line from the place before named, and that
he could not denye the truth, fearing alfo therby to liefe the trade of Spices, made fate and
requeft to Th[e]emperoure that he (hulde not fend furth Loaifa nor Sebaftian Cabote to the
Malucas, and that the Caflilians fliukle not attempte the trade of fpices nor fee fuch euyls
and miferies as his capitaynes had fhewed in thofe Ilandes to them that aduentured that
viage with Magalanes. Which thynge he greatly couered, although he payde all the charges
of thofe two fleetes, and made other great bargens. In the meane tyme, Th[e]emperoure maryed the Lady
Ifabell fyfter to kynge lohn: and kynge lohn maryed the lady Catharine fyRer to Th[e]emperour: whereby this
matter waxed coulde although© the kynge ceafed not to fpeake hereof, euer mouynge the particion. Th[e]em-
perour by the meunes of a certeine Bifcaine that was with Magallanes in the gouernours (hyppe, had knowleage
what the Portugales had doone to the Caflilians in the Hand of Tidore, wherof he took great difpleafure, and
brought the fayde maryner face to face before th[e]ambaffadours of Portugale, who denyed all that he fayde, one
of them beinge the chiefe capitayne and gouernour of India when the Portugales tooke the Caflilians in Tidore
and robbed them of theyr Cloues and Cinamorae and fuch other thynges as they had in the fhyppe named the
Trinitie. But as the kynge of Portugales trade was greate, and owre neceffitie greater, in the meane tyme Th[e]-
emperoure (who was nowe goinge into Italie to bee crowned in the yeare. 1529) gagied the Malucas and the
fpicerie to the kynge of Portugale for three hundreth and fiftie thoufande ducades withowt any tyme determyned
otherwyfe then the controuerfie was defined vppon the brj'dge of the ryuer of Caya : for the which thynge, kynge
lohn punyfhed the licentiate Azeuedo bycaufe he payde the money withowt declaration of the time. The couenaunt
of the pledge was blyndely made and greatly ageynfl the myndes of the Caflilians, as men that wel vnderflode the
profile, commodilie, and rycheffe of that trade : Affirmynge that the trade of fpices myght haue byn rented for one
yeare or for two, for fyxe tymes as much as the kinge gaue for it. Peter Ruiz of Villegas who was twyfe cauled
to the bargeyne, as once at Granada and an other tyme at Madrid, fayde that it had byn muche better to haue
pledged Eflremadura or Serena, or other greater landes and cities, rather then the Malucas, Zamatra, or Malaca,
or other riche landes and ryuers in the Eafle not yet well knowen : forafmuche as it maye fo chaunce,
that eyther by continuaunce of tyme, or aliance, the pledge myght bee forgotten as thowgh it perteyned
to the ryght of Portugale. In fine, Th[e]emperour confidered not the iewel that he pledged, nor the kyng
what he receaued. Th[e]emperour was often tymes counfayled to releafe the pledge of thofe Ilandes in
confideration of the great vantage he myght haue therby in fewe yeares. Furthermore, in the yeare. 1548.
the procuratoures of Cortes being in Valladolid, made peticion to Th[e]emperour to furrender the fpicerie
to the kyngedoome of CaRile for. vi. yeares, and that they wold repay to the kyng of Portugale his. 350. thou-
fand crownes, and after thofe yeares, reflore the trade to the crowne, that his maieflie myght inioye the fame as
was agreed at the begynnynge. But Th[e]emperour beinge then in Flaunders, fente woorde to the counfayle
that they (hulde not affent to Cortes his requeft, nor fpeake any more hereof. Wherat, fum marueyled. other
were fory, and all held theyr peace.
275
[Amerigo Vespucci,
and
Andreas de Corsali.
Of the Pole Antarctic, and the stars
about the same A
277
C OF THE POLE ANTARTIKE AND THE
STARRES ABOWT THE SAME AND OF THE
QUALITIE OF THE REGIONS AND DISPOSITION OF
the Elementes abowt the Equinoctiall line.
Alfo certeyne fecreates touchyng
the arte of faylynge.
Mericus Vefputius in the Summan'e of his vyages,
wryteth in this maner as foloweth.
Departynge from Lifbona (commonlye cauled Lufheburne)
the. viii. day of May, in the yeare. 1501. we fayled fyrft. to the
Ilandes of Canarie and from thenfe to Capouerde which the
Ethiopians or blacke Moores caule Bifineghe, beinge. xiiii.
degrees on this fyde the Equinoctiall line. From whenfe
directynge owre courfe towarde the South pole by the South-
wefl, we fawe no more land for the fpace of three moonethes
and three dayes. Of whiche tyme durynge. xl. [forty] dayes,
we had cruell fortune : In fo muche that for that fpace, the
heauen in maner neuer ceafed thunderyng, rorynge, and
lyghtenynge with terrible noyfe, and fearefuU fyghtes of fyery
exhalations flyinge abowt in the ayer, and in maner continuall
fhowers of rayne with darke clowdes couerynge the heauen in fuch
forte that afwell in the day as in the nyght we coulde fee none
otherwyfe but as when the moone giueth no lyght by reafon of thicke and darke clowds The fea was in lyke cafe
vnquieted with furgies and monfters. After thefe greuous and cruel days, it plefed god to haue compaflion on
owr Hues. For wee fuddenly efpied land wherby we recouered owr fpirites and (Irength. This land which wee
founde, is from Capo Verde. 700. leaques, although I fuppofe that we fayled more then. 800. by reafon of the
cruel tempefl and ignoraunce of the Pylottes and mariners whereby wee were lyke to haue byn cafl away. For
wee were in fuche daungerous places wanderynge in vnknowen coades, that if I had not byn fkylfull in the
fcience of Cofmographie we had fuerly peryflied, forafmuch as there was not one pylot that knewe where wee
were by the fpace of fiftie leaques. In fo much that if I had not in tyme prouyded for the fafegarde of myne
owne lyfe and them that were with me, with my quadrant and ARrolabie inflrumentes of Aftronomie, wee had
flyl wandered lyke blynde men. But when in fine I had perfuaded the pylots by demonftrations perteynynge
to that arte, they gaue me great honour and confeffed that the ordinarie pilottes and mariners ignorant in
Cofmographi, are not to bee compared to men of fpeculatiue knowleage. etc.
Wee fayled by the coafte of the fayde lande. 600. leaques And w^nt oflentymes alande where wee were
frendely and honorably interteyned of th[e]inhabitauntes : In fo much that confiderynge theyr innocent nature,
we fumtymes remayned with them. xv. or. xx. dayes. This firme lande begynneth beyonde the Equinoctiall
line. viii. degrees towarde the pole Antartike. Wee fayled fo farre by the fayde coafte that wee pafTed the
wynter Tropyke towarde the pole Antartike by xvii. degrees and a halfe, where we had the Horizontal line
eleuate fiftie degrees. Such thynges as I fawe there, are not yet knowen to men of owre tyme : as the people,
theyr cuftomes and maners, the fertilitie of the lande, the goodnes of the ayer, the fauourable influence of
heauen and the pianettes, and efpecially the order of the ftarres of the eyght fphere in the inferioure hemifpherie
or lower halfe circle of heauen towarde and abowt the South pole, wherof neyther the owlde or newe wryters
haue made any mention to this daye.
Y 2 «77
Caboucrde.
Bmeiiegha,
A tempest.
The ignorance of
Pylots and
manners.
The vse of
Cosmofijaphic.
The vse of the
quadrant and
Astrolabie,
245
The pole
Antartike.
Tlie starres abowt
the south pole.
278
Of the pole Antartike.
Most pleasant and
fruiful regiuns.
The earthlye
Paradyse.
Continual
tcinperatnesse
Moyst dewes
Starres vnknowen
to vs
The vse of
Geometri.
Notable stars in
the inferiour
hemispherie.
Most bright and
shyuynge starres.
Lactea via.
246
"nie inferiour
hemispheric
The rayncbowe.
AHstotle his
opinion of the
raynebowe.
A strange opinion.
To wryte particularly of the commodities and felicities of thefe regions, it wolde requyre rather a hole
volume then a booke : And that fuch, as if Plinie had had knovvleage of thefe thynges, he myght greatly haue
increafed his bookes of naturall hiflories. The trees gyue from them continually fuch fweete fauours as can
fcarfely bee imagined : And on euery part put furth fuch gummes, liquours, and iufes, that yf we knewe theyr
vertues, I fuppofe we myght fynde in them marueylous medicins ageinft difeafes and to mainteyne health. And
fuerly in my opinion, yf there bee any earthely Paradyfe in the worlde, it can not bee farre from thefe regions
of the fouth, where the heauen is fo beneficiall and the elementes fo temperate that they are neyther bytten
with coulde in wynter, nor molefled with heate in fummer. The ayer alfo and the heauen is feldome darkened
with clowdes, fo that the dayes and nyghtes are euer cleare. Yet haue they fumtymes moyfl dewes in the
momynge and euenyng for the fpace of three houres, whereby the grounde is marueyloufly refreffhed. Lyke
wyfe the firmament is marueyloufly adoumed with certeyne flarres which are not knowen to vs, wherof I noted
abowt. XX. to bee of fuche cleareneffe as are the flarres of Venus and lupiter when they are nere vnto vs. And
wheras hauynge the knovvleage of Geometric, I confidered theyr circuite and dyuers motions, and alfo raeafured
theyr circumference and diameter, I am well affured that they are much greater then men thynke them to bee.
Amonge other, I fawe three flarres cauled Canopi, wherof two were exceadynge cleare, and the thyrde fumwhat
darke. The pole Antartike hath nother the greate beare nor the lyttle as is feene abowte owre pole. But hath
foure flarres whiche compaffe it abowt in forme of a quadrangle.
# #
fl When thefe are hydden, there is feene on the lefte fyde a bryght Canopus of three (larres of notable
greatneife, whiche beinge in the myddefl of heauen, reprefenteth this figure.
After thefe, fucceade three other {hynynge llarres, whereof that which is in the mydded, is of meafure. xiL
degrees and a halfe in circumference. And in the myddefl of thefe, is feene an other bryght Canopus. After
this, folowe. vi. other fhynynge flarres which in bryghtnefle paffe al other that are in the eyght fphere. Of thefe,
that that is in the mlddefl in the fuperficiall part of the fayde fphere, hath the meafure of his circumference,
xxxii. degrees. After thefe foloweth an other great Canopus, but fumwhat darke. All thefe are feene in the
parte of heauen cauled Via LaSlea, that is the mylke waye : And beinge ioyned to the meridiane line, (hewe
this fygure here folowyngfe
# * * #
fawe alfo there manye other flarres, the dyuers motions wherof diligently obferued, I made a
particular boke of the fame, wherin I made mention of al fuch notable thyngs as I fawe and
had knoweleage of, in this nauigation. The whiche booke I deliuered to the kynges maieflie,
truflynge that he wyll fhortly reflore it me ageyne. In this hemifpherie or halfe coompafTe
of the heauen, I diligently confidered many thinges which are contrarie to th[e]oppinions of
philofophers. And amonge other thynges, I fawe a whyte raynebowe abowt mydnyght,
wheras other affirme that it hath foure colours of the foure elementes, as redde of the fyer,
greene of the earth, whyte of the ayer, and blewe of the water. But Ariflotle in his booke intiteled Mcteora,
is of an other opinion For he fayth that the raynebowe is a reflection of the beames of the foonne in the
vapoure of a clowde directly ageynfle the foonne, as the fhynyng of the fame on the water, is reflected on a
waule : And that the fayde clowde or vapoure tempereth the heate of the foonne : and beinge refolued into
rayne, maketh the grounde fertyle, and pourgeth the ayer. Alfo that is a token of abundaunt moyflure. By
reafon wherof, fum are of opinion that it fliall not appeare. xl. [forty] yeares before th[e]ende of the worlde, which
fhalbe a token of the dryneffe of the elementes approchynge to the tyme of theyr conflagration or confumyng
by fyer. It is a pledge of peace betwene god and men, and is euer directly ouer ageynfl the foonne. It is
therfore neuer feene in the South, bycaufe the foonne is neuer [feene?] in the North. Neuertheleffe, Plinie fayth,
978
Of the pole Antartike.
279
that after the Equinoctial in Autumne, it is feene at al houres. And thus much haue I gathered owte of the
commentaries of Landinus vppon the fourth boke of Virgyl his Eneades, bycaufe I wold defraude no man of
his trauayle. I fawe the fayd raynebowe twoo or three tymes. And not I onely, but alfo many other which
were in my coompany. Lykewyfe wee fawe the newe moone the felfe fame day that fhee ioyned with the
foonne. Wee fawe furthermore vapours and burnynge flames flyinge abowt heauen euery nyght A lyttle
before, I cauled this countrey by the name of Hemifpherium (that is) the halfe fphere. Which neuerthelefTe
can not bee fo named but by fpekynge improperlie in comparyfon of owres. Yet forafmuche as it feemeth to
reprefent fuche a forme, I haue improperlye fo named it
Departynge therfore from Lifbona (as I haue fayde) beinge from the Equinoctiall line towarde the North
abowt. xl. [forty] degrees, wee fayled to this countrey whiche is beyonde the Equinoctiall. 1. [fifty] degrees : All
which fumme, maketh the number of. Ixxxx. [ninety] beinge the fourth part of the greatefl circle accordynge
to the trewe reafon of the number tawght by the owlde autours. And by this demonftration it is manifefl.
that wee meafured the fourth parte of the
OVASEKxift)
worlde: Forafmuch as we that dwell in Lif-
ona on this fyde the Equinoctial line abowt.
xl. [forty] degrees towarde the Northe, fayled
from thenfe. Ixxxx. [ninety] degrees in lengthe
meridionale angularly by an ouerthwart line,
to th[e]inhabitantes. 1. [fifty] degrees beyond
the Equinoctiall. And that the thynge may
bee more playnely vnderflode, imagine a
parpendicular line to faule from the poyntes
of heauen which are Zenith (that is the
pricke ouer the head) to vs both ftandynge
vpryght in the places of owre owne habita-
cions : and another ryght line to bee drawne
frome owre Zenith to theyrs : Then graunt-
ynge vs to bee in the ryght line in com-
paryfon to them, it muft. of neceflitie folowe
that they are in the ouerthwart line as halfe
Antipodes in comparyfon to vs: In fuche
forte that the figure of the fayde lines make
a triangle which is the quarter or fourth
parte of the hole circle, as appeareth more
playnely by the fygure here folowynge.
S touchyng the ftarres and reafons of Cofmographie, I haue gathered thus
much owt of the vyage of Americus Vefputius. And haue thought good
to ioyne hereunto that whiche Andreas de Corfali writeth in his vyage
to Eafl; India as concernynge the fame matter.
After that we departed from Lifbona, wee fayled euer with profperous wynde, not
paflynge owt of the Southeaft and Southweft. And paiTyng beyonde the Equinoctial line,
we were m the heyght of. 37. degrees of the other halfe circle of the earth. And trauerfynge the cape of Bona
Speranza a coulde and wyndy clime bycaufe at that tyme the foonne was in the north fignes, wee fourtde the
nyght of xuii. houres. Here we Ikwe a marueylous order of ftarres, fo that in the parte of heauen contrary
to owre northe pole, to knowe in what place and degree the fouth pole was, we tooke the day with the foonne,
and obferued the nyght with the Aftrolabie, and fawe manifeftly twoo clowdes of reafonable bygnefle mou-
ynge abowt the place of the pole continually nowe ryfynge and nowe faulynge, fo keepynge theyr continuall
courfe in circular mouynge, with a ftarre euer in the myddeft which is turned abowt vvith them abowte. xi.
degrees frome the pole. Aboue thefe appeareth a marueylous croffe in the myddeft of fyue notable ftarres
which compaffe it abowt (as doth charles wayne the northe pole) with other ftarres whiche moue with them
abowt. xxx. [thirty] degrees diftant from the pole, and make their courfe in. xxiiii. [twenty-four] houres.
This croffe is fo fayre and bewtiful, that none other heuenly gne may be compared to it as may appeare by
this fygure. 1 iv j
The newe mone.
Fyery exhalations.
Hemispherium.
Ltsbona,
The fowrth part of
the worlde.
247
Zenith,
The vyage of
Andreas de
Corsali.
The Equinoctial
line.
Cap. de speranza.
The starre-s of the
vnder hemispherie.
Cloudes abowt the
south pole.
A crosse of fyue
starres.
28o
Of the pole Antartike.
248
\rV
/v^
\
N
^
$;si)(pDl(3ntact%r* }3«a^cCeoair«
The coaste*: of
Ethiope.
Golde in Etliiope.
The vj-agc of
Aloisius
Cadamustus.
The chariote of
the south pole.
F the lyke matters, and of the flraunge ryfynge of the foonne in the
mornynge, and of the dyuers feafons of the yeare and motions of the
Elementes in the coafte of Ethiope abowt the ryuer of Senega, and the
riche region of Gambra where plentie of golde is founde, fumewhat
beyonde Capo Verde, Aloifius Cadamuflus wryteth in this effecte.
Durynge the tyme that wee remayned vppon the mouth of the ryuer, we Ikwe the
north flarre but once: which appered very lowe aboue the fea the height of a iauelen.
We faw alfo fyxe cleare, bryght, and great (larres verye lowe aboue the fea. And confiderynge theyr (lations
with owre coompaffe, we founde them to (lande ryght fouth, fygured in this noaner.
*
# *
* *
The wyntcr abowt
the Equinoctialt.
Uame and clowdes.
Thunder and
lyghtnynge.
Hot showres of
rayne.
The day, and
rysynge of the
Booime.
E iudged them to bee the chariotte or wayne of the fouth : But we fawe not the principall
(larre, as we coulde not by good reafon, except we fhuld firft lofe the fyght of the north pole.
In this place wee founde the nyght of the length of a. xi. houres and a halfe: And the day
of xii. houres and a halfe at the begynnynge of luly. This countrey is euer hotte al times
of the yeare. Yet is there a certeyne varietie which they caule wynter. For from the
moneth of luly to October, it rayneth continually in maner dayly abowt none after this forte.
There ryfe continually certeyne clowdes aboue the lande betwene the northeaft and the
fouth eafl, or from the eafl. and fontheafl with greate thunderynge and lyghtnynge and excead-
ynge great fhowers of raine At this tyme the Ethiopians begynne to fowe theyr feedes. They lyue commonly
with hony, herbes, rootes, fleffhe, and mylke. I had alfo intelligence that in this region by reafon of the great
heate of the ayer, the water that raineth is hotte : And that the foonne ryfynge in the mornynge, makethe no
cleare daylyght as it dooth with vs : But that halfe an houre after the ryfynge, it appeareth troubeled, dynime
and fmoky. The whiche thynge, I knowe not to proceade of any other caufe then of the lowenefle of the
grounde in this contrey beinge without mountaynes.
28 1
[The Third English book on America,
Which is also
The First English Collection of Voyages, Traffics, & Discoveries.
Cfte l3rcatr^5S of tfte nrtoe toorllre or iot&t Knlriaf, etc
SECTION IV.
0/ Moscovy, Cathay, and
the North Regions,
1500-1555.]
283
CA DISCOVRSE OF DYVERS
WAGES AND WAVES BY THE WHICHE
SPICES, PRECIOUS STONES, AND GOLDE WERE BROUGHT IN OWLDE
tyme from India into Europe and other partes of the world.
ALSO OF THE WAGE TO CATHAY AND EAST INDIA
by the north fea : And of certeyne fecreates touchynge the fame vyage,
declared by the duke of Mofcouie his ambaffadoure to an excellent
lerned gentelman of Italic, named Galeatius Butrigarius.
Lykewyfe of the vyages of that woorthy owlde man
Sebaflian Cabote, yet liuynge in Englande, and at this
prefent the gouernour of the coompany of the
marchantes of Cathay in the citie of London.
T is doubtleffe a marueylous thynge to confyder what chaunges and
alterations were caufed in all the Romane Empire by the com-
mynge of the Gothes and Vandales, and other Barbarians into
Italy. For by theyr inuafions were extinguyfhed all artes and
fciences, and all trades of Marchaundies that were vfed in dyuers
partes of the worlde. The defolation and ignoraunce which
infued hereof, continued as it were a clowde of perpetuall darke-
nefle amonge men for the fpace of foure hundreth yeares and more,
in fo much that none durfl aduenture to go any whyther owt of
theyr owne natiue countreys: whereas before th[e]incurfions of
the fayde Barbarians when the Romane Empire floryffhed, they
might fafly paffe the feas to al partes of Eafl India which was
at that time as wel knowen and frequented as it is nowe by the
nauigations of the Portugales. And that this is trewe, it is mani-
fefl by that which Strabo wryteth, who was in the tyme of
Auguflus and Tiberius. For fpeakynge of the greatneffe and
ryches of the citie of Alexandria in Egypte (gouemed then as a
prouince of the Romanes) he wryteth thus. This only place of Egypte, is apte to receaue all thynges that
coome by fea, by reafon of the commoditie of the hauen : And lykewyfe all fuch thynges as are brought by lande,
by reafon of the ryuer of Nilus wherby they may bee eafely conueyde to Alexandria, beinge by thefe commodi-
ties the rycheft citie of marchauntes that is in the worlde.
The reuenues of Egypt are fo great, that Marcus Tullius layth in one of his orations, that kynge Tolomeus
fumarned Auleta, the father of queene Cleopatra, had of reuenues twelue thoufande and fyue hundreth talentes,
which are feuen millions and a halfe in golde. If therfore this kyng had fo great reuenues when Egypt was
gouemed of fo fewe and fo negligently, what myght it then bee woorth to the Romanes by whom it was gouerned
with great diligence, and theyr trade of marchandies greatly increafed by the traffike of Trogloditica and India ?
wheras in tyme pade there could hardly bee founde. xx. (hyppes togyther that durfle enter into the goulfe of
1 BJL^ayC^JhMroi
f^Mi
Iffi^'eKifK ^ 4j|
n^&!&^!b*^ H
^^^
^^^ 1
^^M
Mflesi^^Kfl ^^^S
i^^i
^PJpTi^i H
iVKBaSisSHKa 1
^■^^■■M
m
249
The romainc
empyre.
iiii. hundreth
yeares of
Easte India well
knowen in owld
time.
Strabo.
The great rychesse
of Egipte.
The citie of
Alexandria.
Marueylous
rychesse.
The gouemaunce
and reuenues of
the Romans.
Trogloditica
and India.
284
Of Mofcoiiie and Cathay,
The goulfe of
Arabic.
Ethiope.
Rich customs
The rychesse
which were
brought in owtde
tyme from India,
and the red sea.
The commission of
The[e] mperours
Marcus and
Commodus.
250
The great riches
the kynges of
Egipte had by
customes.
The noble
enterprises of the
kinges of Egypte.
Arsinoe.
Danuata.
Felusio.
Nilus.
Copto.
Berenice.
A nautgable
trensh made from
Egypte to tht red
sea
Locus Amaru
Kynge Sesostre
Kynge
Psammiticus.
Kyng Darius
Kynge Ptolomeus.
The citie Heroum.
What Plynye
writeth of the
nauigable trenche
The larjjenesse
and lengtheof the
trenche.
251
Arabic, or fhewe theyr proos withowt the mouth of the fame. But at this prefent, great nauies fayle together in
to India and to the furthefl partes of Ethiope from whenfe are brought many rych and precious marchandies
into Egipt and are caryed from thenfe into other countreys. And by this meanes are the cuflomes redoubeled
afwell by fuche thynges as are brought thyther, as alfo by fuche as are caryed frome thenfe, forafmuche as greate
cuflomes arryfe of thynges of great value. And that by this vyage, infinite and precious marchaundies were
brought from the redde fea and India, and thofe of dyuers other fortes then are knowen in owre tyme, it
appeareth by the fourthe volume of the ciuile lawe wherin is defcribed the commiffion of Th[e]emperours Marcus
and Commodus, with the rehearfall of all fuche lluffe and marchandies wherof cudome fhuld bee payde in the
redde fea by fuch as had the fame in fee ferme, as were payde the cuflomes of all other prouinces perteynynge
to the Romane Empyre : and they are thefe folowynge.
Cinamome.
Longe pepper.
Whyte pepper.
Cloues.
Coftus.
Cancamo.
Spikenarde.
Caflia.
Sweete perfumes.
Xilocaffia,
Mir.
Amome.
Ginger.
Malabatrum.
Ammoniac.
Galbane.
Laffer.
Agarike.
Gumme of Arabic.
Cardamome.
Dyed cloth and fylkc
Carbafei.
Sylke threcde.
Gelded men.
Popingiayes.
Lions of India.
Leopardes.
Panthers.
Purple.
Xilocinamome. lewcls of Sardonica.
Carpefio. Ceraunia.
Sylkes of dyuers fortes. Calamus Aromaticus.
Linnen cloth. Berille.
Skynnes and furres of Cilindro.
ParthiaandBabilon. Slaues.
luery. Cloth of Sarmatia.
Wodde of Hcben. The fylke cauled
Precious flones. Metaxa.
Perles. Veflures of fylke.
Alfo that iuife or liquour which is gathered of wolle and of the heare of the Indians.
By thefe woordes it dooth appeare that in owld tyme the fayde nauigation by the way of the redde fea, was
wel knowen and muche frequented, and perhappes more then it is at this prefent. In fo much that the auncient
kynges of Egypt confideryng the great profyte of the cuflomes they had by the viages of the red fea, and wyllyng
to make the fame more eafy and commodious, attempted to make a foffe or chanel which (hulde begynne in the
lafle parte of the fayde fea, where was a citie named Arfmoe (which perhappes is that that is nowe cauled Sues)
and fhulde haue reached to a branche of the ryuer of Nilus named Pelufio, which emptieth it felfe in oyae. fea
towarde the ILaft. abowt the citie of Damiata. They determyned alfo to make three caufeis or hyghe wayes by
lande, which fhulde pafle from the fayde braunche to the citie of Arfmoe : but they founde this to difficulte to
brynge to pafle. In fine, k)nnge Tolomeus furnamed Philadelphus, ordeyned an other way: as to fayle vppon
Nilus ageynfl the courfe of the ryuer vnto the citie of Copto, and from thenfe to paffe by a deferte countrey
vntyll they coome aboue the redde fea to a citie named Berenice or Mioformo, where they imbarked all theyr
marchaundies and wares for India, Ethiope, and Arabic, as appeareth by the wrytynge fyrft of Strabo (who
wrytcth that he was in Egypte) and then by Plinic who was in the tyme of Domitian. Strabo alfo fpeaking of
the fayd fofle or trench which was made toward the red fea, wryteth thus.
There is a trenche that goth towarde the red fea and the goulfc of Arabic, and to the citie of Arfinoc, which
fum caul Cleopatrida: and pafleth by the lakes named Amari (that is) bitter, bicaufe in deede they were fyrfl
bytter. But after that this trenche was made and the ryuer entered in, they became fwcctc, and are at this
prefent full of foules of the water by reafon of theyr pleafauntnefle. This trenche was fyrfl begun by kynge
Sefoflrc, before the battayle of Troy. Sum faye that it was begunne by kynge Pfammiticus whyle he was a chyldc :
And that by reafon of his death, it was lefte imperfect : Alfo that aftcrwardc, kynge Darius fucceded in the
fame enterpryfe, who wold haue finiffhed it, but yet brought it not to th[e]ende bycaufe he was informed that
the redde fea was hygher then Egypt : And that if this lande diuydynge bothe the feas, were opened, all Egypte
fhulde bee drowned thereby. Kynge Tolomeus wold in deede haue finyfhed it : but yet left it fhut at the hed
that he myght when he wolde, fayle to the other fea and retume withowt perelL Here is the citie of Arfinoe :
And nere vnto that, the citie cauled Heroum in the vttermofl part of the goulfe "of Arable toward Egipt with
many portes and habitacions. Plinie likewyfe fpeakynge of this trench, fayth. In the furthefl part of the goulfe
of Arable, is a porte cauled Daneo, from whenfe they determyned to brynge a nauigable trench vnto the rjoier of
Nilus, where as is the fyrft. Delta. Betwene the fayde fea and Nilus, there is a flreight of lande of the length of. Ixii.
[fixty-two] myles. The firft that attempted this thynge, was Sefoflre kynge of Egypte : and after hym Darius kynge of
the Perfians, whome Tolomeus folowed, who made a trenche a hundreth foote large, and. xxx. [thirty] foote diepe,
beinge three hundreth myles in lengthe vnto the lakes named Amari, and durfle proceade no further for feare of
inundation, hauynge knoweleage that the redde fea was hygher by three cubites then al the countrey
of Egypt. Other fay that this was not the caufe : but that he doubted that yf he fhulde haue let the fea
coome any further, all the water of Nilus fhulde haue byn therby corrupted, which onely mynyftreth drynke to
all Egypte. But notwithflandynge all thefe thynges aforefayde, all this vyage is frequented by lande
from Egypte to the redde fea, in which paffage are three caufeis or hyghe wayes. The fyrfl begynneth at the
>84
Of Mofcoiiie and Cathay.
285
mouth of Nilus named Pelufio. All which way is by the fandes : In fo much that if there were not certeyne
hyghe reedes fyxt in the earth to (hewe the ryght way, the caufei coulde not be founde by reafon the wynde
euer couereth it with fande. The fecond caufei is two myles from the mountayne Caflius. And this alfo in th[e]-
ende of. Ix. [fixtyj myles, commeth vppon the way or caufey of Pelufms, inhabited with certeyne Arabians cauled
Antei. The thyrde begynneth at Gerro, named Adipfon : and pafTeth by the fame Arabians, for the fpace of Ix.
[fixty] myles fumwhat fhorter, but full of rowgh mountaynes and great fcarfenefle of water. All thefe caufeis, leade
the way to the citie of Arfmoe, buylded by Tolomeus Philadelphus in the goulfe Carandra by the red fea. This
Ptolomeus was the fyrfl that fearched al that parte of the red fea which is cauled Trogloditica. Of this trenche
defcribed of Strabo and PUnie, there are feene certeyne tokens remaynynge at this prefent as they affirme which
haue byn at Sues beyonde the citie of Alcayr otherwyfe cauled Babylon in Egypte. But the marchauntes that
of later dayes trauayle this viage by lande, ryde through the dry and baren defertes on camels both by day and
by nyght; directynge theyr way by the flarres and compafe as do maryners on the fea, and caryinge with them
water fufficient for many dayes iomeys. The places of Arabic and India named of Strabo and Plinie, are the
felfe fame where the Portugales practife theyr trade at this daye, as the maners and cuflomes of the Indians doo
yet declare. For euen at this prefente theyr women vfe to bume theym felues alyue with the deade bodies of
theyr hufbandes. Which thynge (as wryteth Strabo in his. xv. booke) they dyd in owlde tyme by a lawe, for
this confideration that fumtyme being in loue with other they forfooke or poyfoned theyr hufbandes. And
forafmuch as accordynge to this cuflome, the owlde poete Propertius (who lyued abowt a hundreth yeares before
th[e]incamation of Chryfl) hath in his boke made mention of the contention that was amonge the Indian
women which of them fliuld bee burned aliue with theyr hufbandes, I haue thought good to fubfcribe his
verfes, which are thefe.
Fcelix Fois lexfuneris vna mar it is,
Quos aurora fuis rubra colorai equis.
Mamque vbi mortiffro iaHa rjl fax vltima IcHo,
Vxorum fuis Jiat pia turba comis,
Et certamen habent let hi, qua viua fequatiir
Coniugium, pudor efl non licuifsc mori.
Ardent viilrices, etflammcz pedora prcebent,
Tmp07iuntquefuis ora perufla viris.
As touchynge thefe vyages both by fea and by lande to Eaft India and Cathay, many
thynges are wrytten very largely by dyuers autours which I omytte bycaufe they
perteyne not fo much vnto vs as doth the viage attempted to CATHAY by the north
feas and the coafles of Mofcouia difcouered in owre tyme by the viage of that excellent
yonge man Rychard Chaunceler no leffe lerned in all mathematical! fciences then an
expert pylotte, in the yeare of owre lorde. 1554.
As concemynge this vyage, I haue thought good to declare the communication which was betwene the
layde learned man Galeatius Butrigarius, and that great philofopher and noble gentelman of Italic named
Hieronimus Fracaftor as I fynde wrytten in the Italian hyftories of nauigations. As they were therfore con-
ferrynge in matters of learnynge, and reafonynge of the fcience of Cofmographi, the fayde lerned man hauynge
in his hande an inftrument of Aflronomie, declared with a large oration howe muche the worlde was bounde
to the kynges of Portugale, rehearfynge the noble factes doone by them in India, and what landes and Ilandes
they had difcouered, and how by theyr nauigations they made the whole worlde hange in the ayer. He further
declared what parts of the baul of the earth remained yet vndifcouered. And fayde that of the landes of the
inferior hemifpherie or halfe compafe of the baule towarde the pole Antartike, there was nothynge knowen but
that lytde of the coafte of Brafilia vnto the flreight of Magellanus. Alfo a part of Peru: And a lyttle aboue
Aifrike towarde the cape of Bona Speranza. Alfo that he marueyled withowte meafure that this thynge was no
better confidered of Chriflian Princes to whom god had deputed this charge, hauyng euer on theyr counfail
men of great lernynge which may informe them of this thing beinge fo marueylous and noble whereby they
maye obteyne glorie and fame by vertue, and bee imputed amonge men as goddes, by better demerites then
euer were Hercules and great Alexander who trauayled only into India: and that by makynge the men of this
owre hemifpherie knowen to theym of the other halfe compafe of the baule beneth vs, they might by the tytle
of this enterpryfe, withowt comparyfon farre excell all the noble factes that euer were doone by lulius Cefar or
any other of the Romane Emperours. Which thynge they myght eafely brynge to paffe by affignynge colonies
to inhabite dyuers places of that hemifpherie, in lyke maner as dyd the Romanes in prouinces newely fubdued.
■\Vhereby they myght not only obteyne great ryches, but alfo inlarge the Chriftian fayth and Empire to the
glory of god and confufion of infidels. After this, he fpake of the Ilande of faynt Laurence, cauled in owlde
The viage bi lande
from Egypte to
the red sea.
What kynge
Ptolomeus
dlscouered.
Alcayra
The viage to
Easte Indya
frequented in
owlde tyme.
The customes and
maners of the
Indyans.
The vyage to
Cathay.
Rycharde
■ /1
£t-VI
r
A lerned discourse
of dyuers vyages
The vigages of the
Portugales.
The worlde
hangynge on the
ayer.
What is knowen
of the lower
hemispheric.
The lande of
Brasile.
Peru.
The charge and
dewtie of Christian
princes.
Note.
252
Hercules and
Alexander.
The colonies of
the Romans in
regions subdued.
The great Hand
of saynt Laurence
or Madagascar.
286
Of Mofcouie and Cathay.
The Ilandes of
Taprobana or
Giaua.
Pllnie.
The hystorie of
Cornelius Nepos.
Shyps of India
driuen into the sea
of Germanie.
An entetprise
wherby Princes
may obteyne trewe
fame and glory.
Cathay discouered
bi Marcus Paulus.
The citie of
Lubyke.
The kyng of
Polonie.
The duke of
Moscouia.
An ambassadour
from the duke of
Moscouia.
253
The woordes of
th[e]ambassadour
of Moscouia.
The way from
Moscouia to the
north Ocean and
Cathay.
Volochda.
Vstiug.
Succana.
Duina.
Colmogor.
Tlie north Ocean.
Create wooddes.
Gothlande.
The Moscouites
haue knowleage of
the greate cane
Cathay.
Permia.
Plescora.
Catena mundi.
tyme Madagafcar, which is greater then the realme of Caftile and Portugale, and reachethe from the. xii. degree
towarde the pole Antartike, vnto the. xxvi. degree and a halfe, lyinge Northeafte frome the cape of Bona
Speranza and partly vnder the line of Tropicus Capricorni : beinge well inhabited and of temperate ayer, with
abundaunce of all thynges neceffarie for the lyfe of man, and one of the mod excellent Ilandes that is founde
this daye in the worlde : And that neuertheleffe there is nothynge knowen therof, except only a fewe fmaule
hauens by the fea fide, as the lyke ignorance remayneth of the greateft part of the Ilandes of Taprobana, Giaua
the more and the lefle, and infinite other. Then begynninge to fpeake of the partes of owre pole, he caufed
the bookes of plinie to bee brought him where diligentely ponderynge the. Ixvii. chapiture of the feconde booke,
he founde where he reherfeth the hiftorie of Cornelius Nepos, by thefe woordes : That in his tyme, one
Eudoxus efcapynge the handes of kynge Lathyro, departed from the goulfe of Arabic and came by fea to the
Ilande of Calefe. Declarynge further, that whereas this narration was many yeares reputed for a fable, was
nowe in owre tyme by the vertue of the Portugales, knowen to bee trewe : And that lykewyfe the fame
Cornelius Nepos recitethe that at the tyme when Quintus Metellus Celer was proconful or lieuetenant for the
Romans in Fraunce, the kynge of Sueuia gaue hym certeyne Indians which faylinge owt of India for marchan-
dies, were by tempefl dryuen to the coaftes of Germanie. When he had redde thefe woordes, he proceaded,
fayinge that the fame thynge myght bee verified nowe in owr tyme if the princes which confine vppon that fea
wolde endeuoure theyr induflry and diligence to brynge it to paffe. And that there coulde not any nauigation
bee imagined fo commodious and profitable to all Chriflendoome as this myght bee yf by this way the vyage
fhulde bee founde open to India to come to the rych contrey of CATHAY which was difcouered now two
hundreth yeares fence by Marcus Paulus. Then taking the globe in his hande, he made demonRration that
this vyage fliulde bee very fhorte in refpect of that which the Portugales nowe folowe, and alfo of that which
the Spanyardes may attempte to the Ilandes of Moluca. He declared furthermore that the citie of Lubyke
beinge rych and of great poure, and fituate vppon the fea of Germanie, and alfo accuflomed with continuall
nauigations to trauayle the fea of Norwaye and Gothlande, and lykewyfe the ryght noble kynge of Polonie
whofe dominions with his realme of Lituania, extende to the fayde fea, (hulde be apte to difcouer this fecreate :
But that aboue all other, the duke of Mofcouia, (hulde performe the fame with greater commoditie and more
facilitie then any other Prince. And here fleyinge a whyle, he began to fpeake ageyne and fayde. Nowe
forafmuch as we are coome to this paffe, mee thynke it fhulde feeme a great difcurtefie if I fliuld not fliewe
yowe all that I knowe as touchynge this vyage, wherof I greatly mufed with my felfe many yeares by occafion
of the woordes of Plinie. Whereas therefore beinge a younge man, I was in Germanie in the citie of Augufla,
it fo chaunfed that in thofe dayes there came thyther an ambafadour of the duke of Mofcouia, a man fingularly
learned both in the Greeke toonge and the Latine, and of good experience in worldely thynges, hauying byn
fent to dyuers places by the fayde Prince, and one of his counfayle. Of whofe leamyng beinge aduertifed, I
fought his acquayntaunce. And talkynge with hym one day of thefe Indians dryuen by fortune to the coafles of
Germanie, and of the vyage that myght bee difcouered by the North fea to the Ilandes of fpices, I perceaued
that at the fyrfte he marueyled exceadyngely, as at a thynge that he coulde neuer haue imagined. But reftynge a
whyle in maner aflonyffhed in his fecreate phantafie, he toke great pleafure therin, and fayde. Forafmuch as
the Portugales haue nowe compafed abowt all the fouth partes fuppofed in owlde tyme to bee inacceffable by
reafon of great heate, why fhulde wee not certeinely thynke that the lyke maye bee done abowt this parte of the
north withowt feare of coulde, efpecially to men borne and brought vp in that clime ? Yet procedyng further,
he faid, that if his Prince and mailer, had men that wolde animate hym to difcouer this vyage, there was no
Prince in Chriflendome that myght do it with more facilitie. Then caulynge for a mappe in which was the
defcription of Mofcouia and the prouinces fubiecte to the fame, he declared that from the citie of Mofcouia or
Mofca going towarde the northeaft for the fpace of. Ix. [fixty] myles, they come to the ryuer of Volochda and after-
warde by that, and folowyng the courfe therof, to the citie of Vftiug, fo cauled bycaufe the ryuer of lug fauleth
into the ryuer of Succana, where they lofe theyr owne names and make the great ryuer Duina : And by that,
leauyng on the ryght hande the citie of Colmogor, they fayle vnto the north Ocean. The which waye, althoughe
it bee a longe tracte, as more then. 800. myles, neuertheleffe he fayde that in fommer it myght commodioufly
bee fayled : And that wheras it fauleth into the fea, there are infinite woods of goodly trees apte to make fhyppes.
And the place fo conuenient for this purpofe, that fliipwryghtes and other fkylful workemen for all thynges
hereunto apperteynynge, may eafely coome owt of Germanie. Alfo that the men which are vfed to trauayle the
fea of Germanie abowte the coaftes of Gothlande, fliulde bee beft and moft apte to attempte this enterpryfe,
bycaufe the}' are indurate to abyde coulde, hunger, and laboure. He fayde furthermore, that in the court of his
Prince, they haue much knowleage of the great cane of Cathay, by reafon of the continuall warres they haue
with the Tartars, of whom the greateft part gyue obedience to the faid great Cane as to theyr chiefe Emperoure.
He made alfo demonftration in the fayde carde by the northeafte, that beinge pafte the prouince of Permia and
the ryuer Pefcora (whiche fauleth into the north fea) and certeyne mountaynes named Catena Mundi, there is
a86
Of Mofcoiiie and Cathay.
287
►
tli[e]enteraunce into the prouince of obdora, whereas is Vecchiadoro and the ryuer Obo, whiche alfo fauleth
into the fayd fea, and is the furthefl borther of Th[e]empire of the Prince of Mofcouia. The fayde ryuer hath
his originall in a great lake cauled Chethai, which is the fyrfle habitacion of the Tartars that paye tribute to the
greate Cane. And from this lake for the fpace of two monethes vyage (as they were credably informed by
certeine Tartares taken in the warres) is the mofl noble citie of Cambalu, beinge one of the chiefeft. in the do-
minion of the greate Cane, whom fum caule the great Cham. He alfo affirmed, that if fhippes fhulde bee made
en the coaftes of the fayde fea, and fayle on the backe halfe of the coafl. therof (which he knewe by many
relations made to his Prince, to reach infinitely toward the northeafl) they fhulde doubtelefle in folowynge the
fame, eafely difcouer that countrey. Vnto thefe woordes he added, that although there were greate difficultie
in Mofcouia, by reafon that the waye to the fayde fea is full of thicke wooddes and waters which in the fommer
make great maryffhes and impoffible to bee trauayled, afwell for lacke of vyttayles whiche can not there bee
founde, not for certeyne dayes, but for the fpace of certeyne monethes, the place beinge defolate withowt
inhabitauntes, neuertheleffe he fayde that yf there were with his Prince, only two Spanyardes 01 Portugales to
whome the charge of this vyage fhulde bee commytted, he no wayes doubted but that they wolde folowe it and
lynde it, forafmuch as with great ingenioufneffe and ineflimable pacience, thefe nations haue ouercome much
greater difficulties then are thefe which are but lyttle in comparifon to thofe that they haue ouerpaffed and doo
ouerpaffe in all theyr viages to India. He proceaded declarynge that not many yeares fence, there came to the
courte of his Prince, an ambafladour frome pope Leo, named mafler Paulo Centurione a Genuefe vnder dyuers
pretenfes. But the principall occafion of his commynge, was, bycaufe he hadde conceaued greate indignation
and hatred ageynfl. the Portugales : And therfore intended to proue )ff he coulde open anye vyage by lande
whereby fpices myght bee brought from India by the lande of Tartaria, or by the Cea Cafpium (otherwyfe cauled
Hircanum) to Mofcouia : And from thenfe to bee brought in fliippes by the ryuer Riga, whiche runnynge by
the countrey of Liuonia, fauleth into the fea of Germanic. And that his Prince gaue eare vnto hym : and caufed
the fayde viage to bee attempted by certeine noble men of Lordo, of the Tartars confininge nexte vnto hym.
But the warres whiche were then betwene them, and the greate defertes which they (hulde of neceffitie ouerpafle,
made them leaue of theyr enterpryfe: which if it had bin purpofed by the coafles of this owre north fea, it myght
haue byn eafely fynyflied. The fayde Ambafladour continued his narration, fayinge that no man ought to
doubte of that fea bat that it may bee fayled fyxe monethes in the yeare, forafmuch as the days are then very
longe in that clime, and hot by reafon of contynuall reuerberation of the beames of the foonne and fhorte
nyghtes. And that this thynge were as well woorthy to bee proued, as any other nauigation wherby many
partes of the worlde heretofore vnknowen, haue byn difcouered and brought to ciuilitie. And here makynge an
cnde of this talke, he faid : Let vs nowe omytte this parte of Mofcouia with his coulde, and fpeake fumwhat of that
parte of the newe worlde in whiche is the lande of Brytons cauled Terra Britonum, and Baccaleos or Terra Bacca-
learum, where in the yeare. 1534. and. r535. laques Cartiar in two vyages made with three great French gallies,
founde the great and large countreys named Canada, Ochelaga, and Sanguenai : which reach from the. xlv. [forty-fifth]
to the. li. [fifty-firfl] degree, beinge well inhabited and pleafaunte countreys, and named by hym Noua Francia. And
here fleyinge a while and lyftynge vppe his handes, he fayde: Oh what doo the Chriflian Princes meane that
in fuch landes difcouered they do not afligne certeine colonies to inhabite the fame to bringe thofe people
(whom god hath fo bleffed with natural gyftes) to better ciuilitie and to embrafe owre religion, then the whiche,
nothynge can bee more acceptable to god ? The Ikyd regions alfo, beinge fo fayre and frutefull, with plentie of
all fortes of come, herbes, frutes, woodde, fyffhes, beaftes, metals, and ryuers of fuche greatneffe that (hyppes
maye fayle more then. 180. myles vppon one of theym, beinge on bothe fydes infinitely inhabited: And to caufe
the gouernoures of the fayde colonies to fearche whether that lande toward the northe named Terra de Labor ador,
doo ioyne as one firme lande with Norwaye : Or whether there bee any flreight or open place of fea as is mofle
lyke there fhulde bee, forafmuch as it is to bee thought that the fayde Indians dr>'uen by fortune abowte the
coafles of Norway, came by that flreyght or fea, to the coafles of Germanic : And by the fayde flreight to faile
northwefl to difcouer the landes and countreys of CATHAY, and from thenfe to fayle to the Ilandes of
Molucca. And thefe furely fhulde be enterprifes able to make men immortal. The whiche thynge, that ryght
woorthy gentleman mafter Antony di Mendoza confiderynge by the Angular vertue and magnanimitie that is in
hym, attempted to put this thynge in practife. For beinge viceroy of the countrey of Mexico (fo named of the
great citie Mexico otherwife cauled Temiflitan, nowe cauled neweSpayne, being in the.xx. [twentieth] degree aboue
ihe Equinoctiall, and parte of the fayde firme lande), he fent certeyne of his capitaynes by lande, and alfo a nauie
of fhyppes by fea, to fearch this fecreate. And I remember that when I was in Flaunders in Th[e]emperours
courte, I fawe his letter wrytten in the yeare, 1541. and dated from Mexico: wherin was declared howe towarde
the northwefl, he had fownd the kyngedome of Sette Citia (that is) Seuen Cities, whereas is that cauled Ciuola
by the reuerend father Marco da Niza: and howe beyonde the fayde kyngedome yet further towarde the North-
wefl, Capitayne Francefco Vafques of Coronado, hauynge ouerpaffed great defertes, came to the fea fyde where
Obdora.
Vechiadoro.
Obo.
The lake Chethay.
The Tartars.
The citie of
Cambalu.
Note this secreate.
r>ifficult
trauaylynge ia
Moscouia.
Commendation of
the Spaniarde&
and Portugales.
The hystorie of
Paulus Centurio.
Of this reade more
at large in the
oooke of Paulus
louius.
Malice may do
more with sum
then vertue.
The Caspian sea.
Riga.
Liuonia.
254
The Tartars of
Lurdo.
Desert es.
The viage by the
north sea.
The woorthynesse
of this vyage.
The viages of the
Frenchmen to the
land of Baccalaos.
Pleasaunt
countreys.
New Fraunce.
Apostrophe to the
Christian princes.
Great ryuers.
A ihyng woorthy
to be searched.
The way to
Cathay and the
Ilandes of Maltica
by the northwest
A notable
cnterpryse.
The noble
enterprise of
AntonidiMendoza,
Viceroy of Mexico.
The dtscouerynge
of the northwe.st
partes.
.'-' 1
288
Of Mofcouie and Cathay.
Shyps saylynge
(rom Cathay by
the north
hyperborean sea
to the coastes of
the northwest
part of the lande
of Baccaleos.
Cathay.
The sea from new
Fraunce or Terra
Britonum to
Cathay.
A notable bo<. ke.
255
A great and
glorious enterprise.
Sebastian Cabote
the grand pylot of
the west Indies.
Commendation of
Sebastian Cabote.
Sebastian Cabote
tould me that he
was borne in
Brystowe, and that
at iiii. yeare owld
he was caried
with his father to
Venice and so
relumed ageyne
into England with
his father after
certeyne yeares :
wherby he was
thought to haue
bin bom in Venice.
The fyrst vyage of
Sebastian Cabote.
The lande of
Florida.
The seconde vyage
of Cabote to the
land of Brasile,
and Kio della
Plata.
Cabote tould me
that in a region
within this ryuer
he sowed 1. [fifty]
fraynes of weate in
eptember, and
gathered „_„
therof L 256
[fifty] thousand in
December as
wryteth also
Francisco Lopes.
he found certeyne fhyppes which fayled by that fea with marchaundies, and had in theyr baner vppon the
proos of theyr fhyppes, certeyne foules made of golde and fyluer which they of Mexico caule Alcatrazzi : And that
theyr mariners fhewed by fignes that they were. xxx. [thirty] dayes faylynge in commynge to that hauen ; wherby
he vnderRode that thefe (hippes could bee of none other countrey then of Cathay, forafmuch as it is fituate on
the contrary parte of the fayde lande difcouered. The fayde mafter Antonie wrote furthermore, that by the
opinion of men well practifed, there was difcouered fo greate a fpace of that countrey vnto the fayd fea,
that it paffed. 950. leaques, which make. 2850. myles. And doubtlefle yf the Frenche men in this theyr
newe Fraunce, wolde haue paffed by lande towarde the fayd northwefl and by north, they (huld alfo haue founde
the fea wherby they myght haue fayled to Cathay. But aboue all thynges, this feemed vnto me mode woorthy
of commendation, that the fayde mafler Antonie wrote in his letter that he had made a booke of al the natural
and marueylous thynges whiche they founde in fearchynge thofe countreys, with alfo the meafures of landes and
altytudes of degrees : A worke doubtleffe which (heweth a princely and magnificall mynde, wherby wee may
conceaue that yf god had gyuen hym the charge of the other hemifpherie, he wolde or nowe haue made it better
knowen to vs. The which thynge, I fuppofe no man doth greatly efleeme at this time: beinge neuertheleffe
the greatefl and mod glorious enterprife that may bee imagined. '
And here makynge a certeyne paufe, and turnynge hym felfe towarde vs, he fayde : Doo yow not vnder-
flande to this purpofe howe to paffe to India toward the northwefl wind, as dyd of late a citizen of Venefe, fo
valiente a man, and fo well practyfed in all thynges perteynynge to nauigations and the fcience of Cofmographie,
that at this prefent he hath not his lyke in Spayne, in fo much that for his vertues he is preferred aboue all
other pylottes that fayle to the wefl Indies, who may not paffe thyther withowt his licence, and is therfore
cauled Piloto Maggiore (that is) the graunde pylote. And when wee fayde that wee knewe him not, he pro-
ceaded, fayinge, that beinge certeyne yeares in the citie of Siuile, and defyrous to haue fum knowleage of the
nauigations of the Spanyardes, it was toulde hym that there was in the citie a valient man, a Venecian borne,
named Sebaflian Cabote, who had the charge of thofe thynges, being an expert man in that fcience, and one
that coulde make cardes for the fea with his owne hande. And that by this reporte, feekynge his acquaintaunce,
he founde hym a very gentell perfon, who enterteyned hym frendly and (hewed him many thynges, and amonge
other a large mappe of the worlde with certeine particular nauigations afwell of the Portugales as of the Span-
yardes. And that he fpake further vnto hym, in this effecte. When my father departed from Venefe many
yeares fence to dwell in Englande to folowe the trade of marchaundies, he tooke me with him to the citie of
London whyle I was very yonge, yet hauynge neuertheleffe fum knowleage of letters of humanitie and of the
fphere. And when my father dyed in that tyme when newes were browght that Don Chriflopher Colonus
Genuefe, had difcouered the coafles of India, whereof was great talke in all the courte of kynge Henry the
feuenth who then reigned : In fo much that all men with great admiration affirmed it to bee a thynge more
diuine then humane, to fayle by the Welle into the Eafl where fpices growe, by a way that was neuer knowen
before. By which fame and reporte, there increafed in my harte a greate flame of defyre to attempte fum
notable thynge. And vnderRandyng by reafon of the fphere, that if I fhulde fayle by the way of the northwefl
wynde, I fhulde by a fhorter tracte coomme to India, I thereuppon caufed the kynge to bee aduertifed of my
diuife, who immediatly commaunded two carauels to bee furnyffhed with all thynges apperteynynge to the
vyage, which was as farre as I remember, in the yeare. 1496. in the begynnynge of fommer. Begynnyng ther-
fore to faile towarde Northwefl, not thynkyng to fynde any other lande then that of CATHAY, and from
thenfe to turne towarde India. But after certeine dayes, I founde that the lande ranne towarde the Northe,
which was to me a great difpleafure. Neuertheleffe, fayling alonge by the coafl to fee if I could fynde any
goulfe that turned, I founde the lande flyll continent to the. 56. degree vnder owre pole. And feinge that
there the coafl turned toward the Eafl, difpayringe to fynd the paffage, I turned backe ageyne, and fayled
downe by the coafl of that lande towarde the Equinoctiall (euer with intent to fynde the fayde paffage to
India) and came to that parte of this firme lande whiche is nowe cauled FLORI DA. Where, my vyttayles
fayling, I departed from thenfe and returned into England, where I founde great tumultes amonge the people,
and preparaunce for warres in Scotlande: by reafon whereof, there was no more confideration had to this vyage
Wheruppon I wente into Spayne to the Catholyke kynge, and queene Elizabeth: who beinge aduertifed what I had
doone, interteyned me, and at theyr charges furnyfflied certeyne fhyppes wherwith they caufed me to fayle to
difcouer the coafles of Brafile, where I founde an exceadynge great and large ryuer, named at this prefent Jiio
della Plata (that is) the ryuer of fyluer, into the which I fayled, and folowed it into the firme lande more then fyxe
hundrethe leaques, fyndynge it euery where verye fayre and inhabited with infinite people, which with admyration
came runnynge dayly to owre fhyppes. Into this ryuer, ninne fo many other riuers, that it is in maner mcredible.
After this, I made many other vyages, which I now pretermitte. And we.\ynge owlde, I gyue my felfe to reff from
fuch trauayles bycaufe there are nowe many younge and lufly pylotes and mariners of good experience, by whofe
forwardeneffe I doo reioyfe in the frutes of my labours, and refl with the charge of this office as yowe fee.
Of Mofcouie and Cathay.
289
And this is as much as I haue vnderftoode of mafter Sebaflian Cabote, as I haue
gathered owte of dyuers nauigations wrytten in the Italian toonge.
And whereas I haue before made mention howe Mofcouia was in owr tyme dif-
couered by Richard Chanceler in his viage toward Cathai by the direction and informa-
tion of the fayde mafter Sebaftian who longe before had this fecreate in his mynde, I
fhall not neede here to defcribe that viage, forafmuche as the fame is largely and fayth-
fully written in the Laten tonge by that lerned young man Clement Adams fcole mayfter
to the Queens henftiemen, as he receaued it at the mouthe of the fayde Richard Chan-
celer. Neuertheleffe I haue thought good here to fpeake fumwhat of Mofcouia as I
haue redde in the booke of lohn Faber written in the Latin toonge to the ryght noble
Prynce Ferdinando Archeduke of Auftria and Infant of Spaine, of the maners and
religion of the Mofcouites, as he was partely inftructed by the ambafadours of the
duke of Mofcouie fent into Spayne to Th[e]emperours maieftie in the yeare. M.D.XX.V.
He wryteth therfore as foloweth.
I thynke it fyrfte conueniente to fpeake fumewhat of the name of this region wherby it is cauled at this
day, and how it was cauled in owlde tyme. Conferrynge therfore the mofle ancient of the Greeke and latine
monumentes with the hiftories of later tyme, I perceaue it to bee a thynge which requireth no fmaule iudgement
of wytte and lemynge. For we fee in howe (horte tyme the names of thynges are chaunged, as are alfo the
maners of men. I fynde therfore that thofe people whom at this day wee commonly caule Mofcouites, were
in tyme pad (as \vytneffeth Plinie) cauled Roxolani, whom neuertheleffe by chaung)'nge one letter, Ptolomie in
his eyght table of Europe, cauleth Rofolanos as dooth alfo Strabo. They were alfo many yeares cauled Rutheni:
And are that people which furntyme fought manfully ageynft the Capitaynes of Methridates as Strabo wryteth.
They were cauled Mofcouites of the chiefe citie of al the prouince named Mofcouia or Mofca : or (as Volaterane
faith) of the riuer Mofco. They were fumtyme gouerned by duke lohan, whofe wyfe was Helena of the lynage
of Th[e]emperours of ConRanflinople of the noble famelie of the Paleologi. Beyonde thefe Roxolanos, Strabo
fayth there is no lande inhabited. Thefe Ruthenians therfore or Mofcouites, are people of the northeafte parte
of the worlde from vs : And are determined with the limettes of the great ryuer Borifthenes of Scithia, on the
one fyde with the Lituanians and Polonians, and on the other fyde with the Tartars who ceafe not to vexe
them with continuall warres and incurfions. Efpecially the great Emperour Cham of Cathay the chiefe Prince
of the Tartars, refidente by the fea fyde in Taurico Cherfonefo, molefleth theim with fore warres. They are
towarde the north fyde inclofed with the frofen fea, the lande of whofe coaftes beinge verye large, perteyneth
in maner all to the dominion of the duke of Mofcouie. This fea is it which the owlde wryters caule Lacus
Croniais, fo named of the Greeke word Cronos, which the Latines caule Satumus whom they fayne to bee an
owlde man, of complexion coulde and flowe, and thereby name all fuch thynges as are coulde and flowe,
Cronica, as by lyke reafon they dyd this northe fea which beinge in maner euer frofen, is flowe and coulde and
in maner immouable. And for lyke confideration (as faythe Plinie) Hethens nameth it in the Scythian toonge,
Amaltheum, whiche woorde fignifieth as muche as congeled or frofen. But that I wander not farre frome my
purpofe : Th[e]empire and dominion of the duke of Mofcouie recheth fo farre that it comprehendeth certeyne
partes of Afia and alfo of Europe. The citie of Mofcouia or Mofca, is counted twyfe as bygge as Colonia
Agrippina as they faythfuUy reporte which knowe bothe. Vnto this they haue alfo an other not vnequall in
byggeneffe cauled Fladimer. Alfo Blefcouia, Nouogradia, Smolne, and Otifer, al which, theyr ambaffadours
affirme to bee of princely and magnificall buyldynges, and flrongely defended with waules bothe of brycke
and fquare flone. Of thefe, Blefcouia is flrongefl and enuironed with three waules. Other which they haue
innumerable are not fo famous as are thefe wherof this duke of Mofcouie and Emperoure of Ruffia taketh
th[e]infcription of his title. For euen at this prefent, when fo euer eyther by his ambaffadours or his letters,
he dooth fignifie hym felfe to bee Emperoure of Mofcouie, he is accuffomed to vfe this title. Bafilius by the
grace of God Emperoure of all Ruffia and greate Duke of Fladamer, Mofcouie, Nouigrade, Blefcouia, Smolne,
and Otifer. etc. And this is the tytle whereby the fayde ambaffadours faluted yowre maieflie in the name of
great Bafilius when they began theyr oration. This prince of Mofcouie hath vnder hym princes of many
prouinces and thofe of great poure: Of the which, that owlde whyte bearded man whom this Emperour of the
Ruthians fente for his ambaffadoure to Th[e]emperours maieftie into Spa)me, is not one of the leaft. For euen
he when neceffitie of warre requyreth, is accuflomed to make for his Emperour a bande of. xxx. [thirty] thoufande
horfemen. But this is to theyr fingular commendation that they are fo obedient to theyr prince in al thynges,
that beinge fommoned by hym by neuer fo meane an hearald, they obey incontinent as if it were to god,
Edek Z iSo
The vyage to
Moscouia.
The hystorye of
Moscouia.
The dyuers names
of Moscouia.
Roxo!nnL
RosolanL
RuthcnL
The ryuer Mosca
The ryuer
Boristhenes.
Thre]emperour of
Cathay.
The frosen sea.
Lacus Crooicus.
Satumus.
Amaltheum.
The dominion of
the duke of
Moscouia.
The citie of
Moscouia.
The chiefe cities of
Moscouia.
257
The duke of
MoFcouta and
Emperour of
Russia.
The duke of
Moscouia his tylle;
Duke Basilius.
Their poure.
Theyr obedience
to theyr prince.
Theyr wars and
conquesteik.
290
Of Mofcouie and Cathay.
Gunnes.
Only the
moscouites haue
not feit the
commodities of
peace.
Theyr language.
Datmatia.
Pannonia.
Hungarie.
Theyr original.
The Sclauon
toonge reacheth
farre.
Great woods
white benres and
blacke woOlues.
Abundance of
hony and waxe.
Rych furres.
Theyr maner of
bargenyng
Rude and wylde
people.
Tartares.
258
Ciuile people in
cities.
Theyr money
*rhe^ embrase the
Chnstian fayth
whiche thei
receaued of the
Apostles.
The counsatle of
Nicene.
6a.silii]s Magnus.
Chrisostomus
Theyr constancie
in theyr rehgion.
The bysshoppes
define
conlrouersies in
religion.
Theyr bysshops.
The
Archebys-shoppe.
The patriarke of
Constantinople.
A, notable exemple
of a Christian
prynce.
thynkynge nothyng more glorious then to dye in the quarell of theyr prince. By reafon of which obedience,
they are able in fhort tyme, to affemble an army of two or three hundreth thoufande men ageynll theyr enemies
eyther the Tartars or the greate Cham : And haue hereby obteyned great victories and triumphes afwell ageynfl
the Turkes as the Tartars by the exceadyng multitude of theyr horfemen and continual experience in warres.
At fuch time as Th[e]emperour Maximilian made a league with them, they kept warre ageynfl Ihe kynge of
Polonie. They vfe not only bowes and dartes after the maner of the Parthians, but haue alfo the vfe of gunnes
as we haue. And to bee briefe, onely the Mofcouites maye feeme that nation whiche hath not felte the com-
modities of peace : In fo muche that yf theyr region were not (Irongely defended by the nature of the place
beinge impreignable, it had or nowe byn often tymes conquered. Theyr language agreeth much with the toonge
of the Bohemians, Croatians, and Sclauons: fo that the Sclauon dooth playnly vnderflande the Mofcouite,
although the Mofcouian toonge be a more rude and harde phrafe of fpeach. The hifloriographers wryte that
the Sclauons toonge the name of the confufion whiche was in Babell in the t)Tne of that flowt hunter Nemroth
of whome mention is made in the Genefis. But I can not enowgh marueyle at this thing, that wheras betwene
Dalmatia (now cauled Sclauonia) and Mofcouia, both the Pannonies are fituate, yet this notwithflandynge, the
Hungarians toonge nothynge agreeth with the Mofcouites. Wherby wee may coniecture that thefe nations were
fumtymes diuided by legions, and that they came owt of Dalmatia thyther: whiche thynge alfo Volateranus
affirmeth, fayinge that the language of the Ruthenians (whiche are the Mofcouites) is Semidabnatica (that is)
halfe Sclauone. Howe fo euer it bee, this is certeyne that the Bohemians, Croatians, Sclauons, and Mofcouites,
agree in language as wee perceaued by th[e]interpretours which yowre maieflie had then in yowre courte. For
whereas the fayde interpretours were borne amonge the Croatians and Sclauons and none of them had euer byn
in Mofcouia, or beefore that tyme had any conuerfation with them, yet dyd they well vnderRande the
ambaffadours woordes.
There are in Mofcouia, wooddes of exceadynge byggenefle, in the which blacke woolues and whyte beares
are hunted. The caufe wherof may bee th[e]extreme could of the north, which dooth greatly alter the com-
plexions of beafles, and is the mother of whyteneffe as the Philofophers affirme. They haue alfo great plentie
of bees, wherby they haue fuch abundaunce of hony and waxe that it is with them of fmaul price. When the
commoditie of theyr coun trey is neglected by reafon of longe warres, theyr chiefe aduauntage whereby they haue all
thynges neceflarie towarde theyr lyuynge, is the gaines which they haue by theyr rych furres, as Sables, Marternes,
Luzernes, mofl whyte armyns, and fuch other which they fell to marchauntes of dyuers countreys. They bye and
fell with fimple fay the of woordes exchaungynge ware for ware withowt any curious bondes or cautels. And albeit
they haue the vfe of both golde and fyluer monyes, yet doo they for the mofl part exchaunge theyr furres for fnites
and other thynges necelTarie to mainteine theyr lyfe. There are alfo fum people vnder the dominion of this Em-
perour, which haue neither wyne nor wheate, but lyue only by fleffhe and mylke as doo the wylde Tartars theyr
bortherers which dwel in wods by the coafles of the frofen fea. Thefe people are brutyflhe, and lyue in maner lyke
wylde beafles. But they of the citie of Mofca and Nouigrade, and other cities, are ciuile people : and agree with
vs in eatynge of fyffhe and fleffhe althowgh theyr maner of coquerie is in manye thynges differynge frome owres.
Volaterane wryteth that the Ruthenians vfe money vncoyned. And inquirynge further, I was informed that the
money of Hungary is much currant with them. But this is chiefely to bee confydered, that they imbrafe the
Chriftian fayth which they affirme to haue byn preached to them fyrfle by faynt Andrewe th[e]apoflle and broother
to Simon Peter. Such doctrine alfo as vnder Conftanftine the greate, in the yeare. CCC. xviii. [three hundred and
eighteen] was concluded in the fyrfl generall counfayle holden in the citie of Nicene in Bithynia, and there deter-
myned by. CCC. xviii. [three hundred and eighteen] byffhoppes, and alfo fuch as hath byn wrytten and tawght
by the Greeke doctoures Bafilius Magnus and Chrifoflomus, they beleue to bee fo holy, firme and fyncere, that
they thinke it no more lawfull one heare to tranfgreffe or go backe from the fame, then from the gofpell of Chrift
For theyr conflancie and modcflie is fuch, that no man dare caule thofe thynges into queflion which haue once
byn decifed by holy fathers in tlieyr general counfailes. They doo therfore with a more conllante mynde perfeuer
in theyr fyrfl fayth which they receaued of faynt Andrewe th[e]appoflle and his fucceffours and holy fathers,
than doo manye of vs beinge diuided into fcifmes and fectes whiche thynge neuer chaunceth amonge them. But
if any difficultie chaunce to rife as touchynge the fayth or cuflome of religion, all is referred to the archbyfhoppe
and other byflioppes as to bee defined by theyr fpirite: not permyttinge any iudgemente to the inconflant
and ignorant people. Theyr archebyfhoppe is refidente in the citie of Mofca, where alfo Th[e]emperoure
keepethe his courte. They haue lykewyfe dyuers other byfhops: as one in Nouigradia, where alfo Ifodorus was
byffhop vnder pope Eugenius. They haue an other in Rofciuia, an other in Suflali, an other in Otiferi : alfo in
Smolne, in Refan, in Colmum, and in Volut, all which haue theyr dioces. They acknowleage theyr Archebyfhop
as the chiefe. Before the patriarche of Conflantinople was opprefTed by the Tiranni of the Turkes, this
Archebyffhoppe recognifed hym as his fuperioure. In fo much that this duke of Mofcouia and Emperour of
Ruflia, not vnmyndefull hereof but a diligente obferuer of his accuflomed religion, dooth at this daye yearely
Of Mofcouie and Cathay.
"ZC^X
fende a certeyne (lypende in inaner of almes to the patriarche of Conflantinople, that he may with more quiete
mynd looke for th[e]ende of this his Egiptian feruitude vntyll it (hal pleafe alrayghty god to reftore hym to his
former churche and autoritie. For he iudgeth it much impietie, if he fhulde nowe forfake hym whofe predi-
ceflbures haue ruled and gouerned fo many churches, and of whom the fayth and religion of fo many regions
and prouinces haue depended.
But to fpeake briefely of theyr religion, they agree in many thynges with vs, and in fum thynges folow the
Greekes. They haue munkes and religious men. Not farre from the citie of Mofca, they haue a great monaderie
in the whiche are three hundreth munkes lyuynge vnder the rule of Bafilius Magnus in the which is alfo the
fepulcher of S. Sergius the abbot. They obferue theyr vovve of chaflitie which none may breake that haue once
profeffed. Yet fuch as haue maried virgins of good fame, may bee admitted to th[e]order of prefthod, but may
neuer bee a munke. The prefles and byffhops whiche are admitted to orders vnmaried, may neuer after bee
maried : nor yet fuch as haue wiues, mary ageine when they are dead, but liue in perpetual chaflitie. Such as
committe adulterie or fornication, are greeuoufly punyffhed by the byffhoppes and depriued of the benefices.
They celebrate maffe after the maner of the Greekes which ditfereth from owres in dyuers thinges, as in
fermented breade after the maner of the Greekes. They put in the chaleffe as much water as redde wine, which
water they vfe to heate, bycaufe (not withowt a great myRerie) there iffhewed furth of the fyde of owre lorde,
both blud and water, which wee ought by good reafon to thynke was not withowt heate : for els fliulde it
fcarfely haue byn iudged for a miracle. In fine, they affirme that all theyr cuftomes and rytes are accordynge
to th[e]inRitutions of the primatyue church and the doctrine of Bafilius Magnus, and Chrifoflomus. In this
thynge they dyffer greately from vs, that they minifler the communion to younge children of three yeares
of age, which they doo with fermented breade dipte in a fponefull of wyne, and gyue it them for the bodye and
bludde of Chrylle.
C A brief e defcription of Mofcouia after the later wryters, as Sebaflian
Munfler and lacobus Gafialdus.
fHe prouince of Mofcouia, is fo named by the ryuer Mofco which paffeth by the metrapolitane
citie of Mofcouia cauled Mofca by the name of the ryuer Mofco. This prouince was cauled
of the owlde wryters, Sarmatia Afiatica. The bortherers or confines to the Mofcouians on
the one fyde towarde the Eafl., are the Tartars cauled Nogai, and the Scianbanians, with the
Zagatians. Towarde the Wefl, the prouinces of Liuonia and Lituania. Towarde the South,
the ryuer of Tanais and the people confinyng with the ryuer Volga, cauled of the owld
writers Rha. And towarde the North, the Ocean fea cauled the Scythian fea, and the
region of Lapponia. Mofcouia is in maner all playne and full of maryfflies, wooddes, and many very great
ryuers wherof the ryuer of Volga is the principal. Sum caul this Ledyl, as the owld autours named it Rha.
It beginneth at the great lake cauled I^cus Albus (that is) the white lake and runneth into the fea of Bachau,
named of the aunciente wryters, the fea Cafpium or Hircanum. Vnder the dominion of Mofcouia, are certeyne
regions and dukedoomes : as Alba Ruffia (that is) whyte Ruffia, Alfo Colmogora, Plefcouia, Bafrida, Nouo-
gardia, with alfo manye places of the Tartars which are fubiecte to the duke of Mofcouia. The chiefe cities of
Mofcouia, are Mofca, Plefcouia, Nouogardia, Colmogora, Otogeria, Viatra, Smolenfer, Percaflauia, Cologna,
Volodemaria, Roflauia, and Caflam. The people of Mofcouia are Chriftians, and haue greate abundaunce of
hony and waxe; alfo ryche furres, as Sabels, Martemes, Foynes, Calaber, and dyuers other. All the Tartars
which inhabite towarde the Eafl beyonde the ryuer of Volga, haue no dwellynge places, nor yet cities or caflels.
But cary abowt with theym certeyne cartes or wagens couered with beafles hydes, vnder the whiche they refle,
as wee do in owre houfes.
They remoue togyther in great companies whiche they caule Hordas. They are warlike people and good
horfemen, and are all Macometifles.
Sebaflian Munfler in his booke of Vniuerfall Cofmographie, wryteth that the citie of Mofca
or Mofcouia conteineth in circuite. xiiii. [fourteen] myles, and that it is twyfe as bygge as the citie of Praga in Bohe-
mie. Of the countrey of Mofcouia, bifyde other prouinces fubiecte to the fame, he wryteth thus. It extendeth
in largenefle foure hundreth myles, and is rich in fyluer. It is lawful! for no man to go owt of the realme or coome
in withowt the dukes letters. It is playne without mountaynes, and ful of wooddes and maryfflies. The beafles
there by reafon of the coulde, are lelTe then in other countreis more fouthwarde. In the myddefl of the citie
Theyr religion.
A monasterie o£
ccc. [three
hundred] monkes
Preestes.
Masse.
A mysterie.
The primatiue
church.
A slraungc
custome.
259
Sarmatia asiatica.
The Scythian
Ocean.
The ryuer of
Volga.
Lacus albus.
The Caspian sea.
ITicyr chiefe cities
The wylde Tartars
Hordas.
The byenes of the
citie of Moscouia.
Syluer.
The region of
Mo.scouia.
Bcastes.
292
Of Mofcouie and Cathay.
A fayre and
stronge castel in
the citie of Mosca.
The dukes
pallaice.
Theyr drynke.
They are gyuen to
drunkennesse.
Come and grayne.
Stoues.
The famous ryuer
of Tanais.
260
The marysshes of
Meotis.
Volga.
Ocha.
The sea Euxinum.
The forest of
htrcania.
VrL
Alces.
They trauayl in
wynter oa sleades.
Causeys of tymber.
Trees and frutes.
Come and grayne.
Hony in wode and
trees.
Lakes or pooles of
hony.
A man almost
drowned in hony.
A marueilous
chaunce.
Scares feede of
^ony and bees.
Beares inuade
bulles.
The beares bynh.
of Mofca beinge fituate in a playne, there is a caflell with. xvii. towres and three bulwarkes fo (Ironge and fayre,
that the lyke are fcarfely feene in any other place. There are alfo in the caflell xvi. churches, and three very
large courtes in the which the noble men of the courte haue theyr lodgynges. The dukes pallaice is buylded
after the maner of the Italian buyldyng, and very fayre, but not great. Theyr drynke is mede and beere as is
the maner of the mode parte of the people that inhabite the North partes of the woorlde. They are excead-
yngely gyuen to droonkennefle. Yet (as fume faye) the princes of the lande are prohibite in peine of death to
abfteine from fuch flronge drinkes as are of force to inebriate, except at certeyne tymes when licence is graunted
theym, as twyfe or thryfe in the yeare. They plowe the grownde with horfes and plowes of woodde. Theyr
come and other grayne by reafon of longe coulde, doo feldome waxe rype on the ground by reafon wherof they
are fumtimes inforced to rype and dry them in theyr flooues and hottes houfes, and then grynd them. They
lacke wyne and oyle. Mofcouia is extended vnto lurham and Corelia which are in Scythia. The famous
ryuer of Tanais, the Mofcouites caule Don, hauyng his fprynges and originall in Mofcouia in the dukedome of
Rezenfe. It ryfeth owt of a grownde that is playne, baren, muddy, full of maryffhes and wooddes. And
where it proceadeth toward the Eaft to the mountaynes of Scithia and Tartaric, it bendeth to the fouth: and
commyng to the maryffhes of Meotis it fauleth into them. The ryuer of Volga (fumetyme cauled Rha, and
nowe cauled of the Tartars Edel) runneth toward the north certeyne myles, to whom is ioyned the ryuer Occa
or Ocha, flowynge owt of Mofcouia, and then bendyng into the South and increafed with many other ryuers,
fauleth into the fea Euxinum, which diuideth Europe and Afia. The woodde or forefl cauled Hircania fylua,
occupieth a fmal portion of Mofcouia. Yet is it fumwhere inhabited, and by the longe labour of men made
thinner and barer of trees. In that parte that lyeth towarde Pruffia, is a kynde of greate and fierce bulles
cauled Vri or Bifomes, as ^sTyteth Paulus louius. There are alfo Alces muche lyke vnto hartes, with longe
fnoutes of fleffhe and longe legges withowt any bowinge of theyr houx or paflernes. Thefe beafles, the
Mofcouites caule Lozzi, and the Almaynes Helenes. The iomaye that is betwene Vina of Lituania by Smolenfe
to Mofca, is trauayled in wynter on fleades by the fnowe congeled by longe frofle, and made very flypperj-e
and compacte lyke Ife by reafon of much wearynge and treadynge, by meanes wherof this vyage is performed
with incredible celeritie. But in the fommer, the playne countreys can not bee ouercome withowt difficulte
labour. For when the fnowe begynneth to bee difTolued by continuall heate, it caufeth maryffhes and
quam)Tes inextricable and daungerous both for horfe and man, were it not for certeyne caufeyes made of
tymber with in maner infinite labour. The region of Mofcouia (as I haue faid) beareth neyther vynes nor
olyue trees, nor yet any other trees that bare any apples or frutes of very plefant or fwete fauour or tafle except
chery trees, for as much as al .tender frutes and trees are burnte of the coulde blafles of the North wynde. Yet
doo the fieldes beare all kyndes of come, as wheate and the grayne cauled Siligo, wherof the fynefl kynde of
breade is made: alfo mylle and panyke, whiche the Italians caule Melica: Likewyfe all kyndes of pulfe, as
beanes, peafon, tares, and fuche other. But theyr chife harueft. confifleth of hony and waxe, forafmuch as the
hole region is replenyffhed with frutefull bees which make mofl fweete hony, not in the hufbande mens hyues,
but euen in holowe trees. And hereby commeth it to pafTe that both in the wooddes and fhalowed launes,
are feene many fwarmes of bees hangynge on the bowes of trees, fo that it fhall not bee necefTarie to caule them
togyther or charme theym with the founde of bafens. There are oftentymes founde greate maffes of hon\'
combes, conferued in trees of the owlde hony forfaken of bees, forafmuch as the hufband men can not feeke
euery tree in fo great and large wooddes : In fo much that in the flockes or bodies of exceadynge great and
holowe trees, are fumtymes founde great pooles or lakes of hony. Demetrius th[eJambafradour of the duke of
Mofcouia whom he fent to the byffhop of Rome not many yeares fence, made relation that a hufbande man of
the contrey not farre from the place where he remayned, feekynge in the wooddes for hony, defcended into a
greate holowe tree full of hony into the which he flypte vp to the brefl, and lyued there only with hony for the
fpace of two dayes, caulynge in vayne for helpe in that deferte of wooddes. And that in fine difpayrynge of
helpe, he efcaped by a mameilous chaunce, beinge drawen owt by a great beare that defcended into the tree,
with her loynes downewarde after the maner of men. For when the man (as prefent neceffitie and oportunitie
ferued) perceaued the beare to bee within his reache, he fuddeinly clafped her abowt the loynes with his armes,
and with a terrible crye prouoked the beafl to inforce her flrength to leape owt of the tree, and therwith to
drawe hym owt, as it chaunced in deede.
Thefe regions abounde with beares whiche euery where feeke both hony and bees, not only herewith to
fyl theyr bellies, but alfo to helpe theyr fyght. For theyr eyes are oftentymes dulled, and theyr mouthes
wounded of the bees : both which greefes are eafed by eatynge of hony. They haue weakefl heades, as lions
haue flrongeft. In fo muche that when (beinge therto inforced) they cafle theim felues downe headelonge
from any rockes, they couer theyr heades with theyr fiete, and lye for a tyme afloonyffhed and halfe deade with
knockes. They walke fumtyme on two fiete, and fpoyle trees backewarde. Sumtyme alfo they inuade bulles,
and fo hange on tliem with al theyr fiete, that they wery them with weight The beare (as fayth Plinie)
Of Mofcouie and Cathay.
293
bryngeth furth her byrth the. xxx. [thirtieth] day and oftentymes two. Theyr byrth is a certeyne whyte maffe of
fleffhe withowt forme and little bigger then a moufe withowt eyes, and withowt heare, with onely the nayles
or clawes commynge foorthe. But the damme with continuall lyckynge, by lyttle and lyttle figurethe the informe
byrthe. When fliee entereth into the denne whiche fhee hath chofen, fhee creepeth thyther with her belly
vpwarde lefte the place fliulde bee founde by the fleppes of her fiete. And being there deliuered of her byrthe,
lemaynethe in the fame place for the fpace of. xiiii. dayes immoueable as wryteth Ariftoteles. They lyue
withowt meate fortie dayes, and for that tyme fufleyne them felues only by lyckynge and fuckyng theyr ryght
foote. At the lengthe chaunfynge to fynde meate, they fyll theym felues fo full, that they remedy that furfecte
by vomyte whiche they prouoke by eatynge of antes. Theyr byrthe is oppreffed with fo heauy a fleape for the
fpace of xiiii. dayes, that it can not bee rayfed eyther with prickinge or woundes, and in the meane tyme growe
exceadynge fat. After, xiiii. dayes they wake from fleepe, and begyn to licke and fucke the foles of theyr fore
fiete and lyue thereby for a fpace : Nor yet is it apparent that they liue by any other meate vntyll the fprynge
tyme of the yeare. At whiche tyme begynnynge to runne abrode, they feede of the tender buds and younge
fprigges or braunches of trees, and other herbes correfpondent to theyr lyppes.
Before fiue hundreth yeares, the Mofcouites honoured the goddes of the gentyles: And then fyifle receaued
the Chriflian faith when the byffhoppes of Grecia began to difcent from the churche of the Latines: and therfore
receaued the rites of the Greekes. They minifler the facrament with fermented breade vnder both kyndes :
And thinke that the foules of deade menne are not helped with the fuffragies of preefles, nor yet by the deuotion
of theyr frendes or kinffolkes : Alfo that the place of Purgatorie is a fable. In the tyme of the diuine feruice,
the hydorie of the miracles of Chrifle and the Epiflels of faynt Paule are rehearfed owt of the pulpitte. Beyonde
Mofcouia, are manye people whiche they caule Scythians, and are partely fubiecte to the Prince of Mofcouia.
Thefe are they which duke luan fubdued, as are the people of Perm, Bafkird, Czriremiifa, luhra, Corela, and
Permfka. Thefe people were Idolatours before the duke compelled theym to baptifme, and appoynted a byffliop
ouer them named Steuen, whom the Barbarians after the departure of the duke, fleyde alyue and flewe. But
the duke returnyng (hortly after, afflicted them fore and affigned them a newe byffhoppe.
It is here alfo to bee noted that the owlde Cofmographers fayned that in thefe regions towarde the Northe
pole, there fhuld bee certeyne great mountaynes which they cauled Ripheos and Hyperboreos, which neuer-
theleffe are not founde in nature. It is alfo a fable that the ryuers of Tanais and Volham doo fprynge owt of
hygh mountaynes, wheras it is apparent that both thefe ryuers and many other, haue theyr originall in the
playnes.
Nexte to Mofcouia, is the frutefull region of Colmogora throwgh the whiche runneth the ryuer of Diuidna
beinge the greatefl that is knowen in the north partes of the world. This ryuer increafeth at certeyne tymes of
the yeare as dooth the ryuer of Nilus in Egypte, ouerfloweth the fyeldes round abowt, and with abundaunce of
fatte moyllure, refifleth the couldeneffe of the ayer. Wheate fowne in the grounde, groweth abundauntly
withowt plowynge : and fearynge the newe iniurie of the proude ryuer, fpryngeth, groweth, and rypeth with
woonderfull celeritie of haflynge nature.
Into the ryuer of Diuidna runnethe the ryuer of luga : And in the very angle or comer where they meete,
is a famous marte towne named Vlliuga, beinge a hundreth and fyftie myles diftant from the chiefe citie of Mofca.
To this mart towne from the hygher countreys, are fent the precious furres of martemes, fables, woolues and
fuch other whiche are exchaunged for dyuers other kyndes of wares and marchaundies.
Hytherto Munfterus.
And forafmuche as many doo maruaile that fuche plentie of hony fhuld bee in fo
coole a contrey, I haue thought good to declare the reafon and naturall caufe hereof
It is therefore to be confidered that lyke as fpices, gums, and odoriferous frutes are engendered in hot regions by
continuall heate duryng al the hole yeare withowt impreffion of the mortifying qualitie of could wherby al thynges are
conflrayned as they are dilated by heate, euen fo in could and moyR regions (whofe moyflure is thinner and more
wateryffhe then in hot regions)are flowres engendered more abundantly as caufed by impreffion of leffe and faynter
heate woorkynge in thynne matter of wateryffhe moiflure leffe concocte then the matter of gummes and fpices and
other vnctuous frutes and trees growing in hotte regions. For althoughe (as Munfter faithe here before) the region
of Mofcouia beareth nother vines or oliues, or any other frutes of fweete fauoure by reafon of the couldeneffe therof,
neuertheleffe forafmuch as floures (wherof hony is chiefely gathered) may in fommer feafon growe abundantly in the
playnes, maryffhes, and wooddes, not onely on the grownde but alfo on trees in coulde regions, it is agreeable to good
reafon that great plentie of honye fhulde bee in fuche regions as abounde with floures, which are brought furthe
with the fyrft degree of heate and fyrfl approch of the fonne, as appeareth in the fprynge tyme not onely by the
fpringinge of floures in fyeldes and gardeynes, but alfo of bloffomes of trees fpryngynge before the leaues or
frute, as the lyghter and thynner matter fyrfte drawne owte with the lowefle and leaffe degree of heate, as the
Z 2 293
261
The bearcs denne.
Feares lyue
withowt meate. xL
[forty] dayes.
The sleape of
beares.
The religion of the
Moscouites.
The Scythians
subiecte to the
duke of Moscouia.
It was then an
opinion thatal
ruers spronge
owte of montaines
The fruteful
region of
Coimogora.
The great riuer
Diuidna.
Wbeate withowt
plowing
The ryuer of lugx
^'^stiuga.
Furres.
The natnrall cause
of much hony in
coiild regions.
Gummes and
spices in hot
countreys.
Floures in coulde
regions
262
Floures of trees.
Elossoomes of
trees.
294
Of Mofcoiiie and Cathay.
An cxemple of the
degrees of hcate.
The generation of
floures by
nifXienUe hcate.
Longe dayes and
shorte nyghies.
Eranible and
feme.
Spices.
The sauoure of
floures.
WTiat Plinie
wrytcth of hony.
Serius is
otherwyse cauled
Canicula, this is
the dogge, of
whom the
canicular dayes
haue theyr name.
What is hony
Howe hony is
corrupted.
Hony of ^eat
quaniitic in North
regions
263
Hot nyghtcs in
coulde regions.
A similitude.
Natural heat
dooth subtyle and
digest all thynges.
Subtyle vapours
digested by heate.
Could regions
Ziglerus.
lyke is feene in the arte of flyllynge wherby all tliinne and lyght moydures are lyfted vp by the fyrfle degree of
the fyre : and the heuyefl and thickefl moyflures are drawne owt with more vehement fyre. As we may therfore
in this cafe compare the generation of floures to the heate of May, the generation of gummas to the heate of
lune and fpices to the heate of luly. Euen fo in fuche coulde regions whofe foommer agreeth rather with the
temperate heate and moyflure of May then with th[e]extreeme heate of the other monethes, that heate is more
apt to brynge foorth abundance of floures as thynges caufed by moderate heate, as playnely appeareth by theyr
tad and fauoure in which is no fliarpe qualitie of heate eyther bytynge the toonge or offendyng the head as is
in fpices, gummes, and frutes of hotte regions. And as in could and playne regions, moderate heate with
abundance of moiflure, are caufes of the generation of floures (as I haue fayde) fo lykewyfe the length of the
dayes and fhortnefle and warmenefle of the nyghtes in fommer feafon in fuche coulde regions, is a greate helpe
herunto. Cardanus wryteth in his booke De Flantis, that bramble and feame growe not but in could regions,
as dooth wheate in temperate regions. And that fpices and hotte feedes, can not growe in coulde regions,
forafmuch as beinge of thinne fubflaunce, they fliulde foone be mortified and extinct by excefliue could. For
(as he fayth) nothing can concocte, rype, and attenuate the fubflance ot frutes withowt the helpe of ayer
agreable to the natures of fuch thynges as are brought foorth in the fame, althowgh it may doo this in rootes.
But in maner all floures are of fweete fauour, forafmuch as the moyflure that is in them, being thinne and but
lyttle, is by meane heate foone and eafely concocte or made rype. Such alfo as are foone rype, are foone
rotten according to the prouerbe.
Plinie, althowgh in the. xi. booke of his natural! hyllorie. Cap. viii. he wryteth that hony is gathered of
the floures of all trees and fets of plantes, except forell and the herbe cauled Ctienopode (which fume caule
goofe foote) yet he affirmeth that it defcendeth from the ayer: for in the. xii. chapyture of the fame booke, he
wryteth thus.
This coommeth from the ayer at the ryfynge of certeyne flarres, and efpecially at the ryfynge of Sirius, and
not before the ryfyng of Vergilice (which are the feuen flarres cauled Pleiades) in the fprynge of the day. For
then at the mornynge fprynge, the leaues of trees are founde moift with a fat dewe : In fo much that fuch as
haue bynne abrode vnder the firmamente at that tyme, haue theyr apparell annoynted with lyquoure and the
heare of theyr headde clammy. And whether this bee the fwette of heauen, or as it were a certeyne fpettyl of the
flarres, eyther the iuife of the ayer pourgynge it felfe, I wolde it were pure, liquide, and fimple of his owne nature
as it fyrfle fauleth from aboue. But nowe defcendyng fo far, and infected not only with fuch vncleane vapoures
and exhalations, as it meteth with by the way, but afterward alfo corrupted by the leaues of trees, herbes, and
floures of fundrye tafl.es and qualities, and lykewyfe afwel in (lomackes of the bees (for they vomite it at theyr
mouthes) as alfo by longe referuynge the fame in hiues, it neuertheleffe reteyneth a great parte of the heauenly
nature. &c. Ageyne in the. xiiiL chapiture of the fame booke, he wrytethe that in certeyne regions toward the
north, as in fum places of Germanie, hony is found in fuch quantitie that there haue bynne feene hony combes of
eyght foote longe, and blacke in the holowe parte. By the whiche woordes of Plinie, and by the principles of natu-
rall philofophie, it dooth appere that abundaunce of hony fliulde chiefely bee engendered in fuch regions where the
heate of foommer is temperate and continuall afwell by nyght as by day as it isnotinhotte regions where the nyghtes
be longe and coulde as is declared in the Decades. For lyke as fuche thynges as are fyned by continuall heate,
mouynge, and circulation, are hyndered by refrigeration or coulde (as appereth in the art of ft.yllynge and
hatchynge of egges) euen fo by the action of temperate and continuall heate withowt interpofition of contrarie
and mortifyinge qualitie, crude thynges are in fliorte tyme made rype, fower made fweete, thicke made thinne,
heauie made lyght, groffe made fubtyle, harde made fofte, deade made lyuynge, and in fine bodies made fpirites,
as manifefl.ly appeareth in the marueylous woorke of dygefl,ion of lyuyng beafles, wherby the finefl. part of theyr
nuriffhement is turned into bludde, and the finefl. of that bludde conuerted into fpirites, as the like is alfo feene
in the nuryffliement of trees, plantes, and herbes, and all other thynges that growe on the grounde, all whiche
are moued, digefl.ed, fubtiliate, attenuate, ryped, and made fweete by the action of this continuall heate wherof
I haue fpoken. To conclude therfore, if hony bee eyther the fwette of the fl.arres, or the iuife of the ayer
pourginge it felfe (as plinie writeth) or other wyfe engendered of fubtyle and fine vapoures ryfinge frome the
earth, and concocte or digefl.ed in the ayer by the fayd continuall and moderate heate, it may feeme by good
reafon that the fame fliulde bee engendered in foommer feafon more abundantly in coulde regions then in hot,
for the caufes aforefayde. And that it may by autoritie and reafon more manifefl.lye appeare bothe that the
heate of foommer in could regions is continual (as I haue fayd) and alfo that the coulde in wynter is not there
fo intoUerable to th[e]inhabitauntes of thofe regions as other doo thynke, I haue thought good for the better
declaration hereof to adde hereunto what I haue gathered owt of the booke of Ziglerus wiytten of the north
regions.
«94
295
C OF THE NORTH REGIONS
AND OF THE MODERATE AND CONTINVALL HEATE
in coulde regions aluell in the nyght as in the day in
foommer feafon : Alfo hovve thofe regions are
habitable to th[e]inhabitauntes of the
fame, contrary to th[e]oppinion
of the owlde wryters.
F this matter, Ziglerus in his booke of the Northe
regions in the defcription of Scondia wryteth as
foloweth.
Wee wyll intreate of this matter, not as puttynge the fame
in quedion as dyd the owld wryters, nor gatherynge iudgement
deducted of reafons in way of argument, forafmuch as wee
are alredy more certeyne by hyftorie that thefe coulde regions
are inhabited. Wee wyll fyrft therfore fhewe by naturall reafon
and by confideration of the fphere, declare how by the helpe
of man and arte, coulde regions are inhabited withowt domage
or deflruction of lyuynge beaftes : And wyll fyrfle fpeake of
the qualitie of foramer, declarynge howe it is there augmented.
Yet intende I not to comprehende all that maye bee fayde in
this matter, but only rehearfe fuch reafons and fimilitudes as
are mofl apparent and eafy to bee vnderfloode.
In fuch regions therfore, as are extended from the burnte
line or Equinoctiall towarde the north, as much as the fonne ryfethe hygher ouer theim, fo muche are they the
more burnte with heate, as Affrica, bycaufe it ryfeth hyghefl ouer them as they are neareft to the Equinoctiall:
and taryinge with theim fo mnch the (horter time caufeth fhorter days, with longer and coulder nyghtes to
reftore the domage of the day pad by reafon of the moiflure confumed by vapour. But in fuch regions ouer
the which the fonne ryfeth lower (as in Sarmatia) it remayneth there the longer in the day, and caufeth fo much
the fhorter and warmer nyghtes, as reteynynge warme vapoures of the day part,, which vapours helpe the
woorke of the day. I fpeake as I haue founde by experience, faythe Vpfalienfis. For I haue felt the fommer
nyghtes fcarfely tollerable for heate in Gothlande, wheras I felte them coulde in Rome. This benefite of th[e]-
increafe of the day, doth augment fo much the more in coulde regions as they are nearer the poles : and
ceaceth not vntyll it coome directly ouer the center or poynte of the axes or axceltree of the worlde, where the
fonne beinge at the hyghefl in fommer, is eleuate abowt. xxiiii. degrees: In which regions, one continual day
confifteth of vi. monethes from the fprynge tyme by the flandynge of the foonne (cauled Solflitium) in the
figne of Cancer to Autumne. The foonne therfore, withowt any offence of the night, gyueth his influence
vppon thofe landes with heate that neuer ceafethe durynge that tyme which maketh to the great increafe of
foommer by reafon of continuance. We haue now therfore thought good to gather by a certeyne coniecture
howe greately wee thinke the foommer to bee increafed hereby.
Wee haue before declared howe hyghe the foonne is eleuate ouer the regions that are vnder the poles at
the flaye of the foonne: And fo manye partes is it eleuate in Rome at the rtay of the foonne in wynter (that is)
at the fhorteft day in the yeare. But here, in the mydde wynter, the foonne at noone tyde is beneficiall, and
bryngeth foorth floures, rofes, and ielefloures. I haue gathered fum in wynter in the moneth of December,
not procured at home by humane arte, but growinge in open gardenes in maner in euery bedde vnder the bare
heauen, browght foorth only by the foonne. But this benignitie of the foonne, continueth not pafl fiue houres
Ziglerus.
The qualitie of
:>oomer in could
regions.
The course of the
Sonne.
Vapours.
Short and Warme
nyghtes.
Gothlande
264
One day of. vi
monethes.
Howe the sommer
is increased In
could regions.
Rome.
296
Of the north regions.
Could nights in
hoc regions.
The Romane
wynter.
One nyght of vL
monethes
Olnectioos.
The twytyghtes.
The lyght of the
mone.
The nvght vnder
the pole.
A demonstration.
265
TheMoone.
Remedies of
nature and art.
The owlde wryters
persuaded by
coniecture.
A brascn pot
broken with frost
in the naturall day, forafmuch as th[e]operation therof is extinct by the couldenefle of the nyght folowynge.
But if this benefite myght bee receaued withowt hinderaunce of the nyght, as it is vnder the poles, and fo
continue many monethes in hot regions vnto wynter, it fhulde fuerlye brynge foorthe manye woonderfuU
thynges, if moyflure fayled not. And by this condition thus propounded, wee may well conceaue that the
Romane winter, althowgh it be not hotte, yet to be equal in heate to the full fprynge tyme in the fame citie
duiynge the tyme of the fayde fine houres. And thus by a fimilitude of the height of the foonne vnder bothe
places, and of the knowen qualitie of the Romane heauen, and by th[e]acceffe of the foonne to fuch places
where the longefl day continueth certeyne monethes, wee maye gather that foommer in places vnder the pole,
is lyke vnto and equall with the full Romane fprynge.
But the more difficulte queftion, is of the tyme of the. vi. moonethes in the whiche the foonne leaueth
thofe regions, and go[e]th by the contrarye or ouerthwarte circle towarde the fouth in wynter. For they lay that
at that tyme, thofe regions are deformed with horrible darkeneffe and nyghtes not increafed, which may bee the
caufe that beaRes can not feke the)T foode. And that alfo the coulde fhulde then bee intollerable ; by which
double euyls all thynges conflrayned (hulde dye, fo that no beafle were able to abyde th[e]iniuries of wynter
and famen infuinge therof: but that all beaftes Ihulde peryffhe before the fommer folowynge, when they fliulde
bringe furth theyr broode or fucceffion : And that for thefe caufes, the fayde coulde clime Ihulde bee perpetu-
ally defolate and vnhabitable. To al which obiections, we anfwere in this maner
As touchynge the nyghtes not increafed, I faye, that it was not conuenient to affume that for any reafon.
For not as the foonne fauleth, fo fuddeynly commeth the darke night but that the euenynge dooth fubflitute
and prolonge the day longe after, as alfo the day fprynge or dawnynge of the daye gyueth a certeyne lyght
before the ryfmge of the foonne: After the whiche, the refidue of the nyght that receaueth no light by the fayde
euenynge and momynge twilightes, is accomplyffhed by the lyght of the moone, fo that the nyghtes are feldorae
vnaugmented. Let this bee an exemple proued by owre temperate regions, wherby we may vnderftande the
condition of the nyght vnder the pole. Therfore euen there alfo the twilightes helpe the nyght a longe tyme,
as we wyl more prefently demonllrate. It is approued by the Aflronomers, that the foonne defcendynge from
the higheft halfe fphere by. xviii. paralels of the vnder horizon, makethe an ende of the twylight, fo that at the
lengthe the darke nyght fuccedeth : And that the foonne approchynge, and ryfynge aboue the the hygheft halfe
fphere by as many paralels, dooth diminyfthe the nyght and increafe the twylyght Ageyne, by the pofition or
placeinge of the fphere vnder the pole, the fame is the horizontal! that is the Equinoctiall. Thofe paralelles
therefore that are paralels to the horizontal line, are alfo paralels to the Equinoctial! So that the foonne
defcendynge there vuder the horizon, dooth not brynge darke nyghtes to thofe regions vntyll it coomme to the
paralele diflant xviii. partes from the Equinoctiall.
Other demonftrations hereof are made by certeyne fygures of Aftronomie, whiche I wolde haue added hereunto but that I
coulde not gette the fame grauen or cutte.
Durynge the tyme of thefe fayde fyxe moonethes of darkeneffe vnder the pole, the nyght is deflitute of the
benefite of the foonne and the fayde twylyghtes, onely for the fpace of three moonethes, in the whiche the
foonne goeth and retumeth by the portion of the ouerthwart circle. But yet neyther this tyme of three
moonethes is withowt remedy frome heauen. For the moone with her full globe increafed in lyghte, hath
acceffe at that tyme, and illuminateth the moonethes lackynge lyght, euery one by them felues, halfe the courfe
of the moonethe : by whofe benefite it coommeth to paffe that the night, named as vnaugmented, poffeffeth
thofe regions no longer then one mooneth and a halfe, neyther that continually or al at one tyme : but this alfo
diuided into three forts of fliorter nyghtes, of the whiche euery one endureth for the fpace of twoo weekes, and
are illuminate of the moone accordyngly. And this is the reafon conceaued of the poure of the fphere wherby
we teflifie that the fommers and nyghtes vnder the pole, are toUerable to lyuynge beaftes.
But wee wyll nowe declare by other remedies of nature and arte, that this coulde fo greatly feared, is more
remiffe and toUerable then owre opinion : fo that compared to the nature of fuch beafles as Hue there, it may
bee abydden. And there is no doubt but there are autours of more antiquitie then that age in the which any
thynge was exactly knowen or difcouered of the north regions. The owlde wryters therfore perfuaded onely
by naked coniecture, dydde gather what they myght determine of thofe places: Or rather by the eftimation of
heauen, the which, bycaufe they felte it to bee hardely toUerable to them felues, and lelfe to men borne in the
clyme of Egypte and Grecia, tooke therby an argument of the hole habitable earth. The hyftorie of Strabo is
knowen, that a potte of braffe which was broken in funder with frofen water, was brought from Pontus and fhewed
in Delphis in token of a greuous wynter. Here therfore, they that fo greatly feared the winter (fuch as chaunceth
to the earth vnder the. xlviii. [forty-eighth] paralele) and therefore confecrated that broken pot to the temple of
Apollo, what coulde fuch men trewly define vppon regions fo farre withowt that paralele, whether they were
inhabited or not ? But fuch as folowed thefe, being contented with th[e]inuentions of the owlde autours,
'.96
Of the north regio7is.
297
and borne in maner vnder the fame qualitie of heauen, perfifled wyllyngly in the fame opinion, with more
confidence then confideration of the thynges whereof wee nowe intreate: fo lyghtly was that opinion receaued
as touching the vnhabitable cHme vnder the poles. But we with better confidence and faithe (forafmuch as we
are not inflmcted with coniectures) intend to ftande ageynfl, the fentence of the owld autours : Affirming the
north regions within the coulde clime to bee inhabyted with hearynges, coddes, haddockes, and brettes,
tunnyes, and other great fyffhes, with th[e]infinite number wherof, tables are furnyflhed through a great parte
of Europe : AI whiche are taken in the north fea extended beyonde owr knoweleage. This fea at certeyne
tymes of the yeare, poureth furth his plentifulneffe, or rather dryueth furth his increafe to feke newe manfions,
and are here taken in theyr paffage. Furthermore alfo, euen the mouthes of the riuer of Tyber receaue a fyffhe
as a newe gefl fent from the north fea. This fwamme twyfe through Fraunce and twife throughe Spayne :
Ouerpaffed the Ligurian and Tufcan fea to communicate her felfe to the citie of Rome. The lakes alfo and
ryuers of thofe regions are replenyffhed with fyffhe : In fo much that no poure of coulde is able to extinguyffhe
th[e]increafe of the yeare folowinge, and the fucceflion reparable fo many hundreth yeares. And I playnely
thinke, that yf it fhulde of neceffitie folowe, that one of thefe two elementes, the earthe and the water, fhulde
be deftructiue to lyuynge creatures, the water fhulde chiefely haue wrought this effecte. But this is founde fo
tractable, that in the diepe wynter, both that increafe is brought furth, and fyffhynge is alfo exercifed. The
lande is lykewife inhabited with lyke plentifulneffe. But that we wander not to farre : Let the fayth hereof refl
in th[e]expofition folowynge, wherin we intend to declare howe by the poure of nature and indudry of man,
this commoditie may coomme to paffe. Therfore as touchynge nature, wee fuppofe that the diuine prouidence
hath made nothynge vncommunicable, but to haue gyuen fuch order to all thynges wherby euery thynge maye
bee tollerable to the nexte. The extremeties of the elementes confent with the)a next. The ayer is groife
abowt the earth and water: But thinne and hotte abowt the fyre. By this prouidence of nature, the vttermofl.
fea is very falte. And falte (as ^vytneffeth Plinie) yeldeth the fatneife of oyle. But oyle, by a certeyne natiue
heate, is of propertie agreable to fyre. The fea then, beinge all of fuch qualitie, poureth furth it felfe far vppon
th[e]extreme landes, whereby by reafon of the falteneffe therof, it moueth and flereth vp generatiue heate, as by
fatnefle it noryffheth the fecunditie of thynges generate. It gyueth this frutfulnes to the earth at certeyne fluds,
although the earth alfo it felfe, haue in his inner bowels the fame liuely and nuryffhynge heate, wherby not only
the dennes, caues and holowe places, but alfo fprynges of water are made warme : And this fo much the more,
in howe muche the wynter is more vehement This thyng dooth more appere by this exemple, that the
mountaynes of Norway and Suethlande are fruteful of metals, in the which, fyluer and copper are concocte and
molten into veynes, which can fcarfely bee doonne in fornaces. By this reafon alfo, the vapours and hotte
exhalations perceinge the earthe and the waters, and throwghe both thofe natures breathynge furth into the
ayer, tempereth the qualitie of heauen and maketh it tollerable to beafles, as wytneifeth the huge byggeneffe of
the whales in thofe feas, with the flrength of bodye and longe lyfe of fuche beafles as liue on the lande : whiche
thynge coulde not bee, excepte all thynges were there commodioufly nuryffhed by the benefite of the heauen
and the ayer. For nothyng that in the tyme of increafe is hyndered by any iniurie, or that is euyll fedde all
the tyme it lyueth, can profper well. Neyther are fuch thynges as lyue there, offended with theyr naturall
wynter as thowgh an Egiptian or Ethiopian were fuddeynly conueyed into thofe coulde regions. For they
were in longe tyme by lyttle and lyttle browght fyrfl acquaynted with the nature of that heauen, as may be
proued both by the lyfe of man and by the hiflorie of holy fcripture. They that were led from Mefopotania,
and that famous towre of Babilon towarde the north partes of the worlde in the fyrfl difpertion of nations, dyd
not immediatly paffe to th[e]extreme boundes, but planted theyr habitations fyrfl vnder a myddle heauen
betwene both, as in Thracia and Pontus, where theyr pofleritie was accuflomed the better to fufleyne the
rygoure of Scythia and Tanais, as he that commeth from winter to foommer, maye the better after abyde Ife
and fnowe beinge fyrfl hardened therto by the frofles of Autumne. In lyke maner mortall men, accuflomed to
beare the hardeneffe of places nexte vnto theym, were therby at the length more confirmed to fufleyne the
extremes. And here alfo, if any fharpeneffe remayne that maye feeme intolerable, nature hathe prouyded for
the fame with other remedies. For the laude and fea, hathe gyuen vnto beafles, diepe and large caues, dennes,
and other holowe places and fecreate comers in mountaynes and rockes, bothe on the lande and by the fea
bankes, in the which are euer conteyned warme vapoures fo much the more intent and vehement, in howe
much they are the more conflrayned by extreme could Nature hath alfo gyuen valleys diuerted and defended
frome the north wyndes. Shee hath lykewife couered beafles with heare fo much the thicker in howe muche
the vehemencie of could is greater: by reafon wherof the befl and rychefl furres are browght from thofe
regions, as Sables whofe price is growne to great exceffe nexte vnto gold and precious flones, and are eflemed
princely omamentes. The beafles that beare thefe furres, are hunted chiefely in wynter (which thynge is more
flraunge) bycaufe theyr heare is thenne thicker and cleaueth fafler to the fkyn. Howe greauous then fhall we
thinke the winter to bee there where this lyttle beafl lyueth fo well, and where the hunters may fearch
Fysshes of the
North seas.
The North sea-
The qualitie of
water.
The lande
The diuine
prouidence in
moderatynge the
elements
266
The nature of the
sea.
Sake.
Generatiue heate.
Owtwarde could is
cause of inwarde
heate-
Metals.
Vapours and
exhalations.
Whales.
Beastes.
Hereby maye bee
considered the
cause of the
deathe of owr men
that sayle directly
to Guinea.
No passage from
one extreniitie to
another but by a
meane.
Caues and dennes.
Valleys.
The best furres.
Sables.
298
Of the north regions.
Beastes that lye
hyd in wynter.
All beastes haue
the nature of the
place where they
are engendered.
267
What exercise
may doo.
Vse maketh
masteries.
Scondla.
Scone, is fayrc in
the duch toonge.
The fertilitie of
Scondia.
He meancth
Diodorus Siculus.
Thfeliniiasions of
the Gothcs
Transiluania
268
the dennes and hauntes of fuch beaft.es throwghe the wooddes and fnowe? But fuche beaftes the
condition of whofe bodies is fo tender that they are not able to abyde th[e]iniurie of coulde, eyther
lye hydde in wynter, or chaunge theyr habitation, as do certeyne beaftes alfo in owre clime. Nature
hath furthermore gyuen remedie to man bothe by arte and induftry to defende him felfe both abrode
and at home. Abrode, with a thicke vefture, and the fame well dowbeled. At home, with large fyers
on harthes, chymyneys, and in flooues for the day, with clofe chambers, and couches, fofte and warme beddes
for the nyght : by whiche remedies they mitigate the winters which feeme rigorous to ftraungers, althowghe they
are to th[e]inhabitauntes more tollerable then owre opinion, as in deede by the fyrft natural mixture or
compofition of theyr bodies, fuch thinges are agreable to them as feeme very harde to other. The lion in Affrike
and the beare in Sarmatia, are fierce as in theyr prefente ftrength and vigoure : but tranflated into a contrary
heauen, are of lefle ftrength and courage. The foule cauled Ciconia (which fum thinke to bee the ftorke)
dooth not tary the winter : yet doo the cranes coomme at that tyme. The Scythian wyll accufe the Romane
heauen as induceinge feuers, wheras neuertheleife there is none more holfoome. Such as haue byn tenderly
browght vp, if they coomme fuddeynly in to the campe, can not away with hunger, watchynge, heate, paflages
throwgh ryuers, battayles, fieges, and affaultes. But the owld fouldier exercifed in the warres, vfeth thefe as
meditations of the fielde, as hardened therto by longe experience. He that hath byn accuftomed to the
fliadowe of the citie, and wyll attemple the fayinge of the poet Virgil, Nudus ara, fere ntidus, that is, naked and
bare withowt houfe and home, fliall to his perell make an ende of the verfe, Habebis frigora febrem (that is)
he fliall haue the coulde ague. Suche thynges therfore as feeme harde vnto vs, beinge accuftomed by lyttle and
lyttle, becomme more tollerable : In fo much that this exercife of fufteraunce by fuch degrees, dooth oftentymes
grow to prodigious effectes farre beyonde owre expectation. And thus wee feeme to haue made fufficient
demonftration, by heauen, nature, and arte, wherby it may appere that no part of the lande or fea is denyed to
lyuynge creatures. The reader may alfo perceaue how large matter of reafons and exemples may bee opened
for the declarynge of owre opinion wherein wee reft. Let therfore th[e]autoritie of the ancient autours gyue
place, and the confent of the newe wryters agree to this hyftory, not as nowe at the length comprehended
(whereas before many hundreth yeares Germanie and Scondia had entercourfe of marchaundies not feuered by
the large goulfe of Gothia) but as nowe by owr commentaries brought to light And hauyng fayde thus much
in maner of a preface, we wyll nowe procede to wryte of the north regions.
€1 SCHONDIA.
[Chondia, Schondania, or Schondenmarchia, is as much to fay as fayre Dania or fayre Denmarke.
Plinie in one place, nameth it Scandia, and in an other, Scandinauia if there bee no faute in
th[e]exemplers. It was named Schondia, by reafon of the fayreneffe and frutfulnefle therof.
And this afwell for that in beneficiall heauen, fertilitie of grounde, commoditie of hauens and
marte townes, abundaunce of ryuers of fyffhe, plentie of beaftes, great quantitie of metall, as
golde, fyluer, copper, and leade, diligent culturynge the grounde, with townes and cities wel
inhabited and gouerned by ciuile lawes, it gyuethe place to none other fortunate region.
This was in maner vnknowen to the owlde Greekes and Latins as may appeare by this argumente that with one
confente they affirmed that in thefe north regions the could zone or clime, was condemned to perpetuall fnowe
intollerable to all lyuynge creatures. For few of them haue made mention hereof as to be inhabited. Amonge
whom Plinie as one of the chiefe, fayth in his fourth booke, that Schondania is of vnknowen byggenefle : and
only that portion therof to be knowen which is inhabited with the nation of the Hilleuiones in fiftie vyllages.
Neyther yet is Eningia lefle in opinion. Other more auncient then Plinie, haue placed moft fortunate regions,
with men of longe lyfe (whiche the Greekes caule Macrobios) and of mofte innocente behauour vnder the tracte
of thofe landes : and that there came from thence to Delphos, certeyne religious virginnes with vowes and gyftes
confecrated to Apollo: And furthermore that that nation obferued this inftitution vntyll the fayde virgins were
violated of them of whome they were receaued as ftraungers. Thefe are moft cleare teftimonies of Antiquitie,
both of the greatnefle of Schondia, and the people that inhabite the fame, althowgh they were fence vnknowen,
as lykewyfe the Gothes departynge from thefe north landes althowghe they obteyned Th[e]empire of the regions
abowte the mariffhes of Meotis and the coaftes of the fea Euxinus, with the realme of Denmarke (wherof that
is thought to bee a portion which is nowe cauled Tranfiluania) and the bankes of the ryuer of Danubius, and
in fine inuaded the Romane Empire, yet were not the regions wel knowen from whenfe they tooke theyr
originall. Therefore lyke as parte of the owlde wryters are vnfufficient wytneffes to teftifie of owre narrations
as touchynge thefe landes vnknowen to them, Euen fo the other parte which excluded the fame as vnhabitable,
are to bee conuinced leafte theyr autoritie beinge admitted, fhuld engender opinions not agreeable or conuenient
to the nature of places. Sigifmundus Liberus, in his commentaries of Mofcouia, wryteth thus. Scandia or
208
Of the north regions.
299
Scondia, is no Hand (as fume haue thought) but parte of the continente or firme lande of Suetia, which by a
longe tracte reacheth to Gothlande : And that nowe the kynge of Denmarke poflelTeth a great parte therof But
wheras the wryters of thefe thinges haue made Scondia greater then Suetia, and that the Gothes and Lumbardes
came frome thenfe, they feeme in my opinion to comprehende thefe three kyngedomes as it were in one body,
only vnder the name of Scondia, forafmuch as then, that parte of lande that lyeth betwene the fea Baltheum
(whiche floweth by the coaftes of Finlandia) and the frofen fea, was vnknowen : And that by reafon of fo many
mariffhes, innumerable ryuers, and intemperatneffe of heauen, it is yet rude vncultured, and lyttle knovven.
Which thynge hath byn the caufe that fumme iudged all that was cauled by the name of Scondia, to bee one
great Ilande.
€r Gronlande.
Ronlande is interpreted greene lande: fo cauled for the great increafe and frutefulnefle of
paflure. By reafon wherof, what great plentie of cattayle there is, it may hereby appere that
at fuch tyme as fhyppes may paffe thyther they fet furth great heapes of cheefe and butter to
bee fould, wherby wee coniecture that the lande is not rowgh with barren mountaynes. It
hath two Cathedrall Churches vnder th[e]ordination of Nidrofia. To one of thefe, was of
late yeares a byffhop appoynted onely by the tytle of a fuffragane in confideration that while
the metropolitane dooth neglect the direction of religion for the dillance of the place and
difficult nauigation, the people is in maner faulne to gentilitie, beinge of them felfe of mouable wyttes and gyuen
to magical artes. For it is fayde that they (as alfo the people of Laponia) doo rayfe tempeftes on the fea with
magical inchauntmentes, and brynge fuch fhippes into daungeour as they intende to fpoile. They vfe lyttle
fliyppes made of lether, and fafe ageynfle the brufynge of the fea and rockes, and with them affayle other
fliippes. Peter Martyr of Angleria, writeth in his Decades of the Spanillhe nauigations, that Sebaflian Cabote
fayling from Englande continually towarde the north, folowed that courfe fo farre that he chaunfed vppon
greate flakes of Ife in the raooneth of luly : and that diuertynge from thenfe, he folowed the coafle by the (liore
bendynge towarde the South vntyl he came to the clime of the Ilande of Hifpaniola aboue Cuba, an Hand of
the Canibales. Which narration hath giuen me occafion to extende Gronlande beyonde the promontory or cape of
Huitfarch to the continente or firme lande of Lapponia aboue the caflell of Wardhus : which thynge I did the
rather for that the reuerende Archebyffhoppe of Nidrofia, conflantely affirmed that the fea bendethe there into
the forme of a crooked elbowe. It agreeth herewith alfo, that the Lapones confent with them in the lyke magi-
cal practifes and doo neyther imbrafe the Chriflian religion nor refufe it: wherby I haue thowght this lykenetfe
of cuflomes to bee betwene them bycaufe they ioyne togyther in one continent. The diRance lykewyfe, feemeth
not to difagree. For betwene both thefe people, the diflance is not full twoo hundreth Schceni, euery one being
a fpace of grounde conteinyng. Ix. [sixty] furlonges, which make. vii. [seven] myles and a halfe. It furthermore
agreeth with this coniecture that Cabote chaunfed into fuch Ife. And albeit as touchynge the mooneth of luly,
I wyll contend it is not well reherfed, no althowghe he had fayled vnder the pole, for fuch reafons as wee haue
declared before to the contrary, neuertheleffe, that at fum tyme he fayled by Ife, this teflifieth in that he fayled
not by the mayne fea, but in places nere vnto the lande comprehendyng and imbrafyng the fea in forme oi a
goulfe, wheras for the fame caufe, the goulfe of Gothland is frofen bycaufe it is (Ireyght and narow, in the whiche
alfo the lyttle quantitie of fait water is ouercoome by the abundance of frefflie water of many and greate ryuers
that faule into the goulfe. But betwene Norwaye and Iflande, the fea is not frofen for the contrary caufe,
forafmuch as the poure of frefffie water is there ouercomme of th[e]abundance of the falte water. There is a
fame (but of vncerteyne autoritie) that the Spanyardes fayle at this prefente to Gronlande, and to an other lande
which they caule Terra viridis, that is, the greene lande, bringynge from thenfe fuche wares as are founde in
Gronlande. Towarde the north, it reacheth to the vnknowen lande vnder the pole, from whenfe alfo the
theues and robbers of the Pigmei coomme into this lande. Whiche is an argument that the regions vnder the
pole are inhabited and almofl enuironed with the fea, as are they whiche the Cofmographers caule Cherfonnefl
or Peninfulx (that is) almofl Ilandes :
^^ 77te defcription of Gronlande.
^[ The defcription of the Eaflfyde whiche lyeth towarde Norway.
[Longitude.] [Latitude.]
degrees] [o'] 70. 30' The feconde extention.
53. 30' 71. 30'. Huitfarch. promont.
40' [oQ 71. 40' The extention.
•Wardhus caflell.
Towarde the North.
The fyrfl extention.
It is continued from thenfe by the coafles of the lande of Baccallaos,
Towarde the wefl and north, it is termined with an vnknowen ende of landes and feas.
[* Wardoehuus is the chief village of Wardoe, an island on the N.E. coast of Norway, beyond the North Cape and near Waranger Fiord.
is 70° 23', and £. Long, si** 7'. Therefore Ziegler's meridian in all the following dates (being 54 degrees west of Wardoehuus) is really 23 degrees W. Long.,
and that therefore he places Baccallos 4 degrees still further west— fixes it in 27° V/. Long., which is, in high latitudes, the longitude of a part of Greenland.— E. A.)
299
[Longitude.
[Latitude.]
28. [0'
72. [0']
22. [oT
67. [ol
5- M
61. 45'
•356. [oT
60. [0']
Waranger Fiord.
Its true N. Lat.
The Gothes and
Lumbardes.
Frutefull pasture.
Religion
neglected.
Inchaunters
The vy^age of
Sebastian Cabote
to the frosen sea.
Gronlande.
Wardhus.
Lapponia and
Gronlande.
Schoem.
Cabote tould me
that this Ise is of
fresshe water, and
not of the sea.
A commixtion of
salt water and
fresshe.
The sea betwene
Norway and
Islande.
Terra Viridis,
269
Pigmei.
Baccalaoa.
300
Of the north regions.
Island cauled
Thyle.
Schoeni is Ix.
[sixty] furlongcs.
Miracles of nature
in Islande.
Three maruelous
mountayae&
Helgnte.
Hecla.
Straunge visions.
Ise.
Purgatory.
A straunge thynge.
Four springs of
contrary nature.
Abundaunce of
brimstone.
Dryed fysshe.
Scarsenes of come.
270
Haukes.
White rauens.
Houses of whales
bones.
1'he nauigation to
Island.
Whales.
One thyn^
seruyng for
contrary vses.
A shipmans
quadrant
Islande.
jjSlande is interpreted the land of Ife, and is cauled of the owlde wryters Thyle. It is extended
betwene the fouth and the north almofl. two hundreth fchoenes in longitude. It is for the
mod part full of mountaynes and vncultured. But in the playnes it hath fuche frutefuU
pallures, that they are fayne fumetymes to dryue the beafles from their feedynge lead they
fhulde bee fuffocate with to much fatnes. This Hand is famous by the flrange miracles of
nature, of the which Saxo Grammaticus in his hyllorie of Denmarke, and Olanus Gothus in
his defcription of the north landes, doo make mention. There are in it three mountaynes of
marueylous height, the toppes whereof are couered with perpetuall fnowe. But the nether partes of them, are
of lyke nature to the mountayne Etna in the Ilande of Sicilie boyHng with continuall flames of fyre and
caflynge furth brymflone. One of thefe is named Helga, and the other Mons Crucis (that is) the mounte of
the croffe. The thyrde is named Hecla : whofe flames neyther confume flaxe or towe, matters mofle apte to
take fyre, nor yet are quenched with water. And with lyke force as the fliotte of great artillerie is driuen furth
by violence of fyre, euen fo by the commixtion and repugnaunce of fyre, coulde, and brymflome, greate flones
are here throwne into the ayer. Nere vnto thefe mountaynes are three chynkes or open places in the earthe
of houge byggeneffe and fuche depth (efpecially at the mounte Hecla) that no fyght can attayne therto. But to
fuch as looke into them, there fyrfl appeare men as thowgh they were drowned and yet breathyng furth theyr
fowles : who beinge exhorted by theyr frendes to reforte to theyr owne, they aunfwere with moomynge voyce
and greuous fyghes, that they mufl departe frome thenfe to the mount Hecla, and therwith fuddeynly vanyiihe
owte of fyght Ife floweth abowt the Ilande for the fpace of feuen or eyght moonethes, makynge by runnynge
togyther a certeyne miferable waylinge and gronynge noyfe not vnlyke the voyce of man. Th[e]inhabi-
tauntes thynke, that in this Ife and the mounte Hecla, are the places where the euyll foules of theyr people
are tormented. If any man take a greate portion of this Ife, and kepe it as diligently as may bee in a clofe
vefliell or cofer, the fame dooth fo vanyffhe at the tyme when the other Ife abowt the Ilande diffolueth, that not
fo much as one droppe of water or Ife can therof bee founde.
Not farre from thefe mountaynes reachynge toward the fea coafles, are foure fprynges of water of moft.e
diuers and contrary nature. The fyrfle, by reafon of his perpetuall and feruente heate, fuddeynely tumeth all
bodies that are cafle therin, into Hones, referuynge neuerthelefle theyr fyrfl forme and fhape. The feconde, is
of intoUerable couldeneffe. The thyrde is fweeter then hony, and rnofl. pleafaunte to quenche thyrfl. The
fourth is playne poyfon, pellilent, and deadely. There is furthermore in thefe fprynges fuche abundaunce of
brymflone, that a thoufande pounde weight therof is bought for lyttle, as for the tenth parte of a ducate.
Theyr chiefe wares, are dryed fyfflie, as foles, maydens, playces, falpas, fl.ockefyf(hes, and fuch other which they
exchange for wheat and fuch other thynges as are browght thyther from Lubeck, Hamborowe, and Amfl.erdam.
For they haue oftentymes fuch fcarfeneffe of come, that they vfe dryed fyffhe in the fleade of breade, althowgh
in foommer the Ilande fo floryffheth with greene and frutefull medowes, that they are fayne fumtimes to dryue
theyr beafles from paRure leafle they fhulde fuffocate for to much fatteneffe, as I haue fayde before. They
make very good butter, and apte to bee vfed in matters of phificke. There are founde dyuers kindes of good
haukes, as faulcons, gerfalcons, lanners, and fperhaukes. Alfo rauens, crowes, beares, hares, and foxes, both
whyte and blacke. They haue mofl fwy fte horfes : and fuch as runne. xxx. [thirty] myles continually withowt reft or
bayte. They haue many churches: and houfes buylded of the bones of whales and other greate fyllhes. The
nauigation is not open to this Ilande but in fommer feafon: and that only for the fpace of foure moonethes, by
reafon of the coulde and Ife whereby the pafTage is flopped. If any ftryfe or debate aryfe on the fea amonge
the mariners for the commoditie of the hauen, the gouemour of the place althowgh he haue knowleage therof,
yet dooth he not punyffhe them, forafmuch as it apperteyneth not to his office to deceme fuch thynges as are
doonne on the fea, but only on the lande. Shippes are there often tymes in great perell by reafon of whales
and fuch other monfters of the fea, excepte the mariners take good heede and keepe them farre frome the
fhyppes with the noyfe of droommes, and emptie barrels caft into the fea. There are many mynftrels and
other that play on inftrumentes, with the fweete noyfe whereof, they vfe to allure foules and fiffhes to theyr
nettes and fnares. Many alfo, lye lurkynge in caues and dennes to auoyde the fharpeneffe of coulde, as the
Affricanes doo the lyke to defend them felues from the heate. On the toppe of a certeyne mountayne cauled
Weyfzarch, (lyinge betwene Iflande and Gruntland or Gronlande) is erected a fliypmans quadrant of marueilous
byggeneffe, made by two pirates named Pinnigt and Pothorft in fauour of fuch as fayle by thofe coaftes that
they may therby auoyde the daungerous places lyinge towarde Gronland.
The myddeft of the Ilande. 7 o' [Long.] 65 30.' [Lat.] The citie Harfol. etc. 7 40' [Long.] 60 42' [Lat]
Of the north regions.
301
•tr.^>*/^?5<>»-
w^
'^
J * A
Laponia.
He region of Laponia, was fo named of the people that inhabite it. For the Germayns, caule
all fuche Lapones, as are fimple or vnapte to thynges. This people is of fmaule flature, and
of fuch agilitie of bodie, that hauynge theyr quyuers of arrowes gerte to them and theyr
bowes in theyr handes, they can with a leape, cafte theym felues throwgh a circle or hope of
the diameter of a cubite. They feyght on foote, armed with bowes and arrowes after the
maner of the Tartars. They are exercifed in hurlynge the darte and fhootynge from theyr
youth : in fo muche that they giue theyr chyldren no meate vntyll they hit the marke they
fhoote at, as dyd in owlde tyme th[e]inhabitauntes of the Ilandes cauled Baleares. They vfe to make theyr
apparell flreight and clofe to theyr boddies that it hynder not theyr woorke. Theyr winter veflures are made
of the hole (kinnes of feales or beares artificially wrought and made fupple. Thefe they tye with a knotte
aboue theyr heades, leauynge onely two holes open to looke through, and haue all the refidue of theyr bodies
couered as thoughe they were fowed in fackes, but that this beinge adapted to all partes of theyr bodies, is fo
made for commoditie and not for a punifftiement as the Romans were accuRomed to fowe paricides in fackes
of lether with a cocke, an ape, and a ferpent, and fo to hurle them alyue all togither into the ryuer of Tyber.
And hereby I thinke it came to pafle that in owlde tyme it was raffhely beleued that in thefe regions
there were men with rowgh and hery bodies, wilde beaftes, as parte made relation throwghe ignoraunce,
parte alfo takynge pleafure in rehearfall of fuche thynges as are flraunge to the hearers. The Lapones
('efended by this arte and induflry, go abrode and withRande the fharpenes of wynter and the north
wyndes, with all the iniuries of heauen. They haue no houfes, but certeyne tabernacles like tentes or hales
wher\vith they paffe from place to place and change theyr manfions. Sum of them Hue after the maner of the
people of Sarmatia cauled in owlde tyme Amaxobii, which vfed waynes in the Reade of houfes. They are much
gyucn to huntynge : and haue fuch plentie of wylde beaRes that they kyll them in maner in eueiy place.
It is not lawfull for a woman to go furth of the tente at that doore by the whiche her hufbande wente
owte on huntynge the fame daye: nor yet to touche with her hande any parte of the beaRe that is taken
vntyll her huftiande reache her on the fpitte fuche a portion of flefflie as he thinketh good. They tyll not the
grounde. The region nuryflheth no kynde of ferpentes : yet are there greate and noyfoome gnattes. They
take fyfRie in greate plentie : by the commoditie wherof, they lyue after the maner of the Ethiopians cauled
Ichthiophagi. For as thefe drie theyr fifRie with feruent heate, fo doo they drye them with coulde, and grynde
or Rampe them to pouder as fmaule as meale or floure. They haue fuch abundaunce of thefe fyfRies, that
they hourd great plentie therof in certeyne Rore houfes to cary them vnto other landes nere abowt them, as
Northbothnia and \Vhyte Ruflia. Theyr ftiyppes are not made with nayles, but are tide togyther and made
faR with cordes and wyththes. With thefe they fayle by the fwyft ryuers betwene the mountaines of Laponia,
beinge naked in fommer that they may the better fwymme in the tyme of perell, and gather together fuch wares
as are in daunger to bee loR by (hipwracke. Part of them exercife handie craftes, as imbrotherynge and
weauynge of cloth interlaced with golde and fyluer. Suche as haue diuifed any neceffary arte, or doo increafe
and amende th[e]inuentions of other, are openlye honoured, and rewarded with a veRure, in the which is
imbrothered an argument or token of the thynge they deuifed. And this remayneth to the poReritie of theyr
famelie in token of theyr defertes. They frame fhippes, buylde houfes, and make diuers fortes of houfliolde
Ruffe artificially, and tranfporte them to other places neare abowte. They bye and fell bothe for exchaunge of
ivares and for money. And this only by confent of both parties withowt communicacion : yet not for lacke of
wytte or for rudenefle of maners, but bycaufe they haue a peculiar language vnknowen to theyr bortherers. It
is a valiant nation, and lyued longe free, and fuReyned the warres of Norwaye and Suecia vntyll at the length
they fubmitted them felues, and payde ryche furres for theyr tribute. They chofe them felues a gouemour
whom they caule a kynge: But the kyng of Suetia gyueth hym autoritie and adminiRration. Neuertheleffe, the
people in theyr futes and doubtfuU caufes, reforte to Suecia to haue theyr matters decifed.
In theyr iomeys, they go not to any Inne, nor yet enter into any houfe, but lye all nyght vnder the firma-
ment. They haue no horfes : but in the Reade of them, they tame certeyne wyld beaRes which they caule Reen,
beinge of the iuRe byggeneffe of a mule, with rowgh heare lyke an Affe, clouen feete, and braunched homes lyke
a harte, but lower and with fewer antlettes. They wyll not abyde to bee rydden. But when theyr peitrels or draw-
ynge coUers are put on them, and they fo ioyned to the charlotte or fleade, they runne in the fpace of. xxiiii. [twenty-
four] houres, a hundreth and fiftie myles, or. xxx. [thirty] fchcenos : The whiche fpace they affirme to chaunge
the horizon thryfe : that is thryfe to coome to the furtheR figne or marke that they fee a farre of Which
doubtleffe is a token both of the marueylous fwiftnefle and great Rrength of thefe beaRes beinge able to con-
People of great
agilitie.
A straunge
apparelL
The cause of aa
owlde erroure.
So doo the
Tartars
Plentie of wyld
beastes.
271
No serpents.
Great gnats.
Abundaunce of
fysshe.
Ships withowt
nayles.
Science honoured
Bar^einynge
withowt woordes.
No horses.
A beast of
marueylous
strength 3nd
swyftnesse.
What Schoenus is.
Loke in Grunland.
The change of the
horizon.
302
Of the north regions.
The owld autour>
c»uled all the
north people
Scythyans.
Erasmus lamenteth
this in his fyrste
booke de ratiiic
concionandi,
where he speaketh
of the peop'e.
cauled pilapii
272
Idolatric
A misterie of
maria^c in fyre
aad iliut.
Experte
inchaunlers.
Magical dartes.
The canker.
One nyght of
three raoonethes.
Rich furres.
Plentie of sea
fysshe.
Wardhus.
tinewe runnynge for fo great a fpace, in the meane whyle alfo fpendynge fumtyme in feedynge. I fuppofe
that this thynge was fumewhat knowen to the owlde wryters, although receaued in manner by an obfcure
and doubtful fame. For they alfo wryte that certeyne Scythians doo ryde on hartes.
They neyther folowe the Chriflian religion, nor yet refufe it or are offended therwith as are the luwes : but
do fumtymes receaue it fauorably to gratifie the princes to whorae they obey. And that no more of theym
imbrafe the Chriflian fayth, the faute is fumwhat to bee imputed to the byffhoppes and prelates that haue
eyther reiected this cure and charge of inftmctynge the nation, or fuffered the faith of Chrifl to be fuffocate
euen in the fyrft. fprynge. For vnder the pretenfe of religion, they woulde haue aduaunced theyr owne reuenues
and ouerburthened the people by an intoUerable exemple, none otherwyfe here then in all Chriftendome,
which thynge is doubtleffe the caufe of mofle greuous defections. I harde lohn a byffhoppe of Gothlande iky
thus : We that goueme the churche of Vpfalia, and haue vnder owre diocefle a great parte of that nation, lyke
as it is not conueniente to declare many thynges of owre vigilance and attendaunce ouer the flocke committed
to owre charge, euen fo abReynynge frome myfcheuous couetoufneffe wherby religion is abufed for luker, we
doo in all places owre diligent endeuour that we miniller none occafion whereby this nation as offended by owre
finnes, maye bee the leffe wyllynge to embrafe the Chriflian fayth. This is the flate of the religion amonge the
Lapones : Althowgh of theyr owne inflitution and cuftome receaued of theyr predicefTours, they are Idolatours,
honourynge that lyuynge thynge that they meete fyrfl in the mornynge, for the god of that daye, and diuinynge
thereby theyr good lucke or euyll. They alfo erecte images of flones vpon the mountaines which they efleeme
as goddes, attributing to them diuine honour. They folemne marriages, and begynne the fame with fyre and
flynte, as with a myflerie fo aptely applyed to the image of flone as if it had byn receaued frome the myddefle
of Grecia. For in that they adhibite a myflerie to fyre, as they doo not this alone (forafmuche as the Romanes
obferued the fame cuflome) euen fo are they herein partly to be commended in that they vfe the ceremonies of fo
noble a people. The myflerie of the flinte is no leffe to bee prayfed, both forafmuche as this is domeflicall philofophie,
and hath alfo a nere affinitie and fignification to thefe folemnities. For as the flynt hath in it fyre lyinge hydde
whiche appeareth not but by mouynge and force, fo is there a fecreate lyfe in both kyndes of man and woman
whiche by mutuall coniunction coommethe furth to a lyuynge byrth. They are furthermore experte inchaunters.
They tye three knottes on a flrynge hangynge at a whyppe. When they lofe one of thefe, they rayfe toUerable
wyndes. When they lofe an other, the wynde is more vehement. But by lofyng the thyrde, they rayfe playne
tempefles as in owlde tyme they were accuflomed to rayfe thunder and lyghtnynge. This arte doo they vfe
ageinfl fuch as fayle by theyr coafles, and flaye or moue the ryuers and feas more or lefl'e as they lyfl to fhewe
fauoure or difpleafure. They make alfo of leade certeyne fhorte magicall dartes of the quantitie and length of a
fynger. Thefe they throwe ageynfte fuche of whome they defyre to bee reuenged, to places neuer fo farre
diflanL They are fumtimes fo vexed with the canker on their annes or legges that in the fpace of three dayes
they dye throwgh the vehemencie of the payne. The fonne fauleth very lowe in thefe regions : and prolongeth
one continuaU nyghte for the fpace of thre moonethes in wynter, durynge whiche tyme they haue none other
lyght but lyke vnto the twylyght of euenynges and mornynges. This is very cleare, but continueth but fewe
houres, and is lyke the bryght fhynynge of the moone. Therfore that day that the fonne returneth to the
hemifpherie, they keepe holy day and make' great myrth with folemne fefliuitie. And thefe are the maners of
this nation, not fo brutyfilie or faluage as woorthy therfore to bee cauled Lapones for theyr vnaptneffe or
fimplicitie as when they lyued vnder theyr owne Empire and vfed no familiaritie or entercourfe with other
nations and knewe not the commoditie of theyr owne thynges, neyther the pryce and eflimation of theyr furres
in owre regions, by reafon whereof they foulde great plentie of them for fum of owre wares of fmaule value.
The boundes or limittes of Laponia (beinge th[e]extreme lande of Scondia knowen towarde the north pole)
are extended towarde this parte of the North, to the worlde yet vnknowen to vs: And furthermore towarde the
fame parte of the vttermofl fea, accordynge to this defcription. [Longitude.] [Latitude.)
The fyrft coafte, 70 [o'] 72. \(f\
The coafte folowynge, 80 [o'] 7. [o']
That that yet foloweth, 90 [o'] 70. [o']
Frome the fyffhynge places and ftore houfes of this fea, they cary foorth to Nordbothnia and whyte Ruflia,
landes confinynge to them, great plentie of fyfflie, Wherby we may coniecture that this fea is extended on
euery fyde toward the North. Towarde the wefte, it is limitted with the mofte inwarde goulfe of at the Caftell
of Wardhus at the degree. 54 [o'] [Long.] 70 30.' [Lat.]
Towarde the Southe,it is lymitted by a line'drawen from thenfe vnto the degree. 90 [o' Long.] 69. [o' Lat.]
Of the north regions.
303
NoRWEGiA OR Norway.
Ordway, is as muche to fay as the Northwaye. This was fumtyme a floryfThynge kyngedome,
whofe dominion comprehended Denmarke, Frifelande and the Ilandes farre abowt, vntyll
the domeflical Empire was gouemed by the fucceffion of inheritaunce. In the meane tyme
while this gouernaunce ceafed for lacke of dewe iflfue, it was inflituted by confent of the
nobilitie that the kynges (huld be admitted by election : fuppofmge that they wolde with more
equitie execute that office forafmuche as they were placed in the fame by fuch autoritie, and
not by obteynynge the kyngedome by fortune and newe aduauncement. But it came fo to
paffe, that as euery of them excelled in richefle, ambition and fauour by confanginitie, fo were they in greater
hope to obteyne the kyngedome: And were by this meanes diuided into factions, attemtyng alfo occafions
t[o]inuade foraigne realmes wherby they might flrengthen theyr parties. It is therefore at this prefent vnder
the dominion of the Danes : who doo not only exact intoUerable tributes, but alfo brynge all theyr ryches and
commodities into Denmarke, conflitutynge the continuance of theyr gouernaunce in th[e]infirmitie and pouertie of
the fubiectes; which exemple, fum other princes doo folowe at this day in the Chriflian Empire. For after that the
princes had forfaken fuche vertues as fhulde haue fhyned in them, as to bee Patres patria (that is) the fathers
of theyr countreys, and that in the place hereof, onely the proud countenaunce of dominion remayned, which
opened licentioufneffe to th[e]iniurie of the fubiectes, this folowed therof, that wheras the Danes by this occafion
had no further trufl or ayde in the loue of the people, they prouided for th[e]indempnitie of theyr owne eflate
by forcible extenuatinge the gooddes and poure of them whom they defired to kepe in fubiection. This is the
fortune of Norway, whofe edefi[c]es, townes, and cities can not defende theyr auncient amplitude and dignitie:
neyther is there any hope of repayrynge theyr flate. For there are no confultations admitted for the redrefTe of
the commonwelth : No man dare fhewe his aduice or attempte any thing, vncerteyne of the myndes and
confent of other. To this difficultie, is added the qualitie of the place. For the Danes haue in theyr poure all
the nauigations of Norway, whereby it may exercife no trade by fea, neyther cary furthe wares to other places.
So that in fine it may feeme mofl vnfortunate, as lackynge the fauoure of heauen, the fea, and the lande. From
henfe is brought into all Europe a fyfflie of the kindes of them whiche we caule haddockes or hakes indurate
and dryed with coulde, and beaten with clubbes or flockes, by reafon whereof the Germayns caule them
flockefyfflie. The takinge of thefe, is mod commended in lanuarie that they may bee fufficiently dryed and
hardened with coulde. For fuch as are taken in the more temperate monethes, doo corrupte and putrifie : And
are not meete to be caried furth.
The defcription of the weft coafte, with the parte thereof lyinge moft towarde the north.
[Longitude.] [Latitude.]
Wardhus (that is) the watche houfe, or watche towre, 54 [o'] 70 30.'
It is a ftronge caftell or fortrefle appoynted to the Lapones.
The coafte folowynge, 48 50' 70. [o']
Matthkur. etc.
All the coaft from henfe, and the places neare abowt vnto the degree, 45 [o'] 69. [o']
being fumtyme lefte defolate by the feditions and deftruction of Norway, the Lapones chofe for theyr habitations,
as commynge to a more beneficiall heauen.
From the Caftel of Wardhus, vnto the degree, 40 30' [Long.] 64 10' [Lat]
all the coafte in the fprynge tyme is daungerous to paffe, by reafon of whales of fuch huge byggeneffe that fum
of theym growe to a hundreth cubites. For thefe fyfflies at that tyme of the yeare refort togyther for generation.
Such (hyppes as chaunce to faule eyther vppon theyr bodies, or into fuche whyrlepooles as they make by theyr
vehement motions, are in great perell. The remedie to auoyde this daungiour, is to poure into the fea Caftoreum
(that is) oyle made of the ftones of the beafte rauled the Beuer, mengeled with water. For with this, the hole
hearde of whales vanyffheth fuddeynely to the bottome of the fea : They make a terrible rorynge : and haue two
breathynge places in the hygheft parte of theyr forheades, ftandynge furth right a cubite in length, and are as
brode at the endes, beinge couered with a fkynne, throughe the which they blow waters lyke fhowers or ftormes
of raine. The prickes of theyr backes, are founde conteynynge three els in circuite, and euery knotte betwene
theym, of one elle: They are at the leaft of Ix. [fixtyj cubites in length : And are falted and kept in ftore houfes.
The greateft are vnprofitable to bee eaten by reafon of theyr ranke and vnfauery tafte which can not bee qualified.
Nidrofia ftanding vpon the fouth fyde of the fea banke, was the chiefe and metropolitane churche throwgh
owt all Norway, Ifelande, Gronlande, and the Ilandes thereabowt. This citie was noble at the fyrft vnder the
floryffhing Empire of Norvvay, conteinynge in circuite. xxiiii. paryflhes, but it is nowe browght in maner to a
273
Kyngdomcs
destroyd by
factions.
llie Danes.
The defaut of
princes.
An exemple of
tyrannL
The myserable ,
state of Norway
Stockfyss[h]e.
The Lapones
Shippes in
daungiour by
reason of whales.
Castoreum.
The rorynge of
whales.
Whales salted and
reserued.
The citie of
Nidrosia.
274
304
Of the north regions.
A magtiificall
chuiche.
Noysome beastes
of vnknowen
generation.
Wardhus.
The vnknowen
lande of the
Lapones.
A serpent of
houge biggenesse.
God wameth vs
by signes of
thynges to coome.
The stretghtes or
boyiing sea.
Dangerous
places in the sea.
Frutfull Ilandes
about Norway.
village and is cauled in the Germayne toonge Trutham, as the houfeof the Dryides. There remayneth at this daye
a Cathedrall churche in token of the ancient felicitie, beinge fuche that in byggeneffe and workemanfhip of
wrought flone, the lyke is not in all Chriflendome. The greefes or compafle abowt the altare, was deflroyde
by fire, and was repared at the fame tyme that wee write this hiftorie. The charge of the reparafion, was
efleemed to bee feuen thoufande crownes : by which finaule portion, an eflimate maye bee made of the
excellencie of the hole Churche.
The tracte of all the fea coaftes Norwaye, is very quyete and meeke. The fea is not frofen. The fnowes
indure not longe. This lande hath alfo a peculiar peflilence which they caule Leem or Lemmer. This is a
lyttle foure footed beafte abowte the byggeneffe of a ratte with a fpotted fkynne. Thefe faule vppon the
grounde at certeyne terapefles and fuddeyne fhowers, not yet knowen from whenfe they comme, as whyther
they are browght by the wyndes from remote Ilandes, or otherwife engendered of thicke and feculent clowdes.
But this is well knowen, that as foone as they faule downe, greene graffe and herbes are founde in theyr bowels
not yet digefled. They confume all greene thynges as doo locufles : And fuch as they only byte, wyther and
dye. This peflilence l)Tieth as longe as it dooth not tafle of the graffe newelye fproonge. They coome
togyther by flockes as do fwalowes: And at an ordinarie tyme, eyther dye by heapes with great infection of the
lande (as by whofe corruption the ayer is made pefliferous and molefleth the Noruegians with fwymmynge
in the headde and the iaundies) or are confumed of other beafles named Lefrat. Towarde the Eall, it is
included within the line that is drawen by the mountaynes whofe endes or vttermofl boundes they are that lye
towarde the fouth aboue the mouthes of the ryuer Trolhetta, But that parte that lyeth towarde the north,
paffeth by the caflel of Wardhus, and is extended to the vnknowen lande of the Lapones. [Longitude.] [Latitude.]
The lake cauled Mos, and the Ilande of Hoffuen in the myddefl therof, is in the degree. 45 30' 61. [o']
In this lake appeareth a flraunge monfler : which is, a ferpent of houge byggeneffe. And as to all other
places of the worlde, blafynge flarres doo portende th[e]alteration and chaunge of thynges, fo dooth this to
Nor\vay. It was feene of late (in the yeare of Chrifl. M. D. xxii.) apperynge farre aboue the water rowlynge lyke
a greate pyller: And was by coniecture farre of, efleemed to bee of fiftie cubites in length. Shortely after
folowed the reiectynge of Chrifliemus kynge of Denmarke. Suche other monflrous thynges are fayde to bee
feene in dyuers places of the worlde. And doubtleffe excepte wee fhulde thinke that the diuine prouidence
hauynge mercie vpon mortall men, and hereby wamynge them of their offences, dooth fende fuche flraunge thynges
(as alfo blafmg flarres and armies feyghtynge in the ayer, with fuche other portentous monflers wherof no caufes
can bee founde by naturall thynges) we might els fufpecte that fuch fyghtes were but imaginations of the fence
of man deceaued.
On the Eafl fide, are exceading rowgh montaynes which admit no paffage to Suecia. The fea betwene
Nor\vay and the Ilandes, is cauled Tiallellund, Euripus, or the flreightes. [Longitude.] [Latitude.]
The Ilande of Lofoth. whofe myddefU 42 [o'] 67 10'.
Langanas, whofe myddefl, 41 [o'] 67 [o']
Vaflral, whofe myddefL 41 34' 67 30'.
The fea betwene thefe three Ilandes, is cauled Mufcoflrom (that is) boylynge. At the flowynge of the fea,
it is fwalowed into the caues, and is blowne owt ageyne at the reflowynge, with no leffe violence then the
flreames of ryuers faule from mountaynes. This fea is nauigable vntyll it bee lower then the mouthes of the
rockes. Such as chaunce into it owt of dewe tyme, are caried headlonge into whyrlepooles The fragmentes
of the lofl fhips, are feldome cafl vp ageyne. But when they are cafle vp, they are fo brufed and freted
ageynfle the rockes, that they feeme to bee ouergrowne wth hore. This is the poure of nature, paffyng the
fabulous Simplegades and the fearefull Malea, with the daungerous places of Silla and Caribdis, and all other
miracles that nature hath wrought in any other fea hytherto knowen to man.
The Ilandes abowt Norway, are of fuch fnitfuU paflure, that they brynge not theyr beafles into the flables
before the moneth of Nouember: And do many places winter them abrode.
3<»4
Of the north regions.
305
SVECIA, OR SVETHLANDE.
jVecia, is a kyngedome ryche in golde, fyluer, copper, leade, Iren, fruyte, cattayle, and
exceadynge increafe of fyffhe of the ryuers, lakes, and the fea. And hath no lefle plentie of
fuche wylde beaftes as are taken with huntinge. Towarde the VVefl, it is ended with the
mountaynes of Norway from the Cartel of Wardhus vnto th[elend, 51 [o' Long.] (>2, 40' [Lat.]
Towarde the South, with the line from this ende vnto the degrees. 53. 30'. 61. [o']
And from thenfe vnto the degrees. 61. [o'] 60. 30'. Aboue the goulfe of Suecia,
toward the north, with the fouth ende of Lapponia from the Caflel of Wardhus vnto
th[e]ende. 62. [o'] 70. [o'] Towarde the Eafle, it is ended with the line frome this ende vnto the degree.
63. [o'] 69. [o'] etc. Stockholme the chiefe citie. 64. [o'] 61. [o'] This is the chiefe mart towne of Suecia, and
is flrongely defended by arte and nature. It is fituate in mariffhes after the maner of Venece : and was there-
fore cauled Stokholme, forafmuche as beinge placed in the water, the fundation is fortified with ftockes or piles.
The fea entereth into it with two armes or branches of fuch largenes and depth that (hips of great burden and
with mayne fayles may enter by the fame with theyr full fraight This fuffered of late yeares greuous fpoyle
and deflruction to the Angular exemple of cruel hoftilitie : And fuch, as the like hath not bin lightly (hewed to
any other citie receaued by league and compofition.
In al the tract from Stokholme to the lake aboue the riuer of Dalekarle, which is in the degree. 56. 30.'
63. 50.' are mountaines frutful of good filuer, copper, and leade. They gette great ryches by the falmons
and plentie of other fyffhes whiche they take in certeyne greate lakes.
The dukedome of Agermannia, occupieth the north fyde to the confines of Laponia. This tract is ful of
wods in the whiche they hunt the beafles cauled Vros or Bifontes, which in theyr toonge they caule Elg, (that
is) wilde alTes. Thefe are of fuch height, that the highefl part of their backes are equal with the meafure of a
man holdynge \^ his armes as hyghe as he may reach, etc. Vpfalia the chiefe citie. 62. 63'. 30. [o'] here is
buried the body of faynt Hericus kynge and martyr.
Copperdalia (that is) the copper valley, is a dukedome fouthwarde from the dukedome of lemptia. Vnder
this, is the valient nation of the people cauled Dalekarly.
Oplandia, is a dukedome and the nauil or middefl. of Scondia.
The citie of Pircho, on the north fyde of the lake of Meier, was once a great citie and able to arme. xiiii.
thoufande men to the warres : but is nowe browght to a vyllage.
All the tracte of Oplandia, hath mynes of fyluer, copper, and fleele.
Of the Ilandes and rockes that lye abowte Suecia, the myddeft is. 67 30' [Long.] 61 30'. [Lat]
Thefe were cauled of the owlde wryters Oone, the reafon of which name remayneth to this day. For there are
in thefe innumerable multitudes of byrdes: In fo muche that th[e]inhabitauntes of the nexte coafte, fayle
thyther in the mooneth of May whyle the byrdes fyt on theyr egges : which they ileale and referue them in
(alte for a longe tyme.
Bothnia.
|Othnia is fo named of the precious furres of all fortes that are caried from thenfe into foraigne
regions. For by thefe and theyr fyffhynge, they haue greate commoditie. Salmons of the
befl fort are taken in thefe feas and are great ryches amonge thefe nations. Bothnia is diuided
into twoo partes, as Nordbothnia, and South Bothnia, cauled Oflrobothnia. Nordbothnia,
is termined with the fouth ende of the Lapones vnto the ende. 78 30' [Long.] 69. [o'] [Lat.)
Towarde the Eafl, it is termined with this end and vnto the degree. 78 30' 68 20'.
Towarde the Weft, with the line terminynge the Eaft fyde of Suecia: And towarde the
Southe, with the refidue of the goulfe of Suecia from th[e]ende that hath degrees. 63 [o'] 69. [o']
Oftrobothnia, towarde the Eaft is termined from the faid ende of the moft Eaft coafte. And towarde the
South, with a line extended by the mountaynes frome this ende vnto the degree. 71 [o'] 66 [o']
Towarde the north and wefte, with part of the goulfe of Suecia. etc.
Edeh. 2 A 3°5
275
Golde and sylucr.
Wardhus cnstetl.
The goulfe of
Suecia.
TTie citie of
Stockholme.
Gold in could
regions.
Fysshe.
The beaste cauled
Vros or Elg.
Vpsalia.
Copperdalia.
Oplandia.
Byrdes.
Eeges resented in
salto.
Precious furreSb
Fysshe.
3o6
Of the north regions.
276
Th[e1inuasions of
the Gothes.
The warres of the
gothes ageynst
le Romans.
The boiindes of
Gothland.
The citie of Visba.
Danes and
Moscouites.
A librarie of two
thousand bookes.
The Gothes
inuaded Europe
and destroyd
Rome.
Pannonta falsely
taken for Finnonia.
Entngla.
Spanysshe wynes.
GOTHIA OR GOTHLANDE.
OTHIA, is by interpretacion good. For the holye name of God, is in the Germayne toonge
Goth (that is) Good. At what tyme the Gothes vppon a general confent, fent furth theyr
offprj'ng or fucceffion to feeke newe feates or countreys to inhabite, and when they pofleffed
the coafles of Meotis and Afia, none of the owlde wryters haue made mention as farre as I
knowe. But they haue byn knowen fence the tyme that the Romanes dilated theyr Empyre
by Illirium (nowe cauled Slauonie) vnto the ryuer of Danubius. And were alfo famous
from the tyme of Cefar Dictator and Octauianus Auguftus by reafon of theyr greate warres at
Danubius beinge th[e]vttermofl bounde of Th[e]empire. Neuerthelefle, in that renoume, what Gothia was,
vnder what parte of heauen it was fituate, or of whom the Gothes toke theyr original, it hath byn vnknowen
almofl. to this age. This is termlned towarde the north, with the fouth ende of Suecia : And towarde the wefle,
with the other mountaynes of Norway, which continewe from the boundes of Suecia to the mouthes of the
ryuers of Trolheta. etc.
It hath many goodly townes, cities, cartels, mines, etc The citie of Vifba, being in the degree. 6i 30'
54 15.' was an ancient and famous marte towne as is Genua in Italie at this day. But afterwarde beinge
afflicted by th[e]incurfions of the pirates of the Danes and Mufcouites, it was left defolate. There remayne to
this day certeyne mines whiche teflifie the ancient nobilitie. In this place were the fyrfle flacions of the
Gothes that pofleffed Meotis. It is at this daye of frutfuU foyle, and famous by many goodly and flronge
caftels and monafteries. There is amonge other, a monafterie of th[e]order of faynt Benedicte, in the which is
a librarie of abowt two thoufande bookes of owlde autours.
Abowt the yeare of Chrift, fourfcore and. viii. the Gothes, vnto whom reforted a great multitude of other
people of thefe northe partes of the worlde, as from Liuonia, Prufia, Ruffia and Tartaria with diuers other
contreys, makynge them dyuers Kynges and capitaynes, dyd depopulate and brynge in fubiection the more
parte of Europe, inuaded Italie, dellroyd Rome, inhabited that part of Italia now cauled Lumbardie, and
lykewyfe fubdued the roialmes of Caftile and Aragonie. Theyr warres contynewed aboue three hundreth
yeares.
H Finland, and Eningia.
Inlandia, is as much to fay as a fayre lande or fine land, fo named for the fertilitie of the
grownde. Plinie femeth to caule it Finnonia. For he faith that abowte the coafles of
Finlande, are many Ilandes withowt names. Of the which there lyeth one before Scithia
cauled Pannonia. The goulfe cauled Sinus Finnoniais, is fo named at this day of the
lande of Finnonia. Finnonia confineth with Scithia, and runneth withowt all Tanais (that
is to fay) withowte the limetes of Europe to the confines or Afia. But that the name of
Finlande feemeth not to agree hereunto, the caufe is that this place of Plinie is corrupted as
are many other in this autour : So that from the name of Finnonia, or Phinnonia, it was a likely erroure to
caule it Pannonia forafmuch as thefe woordes doo not greately differ in wrytynge and founde : fo that the
counterfecte name was foone put in the place of the trew name by hym that knewe Pannonia and redde that
name before, beinge alfo ignorant of Phinnonia.
Eningia had in owlde tyme the tytle of a kingedome, it is of fuch largeneffe. But hath nowe only the
tytle of an inferiour gouernoure, beinge vnder the dominion of the Slauons and vfyng the fame tonge. In
religion, it obferued the rites of the Greekes of late yeares, when it was vnder the gouernaunce of the Mof-
couites. But it is at this prefent vnder the kynge of Suecia and obferueth th[e]inflitucions of the Occidentall
church. Spanyffhe w)Ties are browght thyther in great plentie which the people vfe merely and cherefully. It
is termined on the north fyde, by the fouthe line of Oflobothnia, and is extended by the mountaynes.
Towarde the weft, it is termined with the fea of Finnonia accordyng to this defcription : and hath degrees.
71. [o' Long.] 66. [o' Lat] etc
**
307
C OF THE DIFFERENCE OF REGIONS AND
CAVSES OF CREATE CITIES, AFTER THE DESCRIP-
TION OF HIERONIMUS CARDANUS,
LIBER. XI. de Subtilitate.
Here is an other difference of regions caufed of coulde and
heate. For fuche as are neare vnto the poles, are vexed
with to much coulde : And fuch as are vnder the line where
the foonne is of greatefle force, are oppreffed with heate.
Such as are in the myddefl betwene both, are nearefl vnto
temperatneffe. Vnder the pole, it is impoffible that there
fhulde bee populous cities bycaufe the lande is baren, and
the cariage or conueyaunce of frutes, vyttayles, and other
neceffaries, is incommodious. By reafon wherof, it is neceffarie
that th[e]inhabitauntes of fuche regions lyue euer in continuall
wanderynge from place to place, or els in fraaule vyllages. Suche
as inhabite temperate regions, haue meane cities, afwell for that
they haue more commodious conueyaunce for neceffaries, as
alfo that they may dwell better and more iafely togyther then
in vyllages by reafon of fortifying theyr townes with walks, and
exercifynge of artes and occupations whereby the one maye the
better helpe the other. Yet that owlde Rome (beinge in a tem-
perate region) was of fuch incredible byggeneffe, the caufe was that it obteyned Th[e]empire of the worlde, by
reafon wherof, all nations had confluence thyther, and not the greatneffe of the walles. But it is neceffarie
that the greatell cities bee in hotte regions : fyrfle, for that in fuch regions, parte of the foile is eyther barren
yf it lacke water, or els mod frutefull if it abounde with water. And for this inequalitie, when they fynde any
place meete to fufteyne a multitude, it foloweth of neceffitie that greate cities bee buylded in fuch places by
reafon of great concourfe of people refortynge to the fame. An other greate caufe is, that wheras in such
regions, marchauntes come very farre to fuch commodious places, they paffe through many deferte and perelous
regions : So that it fhalbe neceffary for theyr better fecuritie, to coome in great companies as it were great
armies. And therfore whereas fuch a focietie is once knytte togyther in a commodious place, it fhulde bee great
hinderance afwell to th[e]inhabitantes as to marchauntes if they (hulde wander in incommodious places. And
by this confluence, both of fuche as dwell neare to fuche places, and alfo of (Iraungers and fuch as dwell farre of,
it is neceffarie that in continuance of tyme, fmaule townes becoome great cities, as are thefe : Quinfai, Singui,
Cambalu, Memphis, Cairus, or Alcair, otherwife cauled Babilon in Egipte. But if here any wyll obiecte
Conilantinople (in owlde tyme cauled Bizantium) being in a temperate region, althowgh it bee not to bee
compared to fuch cities as are more then. Ix. [fixty] myles in circuite, yet doo we aunfwere hereunto, that the
Turkes Empire is the caufe of the greatneffe hereof, as wee fayde before of Rome.
277
307
3o8
Demetrius the
ambassadour of
Moscouia.
Paulus Centuria
Spices browght
from India to
Moscouia.
The ryucr Indus.
278
Oxus or Horina a
ryucr of Asia
runneth through
the descries of
Sythia.
The sea Hircanum,
is now cauled
mare Abacuk or
mare de Sala.
Citrachan or
Astracan.
Sarmatta is that
greatc countrey
wherein is
conteyned Russia
Liuonia and
Tartaria, and the
north and East
part of Polonia.
Ageynst the
Portu>^es.
C THE HISTORIE WRITTEN IN THE LATIN
TOONGE BY PAVLVS lOVIVS BYSSHOPPE OF NVCERIA
IN ITALIE, OF THE LEGATION OR AMBASSADE OF CREATE
Bafilius Prince of Mofcouia, to pope Clement the. vii. of
that name: In which is conteyned the defcription
of Mofcouia with the regions confininge abowte
the fame euen vnto the great and ryche
Empire of Cathay.
Intende fyrfle briefely to defcribe the fituation of the region
which we plainely fee to haue bin little knowen to Strabo and
Ptolome, and then to precede in rehearfinge the maners,
cuflomes and religion of the people. And this in maner in the
lyke fimple llyle and phrafe of fpeache as the same was declared
vnto \s by Demetrius the ambafladoure, a man not ignoraunt in
the Latin toonge, as from his youth browght vp in Liuonia, where
he learned the fyrft. rudimentes of letters. And beinge growne
to mans age, executed th[e]office of an ambaffadour into dyuers
Chriflian prouinces. For wheras by reafon of his approued
faithfulnefle and indudrie, he had before byn fent as oratoure
to the kynges of Suecia and Denmarke, and the great
mafler of Pruffia, he was at the lad fente to Th[e]emperoure
Maximilian, in whofe courte (beinge replenyflhed with
all fortes of menne) whyle he was conuerlant, yf any
thyng of barbarous maners yet remayned in fo docible
and quiet a nature, the lame was put away by framynge
hym felfe to better ciuilitie. The caufe of his legacie or ambaflade, was g3ruen by Paulus Centurio a Genuefe,
who when he had receaued letters commendatori of pope Leo the tenth, and came to Mofcouia for the trade of
marchaundies, of his owne mynde conferred with the familiers of Duke Bafilius as touchynge the conformation
of the rites of both churches. He furthermore of great magnanimitie and in maner owtragious defire, fowght
howe by a newe and incredible viage, fpices myght bee browght from India. For whyle before he had exercifed
the trade of marchaundies in Syria, Egypte, and Pontus, he knewe by fame that fpices myght bee conueighed
from the further India vp the riuer Indus ageynfl the courfe of the fame, and from thence by a fmal vyage by
lande paffinge ouer the mountaynes of Paropanifus, to bee caried to the riuer Oxus in Bactria, which hauing his
original almofl, from the fame mountaynes frome whenfe Indus docth fpringe, and violently caryinge with it
manye other ryuers, fauleth into the fea Hircanum or Cafpium at the porte cauled Straua. And he emeflly
affirmed that frome Straua, is an eafy and fafe nauigation vnto the marte towne of Citrachan or Aflrachan and
the mouth of the ryuer Volga and from thenfe euer ageynfl the courfe of the ryuers, as Volga, Occha, and
Mofcho, vnto the citie Mofcha, and frome thence by lande to Riga and into the fea of Sarmatia and all the
wefl regions. For he was vehemently and more then of equitie accenfed and prouoked by the iniuries of the
Portugales, who hauynge by force of armes fubdued a great parte of India, and poifeffed all the marte townes,
takynge holy into theyr handes all the trade of fpices to brynge the fame into Spayne, and neuerthelefle to fell
them at a more greuous and intollerable price to the people of Europe then euer was hard of before: And
furtliermore kepte the coafles of the Indian fea fo flraightly with continuall nauies, that thofe trades are thereby
lefte of, which were before exercifed by the goulfe of Perfia and towarde the ryuer of Euphrates, and alfo by the
Mofcoiiia and Cathay.
309
ftreightes of the fea of Arabia and the ryuer Nilus, and in fine by owre fea: by which trade all Afia and Europe
was abundantly fatiffied and better cheape then hathe byn fence the Portugales had the trade in theyr handes
with fo manye incommodities of fuch longe viages wherby the fpices are fo corrupted by th[e]infection of the
poompe and other fylthyneffe of the fhippes, that theyr naturall fauour, taRe, and qualitie afwell hereby as by
theyr longe referuyng in the flioppes, fellers, and warehoufes in Luffheburne, vanyffheth and refolueth, fo that
referuynge euer the frefflieft and nevveRe, they fel only the woorR and moR corrupted. But Paulus, although in
all places he emeRly and vehemently argued of thefe thinges, and Ryrred great malice and hatred ageynR the
Portugales, affirmynge that not only therby the cuRomes and reuenewes of princes fliulde bee much greater if
that vyage might bee difcouered, but alfo that fpices myght bee better cheepe bowght at the handes of the
Mofcouites, yet coulde he nothinge auayle in this fute, forafmuche as Duke Bafilius thowght it not good to
make open or difclofe vnto a Rraunger and vnknowne man, thofe regions which giue enterance to the fea Cafpium
and the kyngedomes of Perfia. Paulus therfore excludynge all hope of further trauayle, and become nowe of a
marchaunte an Ambafladoure, browght Bafilius letters (pope Leo beinge nowe departed) to Adriane his
fucceffoure, in the whiche he declared \vith honorable and reuerende woordes his good wyll and fauorable mynde
towarde the byffliop of Rome. For a fewe years before, Bafilius (then keepynge warres ageynRe the Polones at
fuche tyme as the generall counfayle was celebrate at Laterane) requyred by lohn, kynge of Denmarke (the
father of ChriRierne who was of late expulfed from his kyngedome) that fafe palTage myght bee graunted to
th[e]ambafl"adours of Mofcouia to go to Rome. But wheras it fo chaunced, that kynge lohn and pope lulius
dyed both in one day, wherby he lacked a conuenient fequeRer or folicitoure, he omitted his confultation as
touchynge that legacie. After this, the warre waxed hot betwene him and Sigifmunde the kynge of Polonie:
who obteinynge the victorie ageinR the Mofcouites at BoriRhene, fupplications were decreed in Rome for the
ouerthrowe and vanquylTynge the enemies of the ChriRian faithe, whiche thinge greatly alienated both kynge
Bafilius him felfe and all that nation from the byffhop of Rome. But when Adriane the. vi. departed from this
lyfe, and lefte Paulus nowe redie to his feconde vyage, his fucceffour Clemente the. vii. perceauynge that Paulus
ftyll furioufly reuolued and toRed in his vnquiet mynde that vyage towarde the EaRe, fente hym ageyne with
letters to Mofcouia, by the which with propenfe and frendly perfuafions, he exhorted Bafilius to acknowleage
the maieRie of the Romane churche, and to make a perpetuall leage and agreement in matters of religion,
which thynge fhuld be not only for the health of his foule, but alfo greatly to th[e]increafe of his honour:
And further promyfed, that by the holy autoritie ol his office he wolde make hym a kynge and gyue hym kyngely
omamentes, if reiectyng the doctrine of the Greekes, he wolde conforme hym felfe to th[e]autoritie of the Romane
churche. For Bafilius defyred the name and tytle of a kynge by th[e]affignation of the byfflioppe of Rome, foraf-
much as he iudged that to apperteyne to the catholyke right and the byffhoppes maieRie, of whome (as he
knewe ryght well) euen Th[e]emperours them felues by an auncient cuRome haue receaued there infignes of
honoure with the Diademe and fcepter of the Romane Empire : althowghe it is fayde that he required the fame
of Th[e]emperour Maximiliane by many ambaffades. Paulus therfore who with more profperous iomeys then
great vantage, had from his youth trauayled a greate parte of the world, althowgh he were nowe aged and fore
vexed with the Rrangurie, came with a profperous and fpedy iomay to Mofcouia, where he was gentely
receaued of Bafilius, and remajmed in his courte for the fpace of twoo monethes. But in fine, miRruRynge his
owne Rrength, and deterred by the difficultie of fo greate a iorneye, when he had vtterly put away all his
imaginations and hope of this trade to India, returned to Rome with Demetrius th[e]ambaffadour of Bafilius,
before we yet thowght that he had byn in Mofcouia. The byffhoppe commaunded that Demetrius fliuld bee
lodged in the moR magnificent and princely part of the houfes of Vaticane, the rouffes of whofe edifi[c]es are
gylted and embowed, and the chambers rychly furnyfRied with fylken beddes and cloth of Arreffe. Wyllynge
furthermore that he fhuld bee honorably receaued and veRured with filke. He alfo affigned Franciscus
Cheregatus the byffhoppe of Aprutium (a man that had often tymes byn ambafladoure to diuers regyons) to
accompanie hym and fliewe hym th[e]order and rites of owre religion with the monumentes and maners of the
citie. Furthermore, when Demetrius had certeyne dayes reRed and recreate him felfe, waffliyng away the
fylth he had gathered by reafon of the longe vyage, then apparelled with a fayre veRure after the maner of his
countrey, he was browght to the byfflioppes prefence, whom he honoured kneelynge with great humilitie and
reuerence (as is the maner) and therwith prefented vnto his holynes certeyne furres of Sables in his owne name
and in the name of his prince, and alfo delyuered the letters of Bafilius, which they before, and then
the Illyrian or Slauon interpretoure Nicolaus Siccenfis tranflated into the Latine toonge in this eflfecte as
foloweth.
To pope Clemente flieparde and teacher of the Romane churche, greate Bafilius by the grace of God,
lorde, Emperour and dominatour of al Ruflia, and great duke of Volodemaria, Mofcouia, Nouogrodia, Plefcouia,
Smolenia, Ifferia, lugoria, Permnia, Vetcha, Bolgaria. etc. Dominator and great prince of Nouogrodia in the
lower contrei: Alfo of Cernigouia, Razauia, Volotchia, Rezenia, Belchia, RoRouia, laroflauia, Belozeria,
The trade of
spices in owld
tyrae.
Spices corrupted.
The Caspian sea.
Basiliiis wrot to
Pope Adriane.
Warre betwene
the Polones and
Moscouites.
The seconde viag4
of Paulus to
Moscouia.
The Pope
?'ersuadeth
Jasilius to
acknowledge the
Romane churche.
279
The Emperoiires
receaue there
diademe of the
bysshoppes of
Rome.
Demetrius
interteynemcnt at
Rome.
Demetrius ts
brought to the
popes presence.
Basiltus letters to
Pope Clement.
3IO
Mofcoiiia and Cathay.
280
Cardinal!
Campegius.
The mines of
Rome.
The description
of Moscouia.
The alures of
great aiexander.
Marisshes in
soinmer.
The forest of
Hercynia.
Wyld beastes
The Scythian
Ocean.
The beastes
cauled Vri or
Bisontes.
Helenes.
Of the Scythians
and Tartars.
Aniaxouii.
Horda.
The large
dominion of the
Tartars.
Cathay.
The Tartars of
Europe.
Vdoria, Obdoria, and Condiuia. etc. Yow fent vnto vs Paulus Centurio a citizen of Genua with letters wherby
yowe do exhorte vs to ioine in poure and counfayle with yowe and other Princes of ChriRendome ageynfl the
enemies of the chriftian faith : and that a free paffage and redy way may bee opened for bothe yowre ambaffa-
dours and owres to coome and go to and fro, whereby by mutuall dewtie and indeuoure on both parties, we
may haue knowleage of the flate of thinges perteynynge to the welth of vs both. AVee certes as we haue
hetherto happely by the ayde and helpe of almyghty god condantly and erneflly refifted the cruell and wycked
enemies of the Chriflian faithe, fo are we determined to doo hereafter. And are Hkewife redy to confente with
other Chriftian Princes, and to graunt free paffage into owre dominions. In confideration wherof, we haue
fente vnto yowe owre faithfull feruaunt Demetrius Erafmus with thefe owre letters : and with hym haue
remitted Paulus Centurio : defyringe yowe alfo (hortly to difmiflfe Demetrius with fafegarde and indemnitie vnto
the borthers of owre dominions. And we wyl likewyfe doo the fame if yowe fende yonTe ambaffadoure with
Demetrius, wherby both by communication and letters, wee may bee better certified of th[e]ordcr and admini-
ftration of fuch thynges as yowe require : fo that beinge aduertifed of the mindes and intent of al other
Chriftian princes, we may alfo confult what is beft to be done herein. Thus fare ye wel. Giuen in owr
dominion in owr citie of Mofcouia, in the yeare from the creation of the worlde, feuen thoufande and three
hundreth, the thyrde day of Aprell.
But Demetrius, as he is experte in diuine and humane thynges, and efpecially of holy fcripture, feemed to
haue fecreate commaundement of greater matters whiche we thinke he wyll fhortly declare to the fenate in
priuate confultations. For he is nowe deliuered of the feuer into the whiche he fell by chaunge of ayer, and
hath fo recouered his ftrengthe and natiue colour, that beinge a man of threefcore yeares of age, he was not
only prefente at the popes made celebrated with great folemnitie in the honour of faynt Cofmus and Damian
but came alfo into the Senate at fuch tyme as Cardinal Campegius commynge fyrft from the legacie of
Pannonia, was receaued of the pope and all the nobilitie of the courte : And furthermore alfo vewed the
temples of the holye citie with the ruines of the Romane magnificence, and with woonderynge eyes behelde the
lamentable decay of the auncient buildinges So that we thinke that (hortly after he hath declared his meffage,
he fhall retume to Mofcouia with the byflhop of Scarenfe the popes legate, not vnrecompenfed with iuft
rewards at the handes of his holynefle.
The name of the Mofcouites is nowe newe, althowgh the poete Lucane maketh mention of the Mofchos
confinynge with the Sarmatians, and Plinie alfo placeth the Mofchos at the fprynges of the great rj'uer of Phafis
in the region of Colchos aboue the fea Euxinus towarde the Eaft. Theyr region hath very large boundes, and
is extended from the altars of great Alexander abowt the fpringes of Tanais, to the extreme landes and north
Ocean in maner vnder the Northe ftarres cauled charles wayne or the greate beare, beinge for the moft parte
playne and of frutfull pafture, but in fommer in many places full of mariffhes. For whereas all that lande is
replenyfflied with many and great ryuers which are greatly increafed by the winter fnow and ife refolued by the
heate of the foonne, the playnes and fyeldes are therby ouerflowen with mariffties, and all iorneys incumbered
with continuall waters and myrie flabbynefle vntyl by the benefite of the new wynter the ryuers and mariflhes
bee frofen ageyne, and giue fafe paflage to the fleades that are accuftomed to iomey by the fame. The woodde
or foreft of Hercynia (and not Hyrcania as is redde in fum falfe copies) occupieth a great parte of Mofcouia,
and is here and there inhabited, with houfes buylded therein and fo made thinner by the longe laboure of men
that it dooth not nowe fhewe that horrour of thicke and impenetrable woods and laundes as many thinke it to
haue. But beinge replenyffhed with many wylde beaftes, is fo farre extended through Mofcouia with a con-
tinual tracte betwene the Eaft and the North towarde the Scythian Ocean, that by the infinite greatnefle therof
it hath deluded the hope of fuch as haue curioufly fearched th[e]ende of the fame. In that parte that reacheth
towarde Pruflia, are founde the greate and fierce beaftes cauled Vri, or Bifontes, of the kynde of bulles : Alfo
Alces lyke vnto hartes, whiche the Mofcouites caule Lozzi, and are cauled of the Germaynes Helenes. On
the Eaft fyde of Mofcouia, are the Scythyans which are at this day cauled Tartars, a wanderinge nation, and at
all ages famous in warres. In the ftede of houfes they vfe wagons couered with beaftes hydes, wherby they
were in owlde tyme cauled Amaxouii. For cities and townes, they vfe greate tentes and pauilions, not defended
with trenches or waules of tymber or ftone, but inclofed with an innumerable multitude of archers on horfe-
backe. The Tartares are diuided by companies which they caule Hordas, which word in theyr toonge fignifieth
a confentynge companye of people gathered togyther in forme of a citie. Euery Horda is gouemed by an
Emperour whom eyther his parentage or warlyke prowes hath promoted to that dignitie. For they oftentimes
keepe warre with theyr bortherers and contende ambicioufly and fiercely for dominion. It dooth hereby
appeare that they confifte of innumerable Hordas, in that the Tartars poflefTe the moft large defertes euen vnto
the famous citie of Cathay in the furtheft Ocean in the Eaft They alfo that are nearefte to the Mofcouites,
are knowen by theyr trade of marchaundies and often incurfions. In Europe nere vnto the place cauled
Dromon Achillis in Taurica Cherfonefo, are the Tartars cauled Precopites, the dowghter of whofe prince,
310
Mofcouia and Cathay.
311
Selymus Th[e]emperour of the Turkes tooke to wyfe. Thefe are mofl infed to the Polones, and waft the
regions on euery fyde betwene the ryuers of Borifthenes and Tanais. They that in the fame Taurica poflefle
CafTam a colonie of the Ligurians (cauled in owlde tyme Theodofia) doo bothe in religion and al other thynges
agree with the Turkes. But the Tartars that inhabite regions of Afia betwene Tanais and Volga, are fubiecte
to Bafilius the kynge of the Mofcouites, and chufe them a gouernour at his aflignement. Amonge thefe, the
Cremii afflicted with ciuile feditions, where as heretofore they were riche and of great poure, haue of late yeares
loftfe theyr dominion and dignitie. The Tartars that are beyonde the ryuer of Volga, do religioufly obferue the
frendfliip of the Mofcouites and profeffe them felues to be their fubiectes. Beyond the Caflanites towarde the
Northe, are the Sciambani, rich in heardes of cattaille and confiftyng of a great multitude of men. After thefe,
are Nogai, whiche obteyne at this daye the chiefe fame of ryches and warly affayres. Theyr Horda, althowgh
it bee mod ample, yet hath it no emperoure, but is gouerned by the wyfdome and vertue of the moft ancient
and valient men after the maner of the common wealthe of Venece. Beyonde the Nogais fumwhat towarde
the fouth and the Cafpian fea, the nobeleft nation of the Tartars cauled Zagathai, inhabite townes buylded of
ftone, and haue an exceadynge greate and fayre citie cauled Samarcanda, which laxartes the greate ryuer of
Sogdiana runneth through, and paffrnge from thenfe about a hundreth myles, fauleth into the Cafpian fea.
With thefe people in owre dayes, Ifmael the Sophi and kynge of Perfia hathe often tymes kepte war with
doubtfull fucceffe : In fo muche that fearyng the greateneffe of theyr poure which he refyfled with all that he
myght, he lefte Armenia and Taurifium the chiefe citie of the kyngedome, for a pray to Selimus the vyctourer
of one wynge of the battayle. From the citie of Samarcanda, defcended Tamburlanes the myghty Emperoure of the
Tartars whome fum caule Tanberlanis. But Demetrius fayth he (hulde bee cauled Themircuthlu. Thys is he that
abowte the yeare of Chryfte. M. CCC. Ixxxxviiii. [1398, a.d.] fubdued almoft all the Eafte partes of the worlde:
And laflly with an innumerable multytude of men inuaded the Turkes dominions, with whom Baiafetes Otto-
manus their kynge, (and father to the greate grandefather of this Solyman that nowe lyueth) metinge at Ancyra
in the confines or marches of Galatia and Bythinia, gaue hym a fore battaile, in the waiche felle on the
Turkes parte. 20000. men, and Baiafetes hym felfe was taken prifoner, whom Tamburlanes caufed to bee
locked in an iren cage and fo caried hym abowte with hym throwgh all Afia which he alfo conquered with a
terrible army. He conquered al the landes betwene Tanais and Nilus, and in fine vanquifflied in battayle the
great Soltane of Egypte, whom he chafed beyonde Nilus, and tooke alfo the citie of Damafcus.
Frome the region of thefe Tartars cauled Zagathei, is browght great plentie of filken apparel to the
Mofcouites. But the Tartars that inhabite the midland or inner regions, bringe none other wares then truckes
or droues of fwyfte runnynge horfes and clokes made of whyte feltes : alfo hales or tentes to withftonde th[e]
iniuries of coulde and rayne. Thefe they make very artificially and apte for the purpofe. They receaue agayne
of the Mofcouites, coates of cloth, and fyluer monye, conteynynge all other bodely ornamentes, and the
furnyture of fuperfluous houfolde ftuife. For beynge defended ageynft the violence of wether and tempefles
only with fuche apparell and couerture whereof wee haue fpoken, they trufl only to theyr arrowes which they
fhoote afwell backwarde flyinge as when they affayle theyr enemies face to face : Albeit, when they determined
to inuad Europ, theyr princes and capitaynes had helmetts, coates of fenfe, and hooked fwoordes which they
bought of the Perfians. Towarde the fouthe, the boundes of Mofcouia are termined by the fame Tartars
which poffefle the playn regyons nere vnto the Cafpian fea aboue the maryfflies of Meotis in Afia, and aboute
the ryuers of Boryfthenes and Tanais in parte of Europe. The people cauled Roxolani, Gete, and Baflarne,
inhabited thefe regions in oulde tyme, of whom I thynke the name of Ruffia tooke originall. For they caule
parte of Lituania, Ruflia the lower, wheras Mofcouia it felfe, is cauled whyte Ruffia. Lituania therfore, lyeth
on the Northweft fyde of Mofcouia. But towarde the full weft the mayne landes of Pruffia and Liuonia are
ioyned to the confines or marches of Mofcouia, where the Sarmatian fea breakynge furth of the ftreightes of
Cimbrica Cherfonefus (nowe cauled Denmarke) is bended with a crooked goulfe towarde the northe. But in
the furtheft bankes of that Ocean where the large kyngedomes of Norwaye and Suecia are ioyned to the
continent and almofte enuironed with the fea, are the people cauled Lapones, A nation exceadynge rude,
fufpicyous, and fearefull, flyinge and aftonyfllied at the fyght of al ftraungiers and (hyppes. They knowe
neyther frutes nor apples, nor yet any benignitie eyther of heauen or earth. They prouyde them meate onely
with fhootynge, and are appareled with the fkynnes of wild beaftes. They dwell in caues fylled with drye
leaues, and in holow trees confumed within eyther by fyre or rotten for age Suche as dwell neare the fea fyde,
fyfthe more luckyly then cunnyngly, and in the ftead of frutes, referue in ftore fyfflies dryded with fmoke.
They are of fmaule ftature of body, with flatte vifagies, pale and wannye colcure, and very fwyfte of foote.
Their wittes or difpofitions, are not knowen to the Mofcouites theyr bortherers, who thynke it therfore a mad-
nefle to affayle them with a fmaule poure, and iudge it neyther profitable nor glorious, with greate armies to
inuade a poore and beggerly nation. They exchaunge the moft whyte furres which wee caule Armelines for
other wares of dyuers fortes : Yet fo, that they flie the fyght and coompanie of all marchauntes. For com-
The Tartars of
Asia arc subiecte
to the Duke of
Moscouia.
281
The Tartars
beyonde the ryuer
of Volga.
Nogai.
Sigismundus
cauleth them
Nagaysri.
The nobelest
nation of the
Tartars.
The ryuer of
laxartes.
Ismael the Sophi,
kynge of Pers.a.
The citie of
Samarcanda.
Tamburlane"!,
the myghtie
Emperour of the
Tartars,
The conquestes of
Tamburlanes.
Baiasctes.
This apparel they
haue of the
Persians.
The Tartars
trafhcke with the
Moscouite^
The tartars of the
South syde of
Moscouia.
Geteand RoxolanL
Russia.
Moscouia cauled
white Russia.
Lituania.
Prussia.
Liuonia.
Denmarke.
Norway.
Suecia.
ITie people of
Laponia.
282
Armeline furres.
312
Mofcoiiia and Cathay.
Bargeninge
withowt wordes.
The darke region
by this darke
region and the
Pigmei, Ls the way
to Cathay by the
Northe sea.
The Scythian
Ocean.
The region of
colmogora.
The ryuer of
diuidoa.
The ryuer of luga
or lug.
Vstiuga.
The ryuer of
Diuidna orDwinx
The ryuer
Suchajia.
The frosen sea.
283
Dwina and
Suchana.
Gronland or
Engronland.
Vnderstand myles
of Germany, that
is leaqucs.
Rych farres.
Lupi Ceruarii.
Sables.
parynge and layinge theyr wares together, and leauynge theyr furres in a mydde place, they bargeyne with
fimple fayth, with abfente and vnknowen men. Sum men of great credite and autoritie, doo teflifie that in a
region beyond the Lappones, betwene the weft and the north oppreffed with perpetuall darkenes, is the nation
of the people cauled Pigmei, who beinge growen to theyr ful grought, doo fcarfely excede the ftature of owre
chyldren of ten yeares of age. It is a fearefuU kynde of menne, and expreffe theyr wordes in fuch chatteryng
fort that they feeme to be fo much the more lyke vnto apes, in howe muche they dyffer in fence and ftature
from men of iuft heyght
Towarde the North, innumerable people are fubiecte to th[e]empire of the Mofcouites. Theyr regions
extende to the Scythian Ocean for the fpace of almofte three moonethes iorney.
Next vnto Mofcouia, is the region of Colmogora, aboundyng with frutes. Through this runneth the ryuer
of Diuidna beinge one of the greatefte that is knowen in the Northe partes, and gaue the name to an other
lefTe ryuer which breaketh furthe into the fea Baltheum. This increafynge at certeyne tymes of the yeare as
dooth the ryuer Nilus, ouerfloweth the fyeldes and playnes, and with his fat and nurifhinge moyfture, dooth
marueloufly refift the iniuries of heauen and the fharpe blaftes of the North wynde. When it ryfeth by reafon
of molten fnowe and greate fhoures of rayne, it fauleth into the Ocean by vnknowen nations, and with fo large
a trenche lyke vnto a greate fea, that it can not bee fayled ouer in one day with a profperous wynde. But
when the waters are faulen, they leaue here and there large and frutful Ilandes. For corne there caft on the
grounde, groweth without any helpe of the plowe, and with maruelous celeritie of haftynge nature fearynge the
newe iniurie of the proude ryuer, dooth both fprynge and rype in fhort fpace.
Into the ryuer Diuidna, runneth the ryuer luga : And in the corner where they ioyne togyther, is the
famous marte towne cauled Vftiuga dift^nt from the chiefe citie Mofca. vi. hundreth myles.
Note that wheras Paulus louius wryteth here that the ryuer of Diuidna, otherwyse cauled Dwina, runneth throughe the region
of Colmogor, it is to bee vnderflode that there are twoo ryuers of that name, the one on the Northeafl fyde of Mofcouia towarde the
frofen fea, and the other on the fouthwefl fyde faulyng into the fea Baltheum, or the goulfe of Finnonia by the citie of Riga in
Liuonia. And forafmuch as the trewe knowleage of thefe and certeine other is very neceffary for all fuch as Ihall trade into Mofcouia
or other regions in thofe coaftes by the northe fea, I haue thought good to make further declaration hereof as I haue founde in the
hyftorie of Mofcouia, mofl faythfully and largely wrytten by Sigifmundus Liberus who was twyfe fent ambaflfadour into Mofcouia, as
fyrft by Maximilian Th[e]cmperour, and then ageyne by Ferdinando kyng of Hungary and Boheme. This haue I doone the rather,
for that in all the mappes that I haue feene of Mofcouia, there is no mention made of the ryuer of Dwina that runneth through the
region of Colmogor and by the citie of the fame name, although the prouynce of Dwina bee in all cardes placed Northewarde frome
the ryuer of Vftiug or Succana, whiche is the fame Dwina whereof we nowe fpeake, and wherof Paulus louius wryteth, although it
bee not fo named but from the angle or comer where ioynynge with the ryuer of lug and Suchana, it runneth Northewarde towarde
the citie of Colmogor, and from thence fauleth into the north or frofen fea, as fliall hereafter more playnly appeare by the woordes of
Sigifmundus, that the one of thefe bee not taken for the other being fo farre diftant that great errour myght enfue by miftakynge the
fame, efpecially bicaufe this wherof Paulus louius wryteth is uot by name exprefled in the cardes, but only the other, wherby the
errour myght bee the greater. Of that therfore that runneth by the confines of Liuonia and the citie of Riga, Sigifmundus wryteth
in this maner.
The lake of Dwina, is diftante from the fprynges of Borifthenes, almoft tenne myles, and as many from the maryflhe of Fronowo-
From it, a ryuer of the fame name towarde the weft, diftante from Vuilna. xx. [twenty] myles, runneth from thence towarde the
Northe, where by Riga the chiefe citie of Liuonia, it faulethe into the Gennayne fea which the Mofcouites caule Vuareczkote morie.
It runneth by Vuiteplko, Polotzko, and Dunenburg, and not by Plefcouia as one hath wrytten. This ryuer beinge for the mofte
part nauigable, the Lyuons caule Duna.
Of the other Dwina wherof Paulus louius fpeaketh, he wryteth as foloweth.
The prouince of Dwina and the ryuer of the fame name, is fo named from the place where the ryuers of Suchana and lug
meatynge togyther, make one lyuer fo cauled. For Dwina in the Mofcouites tounge, fignifieth two. This ryuer by the courfe of a
hundred myles, entereth into the North Ocean on that part where the fayde fea runneth by the coaftes of Swecia and Norwaye, and
diuidethe Engronlande from the vnknowen lande. This prouince fituate in the ful north, perteined in tyme paft to the fegniorie of
Nouogorode. From Mofcouia to the mouthes of Dwina, are numbered. CCC. [three hundred] myles : Albeit as I haue fayde, in the
regions that are beyond Volga, the accompte of the iomey can not bee well obferued by reafon of many maryffhes, ryuers, and very
greate wooddes that lye in the way. Yet are we led by coniecture to thinke it to bee fcarfely twoo hundreth myles : forafmuch as
from Mofcouia to Vuolochda, from Vuolochda to Vftyug fumwhat into the Eafte : and lafte of all frome Vftyug by the ryuer Dwina,
is the ryght palTage to the northe fea. This region, befyde the caftel of Colmogor and citie of Dwina, fituate almoft in the mydde
way betwene the fpryngs and mouthes of the ryuer, and the caftell of Pienega ftandynge in the very mouthes of Dwina, is vtterly
withowt townes and caftels : yet hath it many vyllages whiche are farre in funder by reafon of the barennelfe of the foyle. etc.
In an other place he wryteth, that Suchana and lug, after they are ioyned togyther in one, loofe theyr fyrfte names and make
the ryuer Dwina. etc. But lette vs nowe returne to the hyftorie of Paulus louius.
Vnto Vftiuga, from the Permians, Pecerrians, Inugrians, Vgolicans, and Pinnegians, people inhabytynge
the north and northeaft prouinces, are brought the precious furres of Martems and Sables ; Alfo the cafes of
woulfes and foxes both whyte and blacke : And lyke\v)'fe the fkynnes of the beaftes cauled Ceruarii Lupi (that
is) harte woolfes, beinge engendered eyther of a woolfe and a hynde, or a harte and a bytch woolfe. Thefe
furres and (kyns, they exchange for dyuers other wares. The beft kynde of fables and of the fineft heare
wherwith nowe the veftures of princes are lyned, and the tender neckes of delicate dames are couered with the
Mofcoida and Cathay.
313
expreffe fimilitude of the lyuynge beafle, are brought by the Permians and Pecerrians, whiche they them felues
alfo receaue at the handes of other that inhabite the regions neare vnto the north Ocean. The Permians and
Pecerrians, a lyttle before owre tyme, dyd facrifice to Idols after the maner of the Gentyles : but doo nowe
acknowleage Chryfle theyr God. The paffage to the Inugrians, and VgoHcans, is by certeyne rowgh moun-
taynes, which perhappes are they that in owlde tyme were cauled Hyperborei. In the toppes of thefe, are
founde the befle kyndes of Falcons : whereof one kynde (cauled Herodium) is whyte with fpotted fethers.
There are alfo ierfalcons, fakers, and peregrines, whiche were vnknowen to the ancient princes in theyr
exceffiue and nife pleafures.
Beyonde thofe people whom I lad named (beinge all tributaries to the kinges of Mofcouia) are other
nations the laft, of men, not knowen by any viages of the Mofcouites, forafmuche as none of theym haue palTed
to the Ocean, and are therefore knowen onely by the fabulous narrations of marchauntes. Yet is it apparente
that the ryuer of Diuidna or Dwina, drawynge with it innumerable other ryuers, runneth with a vehement
courfe towarde the northe : and that the fea is there exceadyng large : fo that faylyng by the coaft. of the ryght
hande, fhippes may haue paffage from thenfe to Cathay as is thought by mofl lykely coniecture, excepte there
lye fum lande in the waye. For the region of Cathay perteyneth to th[e]extreme and furthefle partes of the
Eafle, fituate almoll in the paralell of Thracia, and knowen to the Portugales in India when they fayled neare
thereunto by the regions of Sinara and Malacha to Aurea Cherfonefus, and brought from thenfe certeyne veflures
made of Sables (kynnes, by which only argument it is apparente that the citie of Cathay is not farre from the
coafles of Scythia.
But when Demetrius was demaunded whether eyther by the monumentes of letters or by fame lefte theym
of theyr prediceffours, they hadde any knowleage of the gothes who nowe more then a thoufand yeares fence
fubuerted Th[e]empire of the Romane Emperours, and defaced the citie of Rome, he anfwered, that both the
nation of the Gothes of the name of kynge Totilas theyr chiefe capitayne, was of famous memorie amonge
them : And that dyuers nations of the north regions confpired to that expedition, and efpeciallye the Mofcouites :
Alfo that that armie increafed of the confluence of the Barbarous Liuons and wanderynge Tartars : But
that they were all cauled Gothes forafmuch as the Gothes that inhabited Scondania and Ifelande, were the
auctoures of that inuafion.
And with thefe boundes are the Mofcouites inclofed on euery fide, whom we thinke to be thofe people
that Ptolome cauled Modocas : but haue doubteleffe at this day their name of the riuer Mofco whiche runneth
through the chiefe citie Mofca named alfo after the fame. This is the rnoft. famous citie in Mofcouia, afwell
for the fituation thereof beinge in maner in the myddefl of the region, as alfo for the commodious oportunitie
of ryuers, multitude of houfes, and flronge fenfe of fo fayre and goodly a cadell. For the citie is extended
with a longe tracte of buyldynges by the bankes of the ryuer for the fpace of fyue myles. The houfes are
made all of tymber, and are diuided into parlers, chambers, and kichins of large roomes : yet neyther of
vnfeemely height or to lowe, but of decent meafure and proportion. For they haue greate trees apte for the
purpofe browght from the forefle of Hercinia ? of the which, made perfectly rounde like the mafl.es of (hippes,
and fo layde one vppon an other that they ioyne at the endes in right angles, where being made very fade and
fure, they frame theyr houfes thereof of maruelous flrength with fmaule charges and in verye (hort tyme. In
maner all the houfes haue priuate gardens afwell for pleafure as commoditie of herbes, wherby the circuite of
the difperfed citie appeareth very greate. All the wardes or quarters of the citie, haue theire peculiar chappels.
But in the chiefefl and highefl. place therof, is the Church of owre ladi of ample and goodly workemanfhyppe,
whiche Arifloteles of Bononie, a man of Angular knowleadge and experience in architecture,buylded more then.
Ix. [fixty] yeares fence. At the very head of the citie, a little ryuer cauled Neglina which dryueth many come
mylles, entereth into the ryuer Mofcus, and maketh almofl an Hand, in whofe end is the caflell with many
(Irong towrs and bullwarkes, buylded very fayre by the diuife of Italien architecturs that are the mailers of the
kinges workes. In the fieldes abowt the citie, is an incredible multitud of hares and roe buckes, the which it
is lawefuU for no man to chafe or perfue with dogges or nettes excepte only certeyne of the kinges familiars and
flraunge ambaffadours to whom he giueth licence by fpeciall commaundement. Almod three partes of the
citie is inuironed with two ryuers, and the refydue with a large mote that receaueth plentie of water frome the
fayde ryuers. The citie is alfo defended on the other fyde with an other ryuer named laufa, whiche fauleth
alfo into Mofcus a little beneath the citie. Furthermore Mofcus runnyng towarde the South, fauleth into the
ryuer Ocha or Occa muche greater then it felfe at the towne Columna, and not very farre from
thenfe Ocha it felfe increafed with other riuers, vnladeth his dreames in the famous riuer Volgo,
wher at the place where they ioyne, is fituate the citie of Nouogrodia the lefle, fo named in refpecte
of the greater citie of that name from whenfe was browght the firde colonic of the leffe citie. Volga
cauled in owlde tyme Rha, hath his originall of the greate maryffhes named the white lakes. Thefe are aboue
Mofcouia betwene the Northe and the Wed, and fende furthe from them almod all the ryuers that are difperfed
The mountaines
cauled Hiperbord
Haukes of diuers
kyndes.
The passage from
Moscouia to
cathay.
Cathay.
Master Eliot
cauleth Cathay
the region of
sinarum.
The Gothes
subiierted the
Romane Empire.
The north regions
conspired ageinst
the Romans.
Moscouia
284
The citie of
Mosca.
Richard
chaunceler toulde
me that these
mastes are
sumwhat holowe
on the one syde,
and that the hole
syde of the next
entereth into the
same wherby they
lye very close.
The castel of
Mosca.
White hares and
roe buckes.
The ryuer Ochx
Volga.
Nouogrodia.
Rha.
The whyte lakes.
314
Mofcouia and Cathay.
The RvTihean and
hyperborean
mountayries.
Tanais and
Boristhenes.
llie sea Euxinus.
The Caspian sea,
Astrachan.
Media.
Armenia-
Persia.
Casan.
285
Sura.
Surcium.
into dyuers regions on euery fyde, as wee fee of the Alpes from whofe toppes and fprynges defcend the waters
of whofe concourfe the ryuers of Rhene, Po, and Rodanum, haue theyr increafe. For thefe maryffhes in the
fleade of mountaynes ful of fprynges, minifler abundant moyflure, forafmuch as no mountaynes are yet founde
in that region by the longe trauayles of men, in fo much that manye that haue byn (ludious of the owlde
Cofmographie, fuppofe the Ryphean and Hyperborean mountaynes fo often mentioned of the ancient writers,
to bee fabulous. From thefe maryffhes therfore, the ryuers of Dwina, Ocha, Mofchus, Volga, Tanais, and
Boryflhenes, haue theyr original]. The Tartars caule Volga Edel : Tanais they caule Don : And Boryfthenes
is at this day cauled Neper. This, a lyttle beneathe Taurica, runneth into the fea Eu.xinus. Tanais is
receaued of the maryffhes of Meotis at the noble marte towne Azoum. But Volga leauynge the citie of Mofcha
towarde the fouth, and runnynge with a large circuite and greate wyndynges and creekes firft, towarde the
Eafle, then to the Weft, and laftly to the fouth, fauleth with a full flreame into the Cafpian or Hyrcan fea,
Aboue the mouth of this, is a citie of the Tartars cauled Cytrachan, which fum caule Aftrachan, where martes
are kepte by the marchauntes of Media, Armenia, and Perfia. On the further banke of Volga, there is a towne
of the Tartars cauled Cafan, of the which the Horda of the Cafanite Tartars tooke theyr name. It is diftante
from the mouth of Volga and the Cafpian fea fyue hundreth myles. Aboue Cafan. C 1. [one hundred and
fifty] myles at the enteraunce of the ryuer Sura, Bafilius that now reigneth, buylded a towne cauled Surcium, to
th[e]intente that in thofe defertes, the marchauntes and trauailers which certifie the gouernours of the marches
of the doinges of the Tartars and the maners of that vnquiet nation, may have a fafe manfion amonge theyr
cuftomers.
Th[e]emperours of Mofcouia at dyuers tymes, eyther moued therto by occafion of thynges prefente, or for
the defyre they had to nobilitate newe and obfcure places, haue kepte the feate of theyr courte and Empire in
dyuers cities. For Nouogrodia whiche lyeth towarde the Welle and the Lyuon fea, not many yeares parte, was
the headde citie of Mofcouia, and obteyned euer the chiefe dignitie by reafon of the incredible number of houfes
and edifi[c]es, with the oportunitie of the large lake replenyffhed with fyflTie, and alfo for the fame of the mofte
auncient and venerable temple whiche more then foure hundreth yeres fence was dedicated to Sancta Sophia
Chryfle the foonne of God, accordynge to the cuftome of the Emprours of Bizantium nowe cauled Conflantinople.
Nouogrodia is opprefTed in raaner with continuall wynter and darkenefle of longe nyghtes. For it hath the pole
Artike eleuate aboue the Horizon threefcore and foure degrees: and is further from the Equinoctiall then
Mofcouia by almofte. vi. degrees. By whiche dyfference of heauen, it is iayde that at the fommer fteye of the
foonne, it is burnte with continuall heate by reafon of the fliorte nyghtes.
The citie alfo of Volodemaria, beinge more then twoo hundreth myles diftant from Mofca towarde the
Eafte, had the name of the chiefe citie and kynges towne, whyther the feate of Th[e]empire was tranflated by
the valiant Emperours for neceffarie confiderations, that fuch aydef, furniture, and requifites as apperteyne to the
warres myght bee neare at hande at fuche tyme as they kepte continuall warre ageynfte the Tartars theyr
bortherers. For it is fituate withowt Volga, on the bankes of the ryuer Clefma, whiche fauleth into Volga. But
Mofcha, afwell for thofe gyftes and commodities whereof we haue fpoken, as alfo that it is fituate in the myddeft
of the moft frequented place of all the region and Empire, and defended with the ryuer and Caftel, hath in
comparyfon to other cities byn thowght mofte woorthy to bee efleemed for the chiefe. Mofcha is diftant from
Nouogrodia fiue hundreth myles: and almoft in the mydde way is the citie of Ottoferia (otherwyfe cauled Otwer
or Tuwer) vppon the ryuer of Volga. This ryuer neare vnto the fountaynes and fpringes of the fame, not yet
increafed by receauyng fo many other ryuers, runneth but flowely and gentelly: And pafleth from thenfe to
Nouogrodia through many wooddes and defolate playnes. Furthermore frome Nouogrodia to Riga the nexte
\ orte of the Sarmatian fea, is the iomay of a thoufand myles lyttle more or leffe. This tracte is thought to bee
more commodious then the other, bycaufe it hath manye townes and the citie of Plefcouia in the waye, beinge
imbrafed with two ryuers. From Riga (perteynynge to the dominion of the greate mafter of the warres of the
Liuons) to the citie of Lubecke a porta of Germanie in the goulfe of Cymbrica Cherfonefus (nowe cauled
Denmarke) are numbered aboute a thoulande myles of daungerous faylynge.
From Rome to the citie of Mofcha, the diftance is knowen to bee two thoufande and fyxe hundreth miles
by the neareft way paffynge by Rauenna, Taruifium, the Alpes of Carnica: Alfo Villacum, Noricum, and Vienna
of Pannonie: and from thenfe (paflynge ouer the ryuer of Danubius) to Olmutium of the Marouians and
to Cracouia the chiefe citie of Polonie, are coumpted. xL hundreth myles. From Cracouia to Vilna the
headde citie of Lithuania, are coumpted fiue hundreth myles : and as many from that citie to Smolenzko fituate
beyonde Boryfthenes, from whenfe to Mofcha are coumpted fyxe hundreth myles. The iorney frome Vilna by
Smolenzko to Mofcha, is trauayled in wynter with expedite fleades and incredible celeritie vppon the fnowes
hardened with longe frofte and compacte lyke Ife by reafon of muche wearynge. But in foomnier, the playnes
can not bee ouerpafled but by difficulte and laborious trauayle. For when the fnowes by the continuall heate
of the foonne begyn to melte and diffolue, they caufe great maryfflies and quamyres able to intangle bothe horfe
Nouogrodia.
The temple of
Sancta Sophia.
The eleuation of
the pole at
Nouogrtjdia and
Moscouia.
Heate by reason
of short nyghtes.
The citie of
Volodemaria.
The citie of
Moscha.
Ottoferia.
Volga.
Kiga.
The citie of
Piescouia.
The citie of
Lubeke.
From Rome to
Moscouia.
Wynter trauayle
by ise and snowe.
M.nrysshcs in
tommer.
Mofcouia and Cathay.
315
and man, were it not that wayes are made throwgh the fame with brydges and caufeys of wood, and almofl
infinite laboure.
In all the region of Mofcouia, there is no vayne or mine of golde or fyluer, or any other common metall
excepte iren : neyther yet is there any token of precious (lones. And therefore they bye all thofe thynges of
ftraungers. Neuerthelefle, this iniurie of nature is recompenfed with abundaunce of rich furres, whofe price by
the wanton nicenefife of men is growne to fuch exceffe that the furres perteynynge to one forte of apparell, are
nowe foulde for a thoufande crownes. But the tyme hath byn that thefe haue byn bought better chepe when
the furthefl nations of the north beinge ignorant of owr nyfe finenefle and breathyng defyre toward effeminate
and fuperfluous pleafures, exchanged the fame with muche fimplicitie often tymes for tryfles and thynges of
fniaule value: In fo muche that commonly the Permians and Pecerrians, were accuftomed to gyue fo many
(kynnes of Sables for an Iren axe or hatchet as beinge tyed harde togyther, the marchauntes of Mofcouia coulde
drawe through the hole where the hafte or handyll entereth into the fame. Bit the Mofcouites fende into all
partes of Europe the bed kynde of flaxe to make lynnen clothe, and hempe for ropes : Alfo many oxe hydes,
and exceadynge great maffes of waxe.
They proudely denye that the Romane churche obteyneth the principate and preeminent autoritie of all
other.
They fo abhorre the nation of the lewes, that they detefl the memorie of them, and wyll in no condition
admitte them to dwell within theyr dominions: efleemyng them as wycked and mifcheuous people that haue of
late tawght the Turkes to make gunnes. Befyde the bookes that they haue of the ancient Greeke doctours,
they haue alfo the commentaries and homelies of faynt Ambrofe, Augufline, lerome, and Gregorie, tranflated
into the Illirian or Slauon tounge which agreeth with theyrs. For they vfe bothe the Slauon tounge and letters,
as doo alfo the Sclauons, Dalmates, Bohemes, Pollones, and Lithuanes. This tounge is fpredde further then
any other at this day. For it is familyar at Conflantinople in the courte of the Emperours of the Turkes : and
was of late harde in Egypte amonge the Mamalukes in the courte of the Soltane of Alcayre otherwyfe cauled
Memphis or Babilon in Egipte. A greate number of bookes of holy fcripture are tranflated into this tounge by
th[e]induflrie of faynte lerome and Cyrillus. Furthermore, befyde the hyflories of theyr o.vne couutreys, they
haue alfo bookes conteynyng the factes of great Alexander and the Romane Emperours, and lykewyfe of Marcus
Antonius and Cleopatra. They haue no maner of knowleage of philofophie, Aft.ronomie, or fpeculatiue phificke
with other liberall fciences : But fuch are taken for phifitians as profeffe that they haue often times obferued the
vertue and qualitie of fum vnknowen herbe.
They number the yeares, not from the byrth of Chryfle, but from the begynnynge of the worlde. And this
they begin to accoumpte, not frome the monethe of lanuary, but from September.
They haue fewe and fimple lawes throwghe owte all the kyngedome, made by the equite and confcience of
theyr princes, and approued by the confent of wyfe and good men: and are therfore greatly for the welthe and
quyetnefle of the people foraftnuch as it is not lawfull to peruerte them with any interpretations or cauillations
of lawyers or attumeys. They punyflie theues, rouers, priuie pyckers, and murtherers. When they examine
malefactours, they poure a great quantitie of coulde water vppon fuche as they fufpecte, whiche they fay to bee
an intollerable kynde of tormente. But fumtymes they manacle fuche as are flobome, and wyll not confefle
apparent crymes.
Theyr youth is exercifed in dyuers kyndes of games and plays refembelyng the warres, wherby they both
practife pollicie and increafe theyr ftrength. They vfe runnynge both on horfebacke and afoote. Alfo runnynge
at the tylte, wredelynge, and efpecially (hootynge. For they gyue rewardes to fuche as excell therin.
The Mofcouites are vniuerfally of meane (lature, yet very fquare fet and myghtyly brawned. They haue
al grey eyes, longe beardes, fliorte legges, and bygge bellyes. They ryde very fhorte, and flioote backewarde
very cunnyngely euen as they flye. At home in theyr houfes, theyr fare is rather plentifull then deyntie. For
theyr tables are furnyfflied for a fmaule price with all fuche kyndes of meates as may bee defyred of fuch as are
gyuen to mod excefliue gluttony. Hennes and duckes are bought for lyttle fyluer penfe the piece. There is
incredible plentie of beades and cattayle bothe greate and fmaule. The fleffhe of biefe that is kylled in the
myyded of wynter, is fo congeled and frofen, that it putrifiethe not for the fpace of two moonethes. Theyr
bede and mode delicate dyfflies, are gotten by huntynge and haukynge as with vs. For they take all fortes of
wylde beades with houndes and dyuers kyndes of nettes. And with falcons and erens or eagles of a marueylous
kynde whiche the region of Pecerra bryngelh furth vnto them, they take not onely fefantes and wylde duckes,
but alfo cranes and wylde fwannes. They take alfo a foule of darke coloure abowte the byggenes of a goofe
with redde ouerbrowes, whofe fleffhe in tade paffeth the pleafauntnefTe of Pheafauntes. Thefe in the Mofcouites
tounge are cauled Tetrao, whiche I fuppofe to bee the fame that Plinie cauleth Erythratao, knowen to the
people of the Alpes, and efpecially to the Rhetians whiche inhabite the laundes abowte the fpr)mges of the ryuer
Abdua. The ryuer of Volga minidreth vnto them great fyfflies and of pleafaunte tade: efpecially durgions or
Other wryters
deny this.
286
Richc furres.
The price of furres.
How many sables
skynnes for an axe.
Flax.
Oxe hydes.
Waxe.
Thei abhorre the
lewes.
Their bokes and
religion.
The Sclauon
tounge spred
further then any
other.
Saynte lerome
was borne in
Dalmatia nowe
cauled Sclauoma.
Howe they
number the
yeares.
Fewe and simple
lawes
The exercise of
youth.
Shootynge.
The corporature
of the Moscouites.
Theyr fare.
287
Flesshe preserued
longe by reason of
coulde.
Haukyng and
huntynge.
Plentie of fjrsshe.
3i6
Mofcouia and Cathay.
Fysshe longe
reserued ia Ise.
Wyne.
Maluasie.
All the north
parte of the firme
lande was cauled
Scythia and the
people Scythyans.
Drynke cooled
with Ise.
Wyne of cherryes.
Their women.
Thomas
Paleologus.
The conquest of
the turkes in
Grecia.
How the princes
chuse theyr wyues.
288
Duke Ba^us.
War betwene the
Polones and
Moschouites.
War betwen the
Mo!>chouiCes and
Tartars.
The Moscouites
army.
Their banner.
Their horses and
hor^ejmcn.
rather a kynde of fyfflie lyke vnto flurgions : whiche in the wynter feafon beinge inclofed in Ife, are longe
referued freffhe and vncorrupte. Of other kindes of fyfflies, they take in maner an incredible multitude in the
whyte lakes whereof wee haue fpoken before. And wheras they vtterly lacke natiue wynes, they vfe fuche as
are browght from other places. And this only in certeine feailes and holy mifleries. Efpecially tlie pleafaunte
Maluafies of the Iland of Creta nowe cauled Candy, are had in mofle honoure : and vfed eyther as medicens or
for a fliewe of exceffiue aboundaunce, forafmuche as it is in maner a miracle that wynes browght frome Candy
by the flreygliles of Hercules pillers and the Ilandes of Gades, and toffed with fuch fluddes of the inclofed
Ocean, (hulde be droonke amonge the Scythyan fnowes in theyr natiue puritie and pleafauntnefle.
The common people drinke mede made of hony and hoppes fodden together, whiche they keepe longe in
pytched barrels where the goodnes increafeth with age. They vfe alfo beere and ale as doo the Germanes and
Polones. They are accuflomed for delycatenes in fommer to coole theyr beere and mede with puttynge Ife
therin, whiche the noble men referue in theyr fellars in great quantitie for the fame purpofe. Sunuiie there are
that delyte greately in the iufe that is preifed owte of cherries before they bee full rype : whiche they aifyrme to
haue the coloure of cleare and ruddy wyne with a verye pleafaunte tafte.
Theyr wyues and women, are not with them in fuche honoure as they are in other nations. For they vfe
them in maner in the place of feruantes. The noble men and gentelmen, doo diligently obferue theyr walkes
and haue an eye to their chaftitie. They are feldom bydden furth to any feafles : nether are permytted to
reforte to churches farre of, or to walke abrode withowt fum greate confyderation. But the common forte of
women, are eafely and for a fmaule price allured to lecherye euen of flraungers : by reafon wherof, the gentelmen
doo lyttle or nothynge efleme them.
lohn the father of kynge Bafilius dyed more then. xx. [twenty] yeares fence. He maryed Sophia the
doughter of Thomas Paleologus who reigned farre in Peloponnefus (now cauled Morea) and was brother to
Th[e]emperoure of conflantlnople. Shee was then at Rome when Thomas her father was dryuen owte of Grecia
by the Turckes. Of her were fyue chyldren borne, as Bafilius hym felfe, George, Demetrius, Symeon, and
Andreas. Bafilius tooke to wyfe Salomonia the doughter of George Soborouius a man of fynguler fidelitie and
wyfdome and one of hys counfayle. The excellent vertues of which woman, only barennefle obfcured.
When the prynces of Mofcouia delyberat to marie, theyr cuflome is to haue choyfe of all the vyrgynes in
the realme, and to caufe fuche as are of mod fayre and bewtyfuU vyfage and perfonage with maners and vertues
accordyng, to bee browght before them. Which afterwarde they committe to certayne faythful men and graue
matrones to bee furder vewed, in fo muche that they leaue no parte of them vnferched. Of thefe, fhee whome
the prynce mod lyketh, is pronounced woorthy to bee hys wyfe, not withowt greate and carefull expectation of
theyr parentes, lyuynge for that tyme betwene hope and feare. The other vyrgyns alfo which (loode in election and
contended in bewty and integritie of maners, are often times the fame day to gratyfye the prynce, maryed to
hys noble men, gentellmen, and capytaynes: wherby it fumtymes commeth to pafle that whyle the princes
contemne the lynage of roiall defcente, fuche as are borne of humble parentage, are exalted to the degree of
princely eflate. In lyke maner as Th[e]emperours of the turckes were accuflomed to bee chofen by cumlyneffe
of perfonage and warly prowes.
Bafilius was vnder th[e]age of forty and feuen yeares, of cumly perfonage, finguler vertue, and princely
qualities, by all meanes fludyous for the profperitie and commodities of hys fubiectes. Furthermore in beneuo-
lence, lyberalytie and good fuccefle in hys doynges, to bee preferred before his progenitours. For when he
hadde. vi. yeares kepte warre with the Lyuons that moued. Ixxii. [feuenty-two] confetherate cities to the caufe
of that warre, he obteyned the victorie and departed with fewe conditions of peace rather gyuen then accepted.
Alfo at the begynnynge of his reigne, he put the Polones to flight and took prifoner Condantine the capitayne
of the Ruthens whom he brought to Mofcouia tyed in chaynes. But fhortly after at the ryuer Boridhenes aboue
the citie of Orfa, he hym felfe was ouercomne in a great battayle by the fame Condantine whom he hadde dif-
mifled : Yet fo, that the towne of Smolenzko whiche the Mofcouites pofleffed before and was now woonne by
the Polons, fliulde dyll perteyne to the dominions of Bafilius. But ageynde the Tartars, and efpecially the
Tartars of Europe cauled the Precopites, the Mofcouites haue often tymes kepte warre with good fucceflfe, in
reuenge of th[e]iniuries doone to them by theyr incurfions.
Bafilius is accudomed to brynge to the fielde more then a hundreth and fiftie thoufande horfemen deuided
into three bandes and folowynge the banners or enfeignes- of theyr capitaynes in order of battayle. On the
banner of the kynges wynge, is figured the image of lofue the capitaine of the Hebrewes at whofe prayer the
foone prolonged the daye and deyde his courfe as ^vytnefle the hydories of holye fcripture. Armies of foote-
men are in maner to no vfe in thofe great wyldernefles, afwel for theyr apparel beinge loofe and longe, as alfo
for the cudome of theyr enemies, who in theyr warres trude rather to the fwyfteneffe of theyr lyght horfes then
to trye the matter in a pyght fyelde.
Theyr horfes are of leflTe then meane ftature : but verye flronge and fwyfte. Theyr horfemen are armed
3>6
Mofcoiiia and Cathay.
317
with pykes, lyuettes, mafes of Iren and arrowes. Fewe haue hooked fwoordes. Theyr bodies are defended
with rounde Targets after the maner of the Turkes of Afia : or with bendyng and cornarde targettes after the
maner of the Greekes : Alfo with coates of mayle, brygantynes, and fharpe helmettes. Bafilius dyd further-
more inflytute a band of hargabufiers on horfbacke : and caufed many greate brafen pieces to bee made by the
woorkemanfliype of certeyne Italyans : and the fame with theyr flockes and wheeles to bee placed in the caftell
of Mofca.
The kynge hym felfe with pryncely magnyfycence and finguler familiaritie (wherwith neuertheleffe no parte
of the maieflie of a kyng is vyolate) is accuflomed to dyne openly with hys noble men and flraunge ambaffa-
dours in hys owne chamber of prefence where is feene A meruelous quantitye of fyluer and gylte plate flandynge
vppon two great and high cubbardes in the fame chamber. He hath not abowte hym any other garde for the
cudody of hys perfon fauynge only hys accuflomed famylye. For watche and warde is dylygently kepte of the
faythfuU multytude of the citifens : In fo muche that euery warde or quarter of the citie is inclofed with gates
rayles, and barres : neyther is it lawfuU for any man raffliely to walke in the citie in the nyght, or withowt lyght.
All the courte confyfleth of noble men, gentelmen, and choyfe fouldyers which are cauled owte of euery regyon
by theyre townes and vyllagies, and commaunded to wayte courfe by courfe at certeyne moonethes appoynted.
Furthermore when warre is proclaymed, all the armye is collected bothe of the owlde fouldiers and by mufler-
ynge of newe in all prouynces. For the lieuetenauntes and capyta}mes of the armye, are accuflomed in all
cities to mufler the youth, and to admytte to th[e]order of fouldyers fuch as they thynke able to feme the turne.
Theyre wages is payde them of the common treafurye of euery prouynce which is gathered and partely payde
alfo in the tyme of peace although it bee but lyttle. But fuch as are afTigned to the warres, are free frome all
tributes, and inioye certein other priuilegies wherby they may the more gladly and cherfuUy feme the)T: kynge
and defend theyr contrey. For in the tyme of warre, occacyon is mynyRred to (hewe trewe vertue and man-
hodde, where in fo greate and neceffarie an inflitution, euery man accordynge to hys approued actiuitie and
ingenyous forwardneCfe, may obteyne the fortune eyther of perpetuall honoure or ignominie.
Vix olim vlla fides referentibus horrida repia
Mofchorum, el Ponti, res glacialis erat.
Nunc louio auiore, ilia ocuHs lujlramus, et vrbet.
Et nernora, el monies cernimus elfluuios.
Mofchouiam, monumenla lout, tua culla reuoluens.
Ccepi alios mundos credere Democriti,
Theire armnrc
Har^abusien.
Gunjies.
The Prince dyneth
openly.
SiKismundus sayth
that much of this
is Kolde.
The custodie of
the citie.
The dukes courte.
Souldyers wages
of the common
treasury.
289
Vl
3i8
C OTHER NOTABLE THYNGES
AS CONCERNYNGE MOSCOVIA: GATHERED OWT OF
THE BOOKES OF SIGISMVNDVS LIBERVS.
Note that when hefayih myles, he meaneth leaques.
The browne colour
of the Kusses.
Rosseia.
The Slauon tounge
q>readeth iarre.
Vsmdales.
The Princes of
Russia.
The duke of
Moscouia.
^Rom whenfe Ruflia had the name, there are dyuers opinions.
Sume thynke that it was fo named of one Ruffus the foonne or
neuie of Lech the kynge of the Polons. Other affirme that it
was fo cauled of a certeyne owlde towne named Ruffus not
farre frome Nouogoroda or Nouogardia the more. Sum alfo
thynke that it was fo cauled of the browne coloure of the nation.
But theMofcouians confute al thefe opinions as vntrewe : Affirm-
ynge that this nation was in owld tyme cauled Roffeia as a nation
difperfed, as the name it felfe dooth declare. For Roffeia in
the Ruthens tounge, doothe fignifie difperfed or fcattered. The
which thynge to be trew, dyuers other people commyxt with
th[e]inhabitauntes, and dyuers prouinces lyinge here and there
betwene dyuers partes of Ruffia doo playnely declare. But
whenfe fo euer they tooke theyr name, doubtleffe all the people
that vfe the Slauon tounge, and profeffe the fayth of Chryfl after
the maner of the Greekes, (cauled in theyr common language
Ruffi, and in the Latin tounge Rutheni) are increafed to fuche
a multytude that they haue eyther expulfed all the nations that lye betwene them, or drawne them to theyr
maner of lyuynge, infomuche that they are nowe cauled all Rutheni by one common name.
Furthermore the Slauon tounge (whiche at this daye is fumwhat corruptly cauled Sclauon) runneth excead-
yng far, as vfed of the Dalmates, Boffuenfer, Croatians, Iflrians, and by a longe tracte of the fea Adriatike vnto
Forum lulii : Of the Caruians alfo whome the Venetians caule Charfos ; and lykewyfe of the Camiolans and
Carinthians vnto the ryuer Drauus : Furthermore of the Stirians within Gretzium and by Muera vnto Danu-
bius and from thenfe of the Myfians, Seruians, Bulgarians, and other inhabitynge euen vnto Conflantinople :
Furthermore of the Bohemians, Lufacians, Silefians, Morauians, and th[e]inhabitauntes neare vnto the ryuer
Vagus in the kyngedome of Hungarie : The Polons alfo and the Ruthenians whofe Empire reacheth very
farre : lykewyfe the Circafians and Quinquemontanians vnto Pontus : and is from thenfe vfed in the north
partes of Germanie amonge the remanent of the Vandales inhabityng here and there. All whiche nations
althowgh they acknowleage them felues to bee Sclauons, yet the Germayns taking the denomination only of the
Vandales, caule al them that vfe the Slauon tounge, Vuenden, Vuinden, or Vuindyfh.
Of the Princes that nowe reigne in Ruffia, the chiefe is the great Duke of Mofcouia who poffeffeth the
greatefl part therof. The feconde is the great duke of Lithuania : and the thyrde the kynge of Polonie, who
nowe obteyneth the dominion of Polonie and Lithuania.
In autoritie and dominion ouer his fubiectes, the prince of Mofcouie paffeth all the monarkes of the
worlde. For he depriueth all his noble men and gentelmen of al theyr holdes and munitions at his pleafure.
He trufleth not his owne brotheme, but oppreffeth all with lyke feruitude. In fo muche that whome fo euer he
commaundeth eyther to remayne with hym in the courte, or to goo to the warres, or fendeth on an ambaffage,
they are compelled to bee at theyr o\vne charges, excepte the younge gentelmen the foonnes of the Boiarons,
that is, the noble men of the lowefl degree. He vfurpeth this autoritie afwell ouer the fpiritualtie as the tempo-
raltie : conflitutynge what him lyfleth of the goods and lyfe of al men. Of his counfilers there is not one that
dare diffente from hym in any thynge. They openly confeffe that the wyl of the prince is the wyll of god : and
iherfore caule hym the key bearer and chamberlen of god, and beleue him to bee the executor of gods wylL
3i8
Mofcouia and Cathay.
319
By reafon wherof, the prince hym felfe when any peticion is made to hym for the deliuerie of any captiue, is
accuflomed to aunfwere : When god commaundeth he fhalbe deliuered. Lykewyfe when any afketh a queflion
of an vncerteyne or doubtefuU thynge, theyr cuflome is to anfwere thus : God knoweth and the greate prince.
It is vncerteyne whether the crueltie and fiercenes of the nation doo requyre fo tyrannous a prince, or whether
by the tyranny of the prince, the nation is made fo fierce and cruell.
BafiUus the foonne of lohn, was the fyrfl. that tooke vppon hym the name and title of a kynge in this maner:
The great lorde BafiHus, by the grace of god kynge and lorde of all Ruflia and the greate duke of Vuolodimaria,
Mofcouia, Nouogardia, etc.
Furthermore, wheras nowe this prince is cauled an Emperour, I haue thought good to (hewe the tytle and
caufe of this errour. Note therfore that Czar in the Ruthens tounge fignifieth a kynge, wheras in the language
of the Slauons, Potions, Bohemes, and other, the fame woorde Czar, fignifieth Cefar by whiche name Th[e]em-
perours haue byn commonly cauled. For bothe they and the Slauons that are vnder the kyngdome of
Hungarie, caule a kynge by an other name : as fum Crall, other Kyrall, and fum Koroll : but thinke that only
an Emperoure is cauled Czar. Whereby it came to palTe that the Ruthene or Mofcouite interpretours hearynge
theyr prince to bee fo cauled of flraunge nations, began them felues alfo to name hym an Emperour, and
thinke the name of Czar to bee more worthy then the name of a kynge, althowgh they fignifie all one thynge.
But who fo wyl reade all theyr hyflories and bookes of holy fcripture, fhall fynde that a kynge is cauled Czar, and
an Emperour Keffar. By the lyke erroure Th[e]emperour of the Turkes is cauled Czar, who neuertheleffe of
antiquitie vfed no hygher tytle then the name of a kynge, expreffed by this woorde Czar. And hereof the
Turkes of Europe that vfe the Slauon tounge, caule the citie of Conflantinople Czargrad, (that is) the kynges
citie.
Sum caule the prince of Mofcouie the whyte kynge, whiche I thinke to proceade of the whyte cappes, or
other tyrementes they weare on theyr heades, lyke as they caule the kynge of Percia Kifilpafla (that is) redde
headde. He vfeth the tytle of a kynge when he writeth or fendeth to Rome, the Emperour, the pope, the
kynge of Suetia and Denmarke, the greate mafler of Pruffia and Liuonia, and alfo to the greate Turke as I
haue byn credably informed : but he is not cauled kynge of any of them, excepte perhappes of the Liuons.
Yet by reafon of his later conquefles, fum haue thought hym worthy the name of a kynge or rather of an
Emperour bycaufe he hath kynges vnder his Empire.
To the kynge of Polone he vfeth this tytle : The great lorde Bafilius by the grace of god, lorde of all Ruflia,
and greate duke of Vuolodimeria, Mofcouia, Nouogardia. etc. leauynge owt the tytle of a kyng. For none of
them vouchefafeth to receaue the letters of the other augmented with any newe tytle, as I knewe by experience
at my being in Mofcouia, at which tyme Sigifmundus the kynge of Polone fente hym his letters augmented with
the tytle of the Duke of Mafouia, wherwith he was not a lyttle offended.
They glorie in theyr hyflories that before Vuolodimeria and Olha, the lande of Ruflia was baptifed and
blefled of faynt Andrewe th[e]apo(lle of Chryfl, aflSrmynge that he came from Grecia to the mouthes of the ryuer
Boryfthenes : and that he fayled vppe the ryuer to the mountaynes where as is nowe Chiouia : and that there
he blefled all the lande and placed his crofle, prophefyinge alfo that the grace of god fhulde bee greate there,
and that there fhulde bee many churches of Chryftian men : Lykewyfe that he afterwarde came to the fprynges
of Boryfthenes vnto the great lake Vuolok, and by the ryuer Louat defcended into the lake Ilmer : from whenfe
by the riuer Vuolcon whiche runneth owte of the fame lake, he came to Nouogardia : and pafled frome thenfe
by the fame ryuer to the lake Ladoga and the ryuer Heua, and fo vnto the fea whiche they caule Vuaretzkoia,
beinge the fame that we caule the Germayne fea, betwene Vuinlandia or Finlandia and Liuonia, by the whiche
he fayled to Rome, and was at the lafte crucified for Chryfte his gofpell in Peloponnefus by the tyranny of Agus
Antipater, as theyr crownacles make mention.
The prynce euery feconde or thyrde yeare, caufeth a mufter to bee taken of the foonnes of the Boiarons,
and takethe an accoumpte bothe of theyr number and howe many horfes and men euery of them is able to
make : and then appoynteth a certeyne fl.ypende to fuche as are able further to beare theyr owne charges in the
warres. They haue feldome any reft or quyetnefle. For they eyther keepe warre with the Lithuanians, Liuonians,
Suetians, or Tartars of Cafan. Or yf it fo chaunce that the prynce keepe no warre, yet dooth he yearely
appoynte garryfons of xx. [twenty] thoufande menne in places abowt Tanais and Occa to reprefle the incurfions
and robberyes of the European Tartars cauled Precopites.
As in other matters, euen fo in th[e]order of warrefare ther is great diuerfitie amonge men. For the Mof-
couian as foone as he begynneth to flye, thinketh of none other fuccoure but putteth all his confidence therein.
Beinge purfued or taken of his enemie, he neyther defendeth himfelfe nor defirethe perdon.
The Tartar caft of from his horfe, fpoyled of al his armure and weapons, and alfo fore wounded, defendeth
hym felfe with handes, feete, and teethe, and by all meanes he may, vntyll his ftrength and fpirite fayle hym.
The Turke, when he feeth hym felfe deftitute of all helpe and hope to efcape, doth humbly defyre pardon,
290
Why the duke of
M«5couia was
cauled an
Emperour
The greate Turkft
The whyte kynge.
The duke of
Moscouia his tytle.
Russia baptysed
by saynte
Andrewe the
Apostle.
The Moscouites
warres
291
Dyuers maners ol
dyuers people in
the wars.
320
Mofcouia and Cathay.
The Moscou>tcs
army.
Howe he
maynteyneth his
army.
cading away his weapons and armure, and reching furth to the victourer his hands ioyned together to be bounde,
hopynge by captiuitie to faue his lyfe.
The Mofcouites in placeinge theyr armye chufe them a large playne where the bed of them pytch theyr
tentes and the other make them certen arbours of bouwes fyxt in the grounde, bendyng together the toppes
therof, whiche they couer with theyr clokes to defende themfelues, theyr bowes, arrowes, faddyles, and other
theyr neceflaries from rayne. They put furth theyr horfes to pafture, and for that caufe haue theyr tentes fo
farre in funder, which they fortifye neyther with cartes or trenches or any gther impedyment, excepte perhappes
the place bee defended by nature as with wooddes, ryuers and maryffhes.
It may perhappes feeme ftraunge howe he maynteyneth hym and hys fo longe with fo fmaule an army as I
haue fayde. I wyll nowe therfore brefely declare theyre fparynge and frugalitie. He that hath fyxe or fum-
tymes more horfes, vfeth one of them as A packe horfe to beare all theyr neceflaryes. He hath alfo in a bagge
of two or three fpanes longe, the floure or meale of the grayne cauled mylle : and. viii. or x. poundes weyghte
of fwynes fleffhe poudered. He hathe lykewyfe A bagge of falte, myxte with pepper if he bee ryche. Further-
more euery man caryeth with hym A hatchet, A fyre boxe, and a brafen potte : fo that if they chaunce to
coomme to any place where they can fynde no frutes, garlyke, onyons or fleffhe, they kyndle a fyre and fylle
theyr pottes with water wherunto they put a fpoonefuU of meale with a quantitie of falte, and make pottage
therof, wherwith the mafler and ail hys feruauntes lyue contented. But if the mailer bee very hungary he
eateth all alone, and the feruantes are fumtymes inforfed to fafle for the fpace of two or three dayes. And yf
the mailer intende to fare fumwhat more delycately, then he addeth therto a lyttle portion of fwynes fleflhe. I
fpeake not thys of the bed of them, but of fuche as are of the meane forte. The gouernours and capytaj-nes of
th[e]armye, doo fum tymes bydde the poorer forte to theyre tables : where theye feede them felues fo wel, that
they fade two or three dayes after. When they haue frutes, garlyke, and onyons, theye can well forbeare all
other meates. Procedynge forwarde to the battayle, they put more confydence in theyr multitude, and with
what great armyes they aflayle theyr enemyes, then eyther in the drengthe and valyanteneffe of theyr fouldyers,
or in well indructynge theyr armye : and fyght better afarre of, then at hande : and therfore dudy howe to
circumuent or inclofe theyr enemyes and to affayle them on the backe halfe.
They haue many trumpiters : The which whyle they blow all at once after theyr maner, make A meruelous
draunge noyfe. They haue alfo an other kynde of indrumentes which they caule Szuma. Thefe they blowe
withowte feafynge for the fpace of an houre togither, fo temperyng the fame and holdyng in the wynd whyle
they drawe more, that the noyfe feemeth continuall withoute intermyffion.
They vfe all one maner of appareyle : as longe coates withowte pleyghtes and with narrowe fleaues after
the maner of the Hungaryans. Thefe the Chridians vfe to butten on the right fyde : and the Tartars (vfinge
the lyke) butten them on the lefte fyde. They weare redde and fliorte buflcyns that reache not to theyr knees :
and haue the foules therof defended with plates of Iren. In maner all theyr fhyrtes are wroughte with dyuers
colours aboute the necke : and haue the collars and ruffes byfette with lyttle rounde baules lyke beades, of
fyluer or gylted copper, and fumtyme perles alfo. They gyrde them felues beneth the bellye euen as lowe as
theyr priuy members, that they may feme more boorely which they greately edeme, as doo at thys day the
Spanyardes, Italyans, and Almaynes.
The prouince of Mofcouia is neyther very large nor frutfull, forafmuche as the fertylytye is hyndered with
landye grounde which eyther with to muche drynefle or moyder kylleth the come. Furthermore the immoderate
and diarpe vntemperatenefle of the ayre while the coulde of the wynter ouercommethe the heate of the foonne,
fumtymes dothe not fuffer the come to rype. For the coulde is there fumtyme fo extreame, that lyke as with vs
in fommer by reafon of heate, euen fo there by extreame coulde the yearth hath many great chynkes or breaches.
Water alfo cad into the ayre, and fpettle faulyng from on[e]s mouthe, are frofen before they touche the grounde.
I my felfe, when I came thether in the yeare 1526. fa we the braunches of fmtefuU trees wythyred by the coulde
of the wynter before, which was fo extreame that many of theyr wagoners or caries (whom they caule Gonecz)
were founde frofen to deathe in theyr fleades. There were fum that at the fame tyme leadyng and dryuyng
theyr cattayle from the nexte villagies to Mofcouia, dyed by the way with theyr beades through th[e]extremytie
of the coulde. Furthermore, the fame yeare many players that were accudomed to wander aboute the contrey
with daunfyng beares, were founde dead in the high wayes. Wylde beares alfo inforced thereto by famyn, lefte
the wooddes and ranne here and there into dyuers villagies and houfes : At whofe commyng while the men of
the countrey forfooke theyr houfes and fledd into the fieldes, manye of them peryfdied throughe the vehemencie
of the coulde. Agayne, it fumtymes fo chaunceth that in fommer the heate is as extreame : as in the yeare.
1525. in the which almod all kynds of pulfe and grayne were fcorched and bumte : and fuch a derth of come
folowed that drought, that that which before was bowght for three dengas, was aftenvarde foulde for. xx.
[twenty] or. xxx. [thirty.] Furthermore alfo, manye villagies, wooddes, and dackes of come, were fette on fyre
by th[e]extreame heate : The fmoke wherof fo fylled the regyon, that the eyes of many were fore hurte therby.
Instruments of
warre.
The Moscouites
and Tartars
apparelL
292
The prouince of
Moscouia.
Extreme coulde.
Extreme heatt in
cold regions.
Mofcouia and Cathay.
321
There arofe alfo as it were a darke and thycke myft. without fmoke which lb molefled the ey[e]s, that many lofle
theyr fight therby.
They fowe and naryflhe the feades of melons with greate diligence in certeyne rayfed beddes myxte with
doonge : wherby they fynde a remedy both ageynft extreame could and heat For if the heate exceade, they
make certeyne ryftes in the beddes as it were breathyng places lead the feades (hulde be fuffocate with to muche
heate. And if the coulde bee extreme it is tempered with the heate of the mucke or dunge.
Theyr beafl.es are muche leffe then owres : yet not all withowt homes as one hath written. For I haue
there fene oxen, kyne, goates, and rammes all with homes.
Not farre from the citie of Mofcha, are certeyne monaileries which a farre of, feeme lyke vnto a citie.
They faye that in thys citie is an incredible number of houfes : And that the fyxte yeare before my commynge
thyther, the prince caufed them to bee numbered, and founde them to bee more then one and fortye thoufande
and fyue hundreth houfes. The citie is very large and wyde : and alfo very flabby and myrie. By reafon
wherof it hath many brydges and caufeys.
The ayre of the regyon is fo holfome, that beyond the fprynges of Tanais, efpecially towarde the north
and a great parte alfo towarde the Eafl.e, the peflylence hath not byne harde of fence the memorye of man.
Yet haue they fumtimes a difeafe in theyr bowells and headdes not much vnlyke the peflylence. • This difeafe
they caule a heate : wherwith fuche as are taken, dye within fewe dayes.
Sum wryte that lohn the duke of Mofcouia and fonne of Bafilius, vnder the pretence of religion facked
and fpoyled, the citie of Nouogardia : and caried with hym from thenfe to Mofcouia three hundreth fleades laden
with golde, fyluer, and precious flones of the gooddes of the Archebyfflioppe, the marchauntes, citifms, and
ftraungiers.
Solowki is an Ilande fituate in the north fea, viii. leaques from the continent betwene Dwina and the pro-
uince of Corela. Howe farre it is dyflant from Mofcouia, can not bee well knowne by reafon of manye fennes,
maryflhes, wooddes, and defolate places lyinge in the way. Albeit, fum fay that it is not three hundreth leaques
from Mofcouia, and two hundreth frome Bieloiefero. In thys Ilande is made greate plenty of falte : and it
hath in it a monaflerie into the which it is not lawfull for any woman or virgyn to enter. There is alfo great
fyflhyng for hearyng. They fay that here the foonne at the fommer Equinoctiall, fliyneth continually excepte
two houres.
Demetriowe, is a citie with a caflel, diflante from Mofcouia xii. leaques declining from the weft, fum-
what toward the north. By this runneth the ryuer Lachroma that mnneth in to the ryuer of Seft. Sefl alfo
receaueth the ryuer Dubna whiche vnladeth it felfe in Volga. And by the commoditie of thus many ryuers,
many riche marchaundies are browght without great laboure or difficultie from the cafpian fea by the ryuer
Volga to Mofcouia and dyuers other prouynces and cities abowte the fame.
Bieloiefero, a citie with a caflell, is fituat at a lake of the fame name. For Bieloiefero in the Mofcouites
toung, fignifieth a white lake. The citie ftandeth not in the lake as fum haue fayd. Yet is it fo enuironed with
maryfflies that it may feeme to bee inexpugnable : In confideration wherof, the princes of Mofcouia are accuf-
tomed to keepe theyr treafure there. Bieloiefero is from Mofcouia, a hundreth leaques, and as muche from
Nouogardia the great. The lake it felfe, is. xii. leaques in length and as much in breadth : aud hath (as they
fay) three hundreth ryuers faulynge into it. Th[e]inhabitauntes of this place, haue a peculyar language,
although nowe in maner all fpeake the Mofcouites tounge. The longeft day here in the foommer Equinoctial,
is fayde to confyft,e of xix. [nineteen] houres. A man of greate name and credite toulde me, that at the begyn-
nyng of the fprynge when the trees began nowe to bee greene, he went in pofte from Mofcouia to Bieloiefero :
And paflynge ouer the ryuer Volga, founde the region there fo couered with Ife and fnow, that he was fayne to
difpatch the refidue of his iomey on fleades. And although the wynter bee longer there, yet doo the frutes
waxe rype and are gathered euen at the lame tyme that they are in Mofcouia. Within an arrowe fhotte of the
lake, there is an other lake that bryngeth furth brymftone : which a certen tyuer runnyng owt of the fame,
caryeth with it in great quantitie flotyng aboue the water lyke a fcoomme. Yet through the ignorance of the
people, they haue no commoditie therby.
The people that inhabite the regions lyinge farre northe and eafl from Mofcouia, exchaunge theyr furres
for apparel, knyues, needles, fpoones, hatchets, and fuche other neceflarye wares. For they haue not the vfe of
golde and fyluer.
2 B
Lyttle fceastes.
The citie of
Moscouia or
Mosca.
Holsome ayer.
A ryche ipcyle.
The Hand of
Solowki.
293
Bieloiesero.
The lengthe of
the day.
The trade from
Moscouia to the
Caspian sea.
Bieloiesero or the
whyte lakes.
Diuersitie of _
temperament ia
smaul dystance.
A lake of
brymstone.
Exchange of
furres fur other
ware.
322
Mofco2iia and Cathay.
C The def crip f ion of the regions, people, and ry tiers, lyinge North and Eajle
from Mofcouia : As the way from Mofcouia to the ryiier Petzora,
and the pronince of lugaria, or luhra : Andfrotne thenfe
to the rytier Obi. Lykewyfe the difcription of.
other countreys and regions, euen vnto
Th{e\empire of the greate
Cham of Cathay.
The dominion of
the duke of
Moscouia.
Vuolochda,
Werste.
Vstiug.
294
Suchana.
lug.
Colmogor.
Dwina.
Piec-efp.
Nicolai.
Kuluio.
The regions by
the North sea.
P:eza.
Piescoia.
Rubicha
Czlrcho.
Czilma.
Petzora,
Pustoosero.
Vs.ia.
Cingulus 0 uadt.
He dominion of the Prince of Mofcouia reacheth farre towarde the Eafle and north vnto the
places which we wyll nowe defcrybe. As concemynge whiche thynge, I tranflated a booke
that was prefented vnto me in the Mofcouites tounge, and haue heare made a bryefe re-
hearfall of the fame. I wyll fyrfl therfore defcribe the iomey from Mofcouia to Petzora, and
fo to lugaria and Obi.
From Mofcouia to the citie of Vuolochda, are numbered fyftie Werfl.es, one Werfl con-
teynynge almofle the fpace of an Italyan myle. From Vuolochda to Vftiug towarde the right
hande defcendinge with the courfe of the ryuer of Vuolochda and Suchana with whom it ioyneth, are counipted
fyue hundreth Werfles : where within two Werfles of the towne cauled Strelze and hard by the citie of Vftiug
Suchana ioyneth. lug which runneth from the fouth : from whofe mouth vnto the fprynges of the fame, are
numbered fyue hundrethe Werftes.
Note that wheras here before the autour nuinbereth but fyftie werfles from Mofcouia to Vuolochda, it femeth that the place is
corrupted by the Printers myflakynge one worde for an other, as Quinquaginta, which is fyftie, for Quingenta, whiche is fyue
hundreth. For the diftance is no leffe from Mofcouia to Vuolochda, then is from Vuolochda to Vftiug, which is fyue hundreth
werftes.
But Suchana and lug after they iojTie togyther, lofe theyr fyrft names and make bothe one ryuer named
Dwina, by the whiche the paffage to the citie of Colmogor conteyneth fyue hundreth Werfles : from whenfe in
the fpace of fyxe dayes iomey, Dwina entereth into the north Ocean at. vi. mouthes, And the greatefte parte of
this iomey confyfl.eth by nauigation. For by lande, from Vuolochda vnto Colmogor, paffing ouer the ryuer
Vuaga, are a thoufande Werftes. Not farre from Colmogor, the ryuer Pienega runnynge frome the Eafte on the
ryght hande for the fpace of feuen hundreth Werftes fauleth into Dwina. From Dwina by the ryuer Pienega by
the fpace of two hundreth Werftes, they coome to a place cauled Nicolai : from whenfe within halfe a werfl,
fliyppes haue paflage into the ryuer Kuluio, which hath his original from a lake of the fame name towarde the
north, from whofe fpringes is. viii. dayes vyage to the mouth of the fame where it entereth into the Ocean.
Saylynge by the coaftes of the ryght hande the fea, they pafle by the regions of Stanuwifche, Calunczfcho,
and Apnu. And faylynge abowt the promontorie or cape of Chorogofki Nofz, Stanuwifche, Camenckh, and
Tolftickh, they come at the length into the ryuer Mezen, and frome thenfe in the fpace of fyxe dayes to a
vyllage of the fame name, flandyng in the mouth of the ryuer Pieza : by the which ageine afcendyng towarde
the lefte hande and foommer Eaft, they come to the ryuer Piefcoya. From whenfe faylynge for the fpace of
fyue Werftes, they coomme into two lakes in the whiche are feene two wayes : wherof one on the rj'ght fyde,
goeth to the ryuer Rubicho, by the whiche they pafle to the ryuer Czircho. Other by an other and fliorter
way, brynge theyr fhyppes frome the lake directly into Czircho : From whenfe, except they be hyndered by
tempefl, they coomme in the fpace of three weekes to the ryuer and mouth of Czilma, flowynge into the great
ryuer Petzora, which in that place is two Werfles in breadthe. Saylyng from henfe, they coomme in the fpace
of fyxe dayes to the towne and caflell of Puftoofero, neare vnto the which, Petzora entereth into the north
Ocean at fyxe mouthes. The inhabitauntes of this place, are men of fimple wytte. They receaued the fayth
of Chryfle, and were baptifed in the yeare M. D. xviii.
From the mouth of Czilma vnto the mouthe of the ryuer Vfla, goinge by Petzora, is one monethes v)rage.
Vfla hath his fprynges in the mountayne Poyas Semnoi, being on the lefte hande towarde the foommer Eaft,
and fpringeth owte of a greate ftone of the fame, mountayne, cauled Camen Bolfchoi. From the fprynges of
Vfla to the mouthes of the fame, are numbered more then a thoufande Werftes. Furthermore Petzora mnneth
from this fouth wynter oarte. from whenfe afcendynge from the mouthes of Vfla vnto the mouthes of the ryuer
A'lofcoiiia and Cathay.
323
Stzuchogora, is three weekes vyage. They that defcribed this vyage, fayde that they refled betwene the
mouthes of the ryuers of Stzuchogora and Potzfcheriema : and lefte theyr vyttayles there whiche they browght
with theym from Ruffia. Beyonde the ryuers of Petzora and Stzuchogora towarde the niountayne Camenipoias
and the fea wit]i the Ilandes there abowte and the caftell of Puftoofero, are dyuers and innumerable nations
whiche by one common name are cauled Samoged (that is) fuch as eate them felues. They haue great increafe
of foules, byrdes, and dyuers kyndes of beafles : as Sables, Marternes, Beuers, Otters, Hermelines, Squyrels :
and in the Ocean the beafte cauled Mors : Alfo Vefs, whyte beares, woolfes, hares, Equiwoduani, great whales,
and a fyffhe cauled Semfi, with dyuers other. The people of thefe nations, come not to Mofcouia, For they
are wylde, and flye the company and focietie of other men.
From the mouthes of Stzuchogora faylynge vp the ryuer vnto Poiaffa, Artawifche, Cameni, and PoiaiTa the
greater, is three weekes vyage. Furthermore the afcendynge to the mounte Camen, is three dayes iorney :
from the whiche, defcendyng, they come to the ryuer Artawifcha, and from thenfe to the ryuer Sibut, from
whenfe they paffe to the caflell of Lepin, and from Lepin to the ryuer Sofia. The people that inhabite the
region by this ryuer, are cauled Vuogolici. Leauynge Sofia on the ryght hande, they come to the greate ryuer
Oby, that fpryngeth owt of tlie lake Kitaifko, the whiche with all the hade they coulde make, they coulde
fcarfely pafle ouer in one day, the ryuer beinge of fuch breadth that it reacheth fourefcore Werfles. The people
alfo that dwell abowt this ryuer, are cauled Vuogolici and Vgritzfchi. From the caftell of Obea afcendynge by
the ryuer of Oby, vnto the ryuer Irtifche into the which Sofia entereth, is three moonethes iorney. In thefe
places are two caflels named lerom and Tumen, kepte by certeyne lordes cauled Knefi luhorfki. beinge tribu-
taries to the greate duke of Mofcouia as they fay. Here are dyuers kyndes of beaftes and furres.
Frome the mouth of the ryuer Irtifche to the Caftell of Gruftina, is two monethes iorney : from whenfe to
the lake Kitai by the ryuer Oby (whiche I fayde to haue his fprynges in this lake) is more then three monethes
iorney. From this lake come many blacke men, lackynge th[e]ufe of common fpech. They brynge with them
dyuers wares, and efpecially pearles and precious ftones, whiche they fell to the people cauled Gruftintzi and
Serponowtzi. Thefe haue theyr name of the caftell Serponow, fituate in the mountaynes of Lucomorya beyonde
the ryuer Obi. They fay that to the men of Lucomorya, chaunceth a marueylous thynge and incredible. For
they afiirme, that they dye yearely at the. xxvii. [twentyfeuenth] daye of Nouember, beinge the feaft of faynt
George amonge the Mofcouytes : and that at the nexte fprynge abowte the. xxiiii. [twenty-fourth] daye of Apryll,
theye reuyue ageyne as doo frogges.
With thefe alfo, the people of Gruftintzi and Serponowtzi, exercife a newe and ftraunge kynde of trade.
For when the accuftomed tyme of theyr dyinge, or rather of fleapynge, aprocheth, they leaue theyr wares in
certeyne places appoynted, which the Gruftintzi and Serponowtzi carye away leauynge other wares of equall
valewe in theyr places : whiche if the deade men at the tyme of theyr reuyuyn[gje perceaue to bee of vnequall
pryce, they requyre theyr owne ageyne : by reafon wherof muche ftryfe and fighting is betwene them.
From the ryuer of Obi defcending toward the left hand, are the people cauled Calami, which came thether
from Obiowa and Pogofa. Beneth Obi, abowte Aurea Anus (that is the golden owlde wy^e) are the ryuers
Sofia, Beres, Vua, and Danadim, al which fprynge owt of the montayne Camen, Bolfchega, Potafla, and the
rockes ioynynge to the fame. All the nations that inhabite from thefe ryuers to Aurea Anus, are fubiecte to
the prynce of Mofcouia.
Aurea Anus cauled in the Mofcouites toonge Slata Baba, is an Idole at the mouthes of Obi in the prouince
of Obdora, ftandynge on the furtheft banke towarde the fea. Alonge by the bankes of Obi and the ryuers
neare there about, are here and there many caftells and fortreffes, all the lordes wherof are fubiecte to the
prince of Mofcouia, as they fay. They fay alfo, or rather fable, that the Idole cauled Aurea Anus, is an Image
lyke vnto an owlde wyfe hauyng a chyld in her lappe : and that there is nowe feene an other infante which
they fay to bee her neuie : Alfo that there are certeyne inftrumentes that make a continuall founde lyke the
noyfe of trumpettes. The which if it fo bee, I thynke it to bee by reafon of the wynde blowynge continually
into the holowe places of thofe inftrumentes.
The ryuer Coffin, fauleth owt of the mountaynes into Lucomoria. In the mouth of thys, is a caftell.
Whyther from the fprynges of the great ryuer Coffin, is two moonethes vyage. Furthermore from the fprynges
of the fame ryuer, the ryuer Cafiima hath hys original : which runnynge throwgh Lucomoria, fauleth into the
great ryuer Tachnin, beyonde the which (as is fayde) dwell men ot prodigious fhape, of whom fum are ouer-
growne with heare lyke wylde beaftes : other haue heades lyke dogges, and other theyr faces in theyr breftes
withowt neckes, and with longe handes alfo and withowte feete. There is lykewyfe in the ryuer Tachnin, a
certeyne fyffiie with headde, eys, nofe, mouthe, handes, fiete, and other members vtterly of humane fliape, and
yet withowt any voyce, and pleafante to bee eaten as are other fyffiies.
All that I haue hetherto rehearfed, I haue tranfiated out of the fayde iorney whiche was delyuered me in
the Mofcouites tounge. In the which perhappes fum thyuges maye feeme fabulous and in maner incredible, as
Stzuchogora.
PoUscheriema.
Camenipoias.
Samoged.
Foules and
beastes.
Wyld people.
Poiassa.
Camen.
Artawlscha.
SibuL
Lepin.
Sossa.
Obi.
Kitaiska
Vuogolici
295
Irtischc.
leron.
Tumem.
Grustina.
Kitai.
Blacke men
withowt spcache.
Serpen owe.
Lucomoria.
Men that yearely
dye and reuyue.
A straunge trade
of uiarcha undies.
Obi
Calami.
Kyucrs.
Aurea Anus.
Obdora.
Cosstu.
Cassima.
Tachnin.
People of
monstrous shape.
A fysshe lyke a
man
Plinie wryteth 0/
the lyke ly:M>.>e.
324
Mofcouia and Cathay.
Mountaynes.
The greate Chan
of Cathay.
Lucomoria.
Tumen.
Petzora.
Papin.
Hygh mountaynes,
supposed to bee
Hyperborei, and
Rhiphei.
of the doomme men and the deade reuyuynge, the Aurea Anus alfo, and the monflrous fhapes of men, with the
fyffhe of human forme : wherof althowgh I haue made dylygent inquificion, yet could I knowe nothynge cer-
teyne of any that had feene the fame with theyr eys, neuerthelefle to gyue further occafion to other to
fearche the truth of thefe thynges, I haue thowght good to make mention hereof.
296 Noff in the Mofcouites tounge fignifieth a nofe : and therfore they caule all capes or poyntes of lande that
reache into the fea, by the fame name.
The mountaynes about the ryuer of Petzora, are cauled Semnoi Poyas, or Cingulus mundi : (that is) the
gyrdle of the worlde, or of the yearth.
Kithay, is a lake of whome the greate Chan of CATHAY whom the Mofcouians caule Czar Kythaiflci,
hath hys name. For Chan in the Tartars language fignifieth a kyng.
The places of Lucomorya nere vnto the fea, are faluage, full of wooddes, and inhabited withowt any houfes.
And albeit that the autour of thys iomey, fayd that many nations of Lucomorj'a are fubiecte to the prynce of
Mofcouia, yet forafmuch as the kyngdome of Tumen is neare therunto, whofe prince is a Tartar and named in
theyr toung Tumenfki Czar (that is) a kynge in Tumen, and hath of late doone great domage to the prynce of
Mofcouia, it is mode lyke that thefe nations (hulde rather bee fubiecte vnto hym.
Neare vnto the ryuer Petzora, (wherof mention is made in thys iomey) is the citie and caflell of Papin or
Papinowgorod, whofe inhabytauntes are named Papini, and haue a priuate language differyng from the Mofco-
uites. Beyond thys ryuer, are exceadynge hygh mountaynes, reachyng euen vnto the bankes : whofe ridgies or
toppes by reafon of continuall wyndes, are in maner vtterly barrayne without graff or frutes. And although in
dyuers places they haue dyuers names, yet are they commonly cauled Cingulus Mundi, that is the gerdle of
the worlde, otherwyfe cauled Catena Mundi, (that is), the chayne of the worlde. In thefe mountaynes doo
ierfalcons breede, wherof I haue fpoken before. There grow alfo Cedar trees, amonge the which are founde
the befl and blackefl kynde of fables. And only thefe mountaynes are feene in all the domynyons of the
prynce of Mofcouia, which perhappes are the fame that the owlde writers caule Rhipheos or Hyperboreos, fo
named of the Greeke worde Hiper, (that is) vnder : and Boreas (that is) the north. For by reafon they are
couered with continuall fnow and frofle, they can not withowt great difficultie bee trauayled : and reache fo
Engroniand. farrc into the north, that they make the vnknowne land of Engroneland. The duke of Mofcouia Bafilius the
foonne of lohn, fent on a tyme two of hys capitaynes named Simeon Pheodorowicz Kurbfki, and Knes Peter
Vfchatoi, to fearch the places beyonde thefe mountaynes and to fubdewe the nations therabowte. Kurbflci was
yet alyue at my being in Mofcouia : and declared vnto me that he fpent. xvii. [feuenteen] days in afcendyng
the mountayn, and yet coulde not coome to the toppe therof, which in theyr tounge is cauled Stolp (that is) a
pyller. Thys mountayne is extended into the Ocean vnto the mouthes of the ryuers of Dwina and Petzora.
But nowe hauyng fpoken thus muche of the fayde iomey, I W7II returne to the domynyons of Mofcouia, with
other regyons lyinge eaflwarde and fouthe frome the fame towarde the myghtye Empyre of CATHAY. But
I wyll fyrfl fpeake fumwhat brefely of the prouynce of Rezan and the famous ryuer of Tanais.
The prouynce of Rezan fituate betwene the ryuers of Occa and Tanais, hath a citie buylded of woodd not
farre from the banke of Occa. There was in it a caflell named laroflaw, wherof there now remayneth nothynge
but tokens of the owld mine. Not farre from that citie, the ryuer Occa maketh an Ilande named Strub : which
was fumtym a great dukedome, whofe prince was fubiect to none other. Thys prouince of Rezan is more frut-
full then any other of the prouynces of Mofcouia : In fo muche that in thys (as they faye) eueiy grayne of
wheate bryngethe furthe two and fumtymes more eares : whofe flalkes or (Irawes growe fo thycke that horfes
Honny. Can fcarfely go throwgh them, or quayles flye owt of them. There is greate plenty of honnye, fyffhes, foules,
byrdes, and wylde beafles. The frutes alfo do farre exceade the frutes of Mofcouia. The people are bould
and warlyk men.
Cathay.
The frutfull
prouince of Rezan.
laroslaw.
C Of the famous ryuer of Tanais.
Donco.
Asoph.
Capha.
Constantinople.
297
Tanais diuideth I
Eur..pe from Asia, t
towarde the Eafte
Rome Mofcouia vnto the caflell of laroflaw, and beyonde for the fpace of almofle. xxiiiL
[twenty-four] leaques, mnneth the ryuer of Tanais, at a place called Donco, where the mar-
chauntes that trade to Afoph, Capha, and ConHantynople, fraight theyr fhyppes : and thys
for the moRe parte in autumne beynge a rayney tyme of the yeare. For Tanais here at
other tymes of the yeare doth not fo abounde with water as to beare (hyppes of any burden.
Thys famous ryuer of Tanais, dyuydeth Europe from Afia : and hath hys orygynal or
fpringes almoft. viii. leaques from the citie of Tulla toward the fouth inclynyng fumwhat
and not owt of the Riphean mountaynes as fome haue wrytten : But owte of a great lake
Mofcouia and Cathay.
325
named Iwanowofero (that is) the lake of lohn : being in length and breadth abowt 1500. Werfles in a wood
whiche fum caule Okonitzkilies, and other name it lepiphanowlies And owt of this lake, fprynge the twoo greate
ryuers of Schat and Tanais. Schat towarde the Welle receauynge into it the ryuer of Vppa, runneth into the
ryuer of Occa betwene the Weft and the north. But Tanais at the fyrfte runneth directly Eaft : and continueth
his courfe betwene the kyngdomes of Cafan and Aftrachan within fyxe or feuen leaques of Volga : And frome
thenfe bendynge towarde the fouth, maketh the fennes or maryffties of Meotis. Furthermore, nexte vnto his
fprynges, is the citie of Tulla : and vppon the banke of the ryuer almofte three leaques aboue the mouthes of
the fame, is the citie of Afoph, which was fyrfte cauled Tanas. Foure dayes iorney aboue this, is a towne
cauled Achas, fituate harde by the fame ryuer : whiche the Mofcouites caule Don. I can not fufficiently prayfe
this ryuer for the exceadynge abundaunce of good fyffhes, and faireneffe of the regions on bothe fydes the
bankes, with plentie of holfoome herbes and fweete rootes, befyde dyuers and many frutefull trees growynge in
fuche coomly order as though they had byn fet of purpofe in gardens or archardes. There is alfo in maner
euery where fuche plentie of wylde beaftes, that they may eafely be flaine with arrowes : In fo much that fuche
as trauayle by thofe regions, (hal fland in neede of none other thynge to mayntayne theyr lyfe but only
fyre and falte. In thefe partes, is no obfemation of myles, but of dayes iorneys. But as farre as I coulde con-
iecture, from the fountaynes or fprynges of Tanais vnto the mouthes of the fame iomeyinge by lande, are almoft
fourefcore leaques. And faylynge from Donco (from whenfe I fayde that Tanais was fyrfte nauigable) in
fcarfely. xx. [twenty] dayes vyage, they come to the citie of Afoph tributarie to the Turkes : which is (as they
fay) fyue dayes iorney frome the ftreight of Taurica, otherwyfe cauled Precop. In this citie is a famous mart
towne vnto the which refort many marchauntes of dyuers nations, and from dyuers partes of the worlde. For,
that all nations may the gladlyer haue recourfe thyther, free lybertie of bying and fellynge is graunted vnto all :
and that withowt the citie euery man may freely vfe his owne and accuftomed maner of lyuynge withowt
punydhement
Of the altares of great Alexander and lulius Cefar whiche many wryters make mention of in this place, or
of theyr mines, I coulde haue no certeyne knowleage of th[e]inhabitauntes or any other that had oftentymes
trauayled thefe places. Furthermore the fouldyers whiche the prince of Mofcouia maynteyneth there yearely
to opprefle th[e]incurfions of the Tartars, beinge of me demaunded hereof, anfwered that they neuer fawe or
harde of any fuch thynge. Neuertheleffe, they fayde that abowt the mouthes of Tanais the lefle, foure dayes
iorney from Afoph nere vnto a place cauled Scweriki, by the holy mountaynes, they fawe certeyne images of
ftone and marble. Tanais the lefle, hath his fprynges in the dukedome of Scwerfki : whereof it is cauled
Donetz Scwerfki : and fauleth into Tanais three dayes iorney aboue Afoph. But fuche as iorney from Mof-
couia to Afoph by lande, they, paffynge ouer Tanais abowt the owlde and ruinate towne of Donco, doo fum-
what tume from the fouth to the Eafte : In the which place, if a ryght line bee drawen from the mouthes of
Tanais to the fpringes of the lame, Mofcouia (halbe found to bee in Afia and not in Europe.
I[ More directly from Mofcouia to Cathay.
He great and large prouince of Permia, is dyftante from Mofcouia two hundreth and fyftie or
(as fum fay) three hundreth leaques directly betwene the Eaft and North : And hath a citie
of the fame name by the ryuer Vifchora which runneth, x. leaques beneth Kamam. The
iorney by lande can fcarfely bee trauayled thyther but in wynter by reafon of many ryuers,
maryffhes, and fennes. But in fommer, this iorney is difpatched with more facilitie in boates
or fmaule (hippes by Vuolochda, Vftiug, and the ryuer Vitzechda which runneth into Dwina.
xii. leaques from Vftiug. But they that go from Permia to Vftiug, mufte fayle vp the ryuer
Vifchora ageinft the courfe of the ftreame : and pafling ouer certeyne ryuers, fumtymes alfo conueyinge theyr
boates into other ryuers by lande, they come at the length to Vftiug three hundreth leaques diftant frome the
citie of Permia. There is fmaule vfe of breade in this prouince. For theyr yearely tribute, they pay to the
prynce furres and horfes. They haue a priuate language, and letters of theyr owne, whiche one Steuen a
byfFhop (who confirmed them yet waueryng in the fayth) dyd inuente. For before beinge yet infantes in the
fayth of Chryfte, they flewe and fleyde an other byffhop that was appoynted to inftructe them. This Steuen
afterwarde when Demetrius the fonne oi lohn reigned, was taken for a faynte amonge the Ruthens. Of thefe
people there yet remayne many Idolatours here and there in the woods, whom the moonkes and heremites that
go thyther, doo not ceafe to conuert from theyr vayne errour. In the wynter they iorney in Artach as they doo
in many places of Ruffia. Artach, are certeyne longe patentes of woodde of almoft fyxe handfuls in length,
2 B 2 325
The springes of
Tanais.
A great lake.
The ryuer Schat.
Casan.
Astrachan.
Meotis.
Tulla.
Achas.
F.nitefull regions
abowt Tanais.
Plentie of wylde
beastes.
Fire and salt.
Where Tanais is
fyrste nauygable.
Asoph.
The marte of
Asoph.
Libertte allureth
strangeis
The altars of
Alexander and
Cesar.
The holy
mountaynes.
Tanais the lesse.
From Moscouia to
Asoph.
Moscouia in Asia
and not in Europe.
The prouince of
Permia.
Marysshes in
sommer.
298
Dwina.
Vstiug.
Tribute.
Furres and horses
Monlces and
heremites.
FUento.
326
Mofcouia and Cathay.
Marcus Paulus
wryteth that these
dogges are almost
as byg as Asses :
and that they vse
syxe to one sleade.
lugaria.
Hungaria.
Pannonia.
AttUa.
"ITie hygher or
superyor
Hungarye, is
cauled Austria.
whiche they make fade to theyr fiete with latchettes, and therwith performe theyr iomeys with great celeritie.
They vfe for this purpofe greate dogges in the fleade of other beaftes, with the which they cary theyr farthels
on fleades, as other doo with hartes in other places, as we wyll further declare hereafter. They lay that that
prouince toward the Eafl confineth with the prouince cauled Tumen, perteynynge to the Tartars.
The fituation of the prouince of lugaria, is apparente by that which we haue fayde before. The Mofco-
uites caule it luhra with an afpiration : and caule the people luhrici. This is that lugaria from whenfe the
Hungarians came in tyme pafle, poffefTed Pannonia, and vnder the conduct of Attila, fubdued many prouinces
of Europe : wherin the Mofcouites doo greatly glory, that a nation fubiecte to them, inuaded and wafled a
great parte of Europe. Georgius Paruus a greeke borne, and a man of reputation with the Prince of Mofcouia,
wyllynge to afcribe to the ryght of his prince the great dukedome of Lithuania, and the kyngedome of Polonie
with certeyne other dominions, toulde me that the luharici or luhgary, beinge fubiectes to the great duke of
Mofcouia, came furth of theyr o\vne countrey, and fyrfle inhabited the regions abowt the fennes of Meotis, and
then Pannonie which was afterwarde cauled Hungarie, by the ryuer of Danubius : Alfo that in fine they pof-
fefTed the region of Morauia fo named of the ryuer : and lykewyfe Pollonie, fo cauled of Polle, which fignifieth
a playne. Furthermore that Buda was fo cauled after the name of the brother of Attila. They fay alfo that
the luhgari vfe the fame tounge that doo the Hungarians. The which whether it be trew or not, I do not
knowe. For althowgh I haue made diligent inquifition to knowe the truth hereof, yet coulde I fynde no man
of that region with whom my feruaunt beinge expert in the Hungarian tounge nJ3'ght fpeake. They alfo pay
furres for theyr tributes to the prince of Mofcouia. And albeit that pearles and precious (lones are brought
frome thenfe to Mofcouia, yet are they not gathered in theyr Ocean, but in other places : efpecially about the
coafl of the Ocean nere vnto the mouthes of Dwina.
The prouince of Sibier, confineth with Permia and Vuiathka : The whiche, whether it haue any caflels or
cities, I doo not yet certeynly knowe. In this the ryuer laick hathe his originall, and fauleth into the Cafpian
fea. They faye that this region is deferte bycaufe it lyeth fo neare the Tartars : Or that yf it bee in any parte
inhabited, the fame to be pofTefled of the Tartar Schichmamai. Th[e]inhabitantes haue a peculiar language :
and haue theyr chiefe gaynes by the furres of marterns, which in fayrenes and greatnes, excell all the furres of
that kynde that are founde in any other prouinces. Yet coulde I haue no great plentie of them in Mofcouia
at my beinge there.
polonie.
Buda.
Furres.
Pearles and
precious stunes.
SitMCTo.
Aspreolos, I
thynk to be
marterns : yet
sum think them
to be squerels
Gesnerus wryteth
that the kyngs of
the Tartars haue
they re tentes
couered withowt
wyth the skynnes
of lyons : and
within, with the
skynnes of sables
and Ermynes.
299
Czeremisse.
Habitacion
without houses.
Suit*
Note that longe after the writyng of this hjrftorie, at Rycharde Chaunceler his fyrft being in Mofcouia, Duke lohn Vafilivich
that nowe raygneth, fubdued all the Tartars with theyr regions and prouinces euen vnto the great citie and mart towne of Aftrachan
and the Cafpian fea. At the fame tyrae alfo, there was in the dukes court an ambafladour that came frome this prouince of Sibier :
who declared that his father had byn fent ambafladour to the great Chan of Cathay. And that the great citie of Cambalu where the
great Chan kepeth his courte in winter, was in maner deflroyed by Necromancie and magicall artes wherin the Cathaynes are very
expert as wryteth Marcus Paulus Venetus. Ther was alfo at the fame tyme th[e]ambanadour of the kynge of Perfia cauled the great
Sophie. This ambafl'adour was appareled all in fcarlet, and fpake much to the duke in the behalfe of owre men, of whofe kyngdome
and trade he was not ignorant.
The people cauled Czeremiffe, dwell in the wooddes beneth Nouogardia the lower. They haue a peculiar
language and are of the facte of Machumet They were fumtyme fubiecte to the kynge of Cafan : but the
greater part of them are nowe fubiecte to the prince of Mofcouia. Many of them at my beinge there, were
brought to Mofcouia, as fufpected of rebellion. This nation doth inhabite a large region withowt houfes from
Vuiathka and Vuolochda, to the ryuer of Kama All the nation afwell women as men, are very fwyft of foote,
and expert archers : wherein they fo delite, that theyr bowes are in maner neuer owt of theyr handes : and gyue
theyr children no meate vntyl they hyt the marke they fhoote at
Two leaques diflante from Nouogardia the lower, were many houfes to the fimilitude of a citie or towne
where they were accuftomed to make falte. Thefe a fewe yeares fence beinge burnt of the Tartars, were
reftored by the commaundement of the prince.
Mordwa, are people inhabytynge by the ryuer of Volga on the fouth banke beneth Nouogardia the lower :
And are in al thynges like vnto the Czeremiffes but that they haue more houfes. And here endeth Th[e]mpire
of the Mofcouites.
Note here that Matthias of Michou, in his booke of Sarmatia Afiatica, writeth that the dominion of the duke of Mofcouia
recheth from the northwefl to the foutheall fyue hundreth myles of Gennanie, which aie more then leaques. For they affirme that a
Germane myle is more then three EnglyfUie mylcs.
Vf>
Mofcouia and Cathay.
327
C Of the Tartars.
|Ee wyll nowe adde hereunto fumwhat of the people confinynge with the Mofcouites towarde
the Eafl. : of the which the Tartars of Cafan are the firfL But before wee fpeake of them
particularly, wee wyl fyrft reherfe fumwhat of theyr maners and cuflomes in generall.
The Tartars are diuided into companies which they caul Hordas, of the which the
Horda of the Sawolhenfes is the chiefs in fame and multitude. For it is fayde that the
other Hordas had theyr offprynge and original of this. And albeit that euery Horda hath
his peculiar name, as the Sawolhenfes, Precropenfes, and Nahays with dyuers other being all
Machumetans, yet doo they take it euyll and count it reproch to bee cauled Turkes : but wyll them felues to
bee cauled Befermani, by the which name alfo the Turkes defyre to bee cauled.
And as the Tartars inhabyte many prouynces reachynge far on euery fyde, euen fo in maners and order of
lyuynge doo they not agree in all thynges. They are men of meane "flature, with broade and fat faces, holowe
eyde, with roughe and thyck beardes, and poulde heades. Onely the noble men haue longe heare, and that
exceadyng black, which they wreath on both fydes theyr eares. They are flronge of body and (loute of mynde :
prone to leacherye, and that vnnaturall. They eate the fleaflhe of horfes, camells, and otl er beafles excepte
hogges, from which they abfleyne by a lawe. They can fo abyde falling and hunger, that they fumtime for-
beare meate and fleepe for the fpace of foure dayes, occupyed neuertheleffe aboute theyr neceffary affayres.
Ageyne when they gette any thyng to deuoure, they ingorge them felues beyond meafure : and with that furfecte
in maner recompenfe theyr former abflynence. And beynge thus oppreffed with laboure and meate, they fleepe
contynually for the fpace of three or foure days without doyng any maner of worke or labour : durynge which
tyme the Lyuons and Mofcouites into whofe domynyons they are accuftomed to make theyr incurfions, aifayle
them vnwares thus oppreffed with meate and fleepe, lynge fcatered here and there owt of order withowte
watch or warde. Alfo if when they ryde, they bee moleded with hunger and thyrfle, they vfe to lette theyr
horfes blud, and with drynkyng the fame, fatyffye theyr prefent neceflytie, and affyrme theyr horfes to bee the
better therby. And bicaufe they all wander in vnknowen places, they vfe to dyrect theyr iorneys by th[e]-
afpecte of the llarres, and efpecyally of the pole flarre, which in theyr tounge they caule Selefnikoll, (that is) an
iren nayle. They greatly delyte in mares mylke, and beleue that it maketh men flrong and fatte. They eate
herbes very much : and efpecially fuch as growe abowt Tanais. Fewe of them vfe falte. When theyr kynges
dyllrybute any vytayles among them, they are accuftomed to gyue one horfe or cowe to fortye men. Of the
flayne beafte, the bowells and trypes are referued for the chiefe men and cap; '.aynes. Thefe they heate at the
fyre vntyll they may fhake owt the doonge, and then deuoure them gredely. They fucke and lycke, not only
theyr fyngers imbrued with fatte, but alfo theyr knyues and (lyckes wherwith they fcrape the doong from the
guttes. The heades of horfes are counted delycate diflhes with them as are bores heades with vs : and are
referued only for the chyefe men. Theyr horfes (wherof they haue great aboundaunce) are but fmaule, and
with fliort neckes : but very ftrong and fuch as can wel away with labour and hunger. Thefe they fede with
the branches and barkes or ryndes of trees and the rotes of hearbes and weedes, wherby they accuftome them
to hard feedynge, and exercyfe them to contynuall laboure : by reafon wherof (as fay the Mofcouytes) theyr
horfes are fwyfcer and more durable then any other. Thefe kynde of horfes, they caule Pachmat. They haue
none other faddells and fteroppes then of woodd, except fuche as they eyther bye of the Chryftians, or take
from them by vyolence. Leaft theyr horfe backes ftiulde bee hurte with theyr faddells, they vnderlaye them
with graffe and leaues of trees. They alfo pafle ouer ryuers on horfback. But if when they flye, they feare the
purfuynge of theyr enemyes, then caftynge away theyr faddells, apparelle, and all other impedymentes, referuyng
only theyr armoure and weapons they flye amayne and with greate celeritie.
Theyr women vfe the fame kynde of apparell that doo the men withowt any dyfference except that they
couer theyr heades with lynnen vayles, and vfe lynnen hofe muche lyke vnto maryners floppes. Wlien theyr
queenes coome abrod, they are accuftomed to couer theyr faces. The other multytude of the common forte
that lyueth here and ther in the feeldes, haue theyr apparell made of fheepes fkynnes, which they chaung[e] not
vntyll they bee wome and tome to fytters. They tarye not longe in one place, iudgyng it a great myfery fo to
doo : In fo muche that when they are angrie with theyr chyldren, the greateft curfe that they can gyue them, is
that they maye remayne perpetually in one place, and drawe the ftynfhe of theyr owne fyllhynefle as doo the
Chryftyans. When they haue confumed the pafture in one place, they go to an other with theyr droues of
cattayle and theyr wyues and chyldren whom they euer cary about with them in Wagons : albeit the Tartars
that dwell in cities and townes, vfe an other order of lyuynge. If they be inclofed with any daungerous warre.
The Tartars of
Casan.
Horda.
Besermam.
The stature of
the Tartars.
They absteine
from hogges
flesshe.
Abstinence.
Voracitie.
So doo the Turkes
lomeying by the
pole star.
Mares mylke
Horse flesshe
eaten.
Qenly.
300
Horste] heades,
deintie meate
The I'artars
horses.
Saddells and
styrrops of wodde.
The Tartars
women.
The Tartars curse.
328
Mofcotiia and Cathay.
No tustice amongc
the Tartars.
The Tartars are
theeues and poore.
They reioyce in
qwylynge
The fcelde
Tartars.
A mcry tale.
Casan.
301
The kynge of
Casan.
Archers.
Maryners.
The towne
Tartan.
Moscouia inuaded
by the Tartars.
The prince of
M oscouia tributary
to the Tartars.
Duke Basilius
army ageynst the
Tartars.
The Icyng of Casan
submitteth bym
Klfe.
they place theyr wyues, chyldren, and owld folkes, in the faued places. There is no iuflice amonge them. For
if any man (lande in neade of any thynge, he may withowt punnyffhemente take it awaye from an other. If any
complayne to the ludge of the vyolence and wronge doonne vnto hym, the offender denyeth not the cryme,
but fayth that he coulde not lacke that thyng. Then the ludge is wonte to gyue thys fentence : If thowe alfo
fhalte haue neede of any thynge doo the lyke to other. Sum fay they do not (leale ; But whether they (leale
or not, lette other iudge. They are furely a theeuyfthe kynd of men and very poore, lyuynge only by robbyng
of other, and flealyng away other mens cattayle, and vyolently alfo caryynge awaye the men them felues whom
eyther they felle to the Turkes or proffer them to bee redemed by ranfome, referuynge only the younge wenches.
They feldome aflaulte cities or caflells, but burne and wafle townes and vyllagyes : In fo muche that they fo
pleafe them felues herin, that they thynke they haue fo muche the more inlarged their empire, in howe muche
they haue wafled and made defolate manye prouynces. And althowgh they bee mode impacyent of refle and
quyetneffe, yet doo they not kyll or deflroye one an other, excepte theyr kynges bee at deffention betweene
them felues. If any man bee flaine in any fraye or quarel, and the autours of the myfchefe bee taken, only
theyr horffe, harneffe, weapons, and apparell, are taken from them, and they difmiffed. So that the murtherer
by the loffe of a vyle horfe or a bowe, is dyfcharged of the ludge with thefe woordes : gette the henfe and goo
abowte thy bufynefle. They haue no vfe' of golde and fyluer, excepte only a fewe marchauntes : But exerfyfe
exchaunge of ware for ware. And if it fo chaunce that by fellyng of fuch thynges as they haue llolne, they
gette any monye of theyr bortherers, they bye therwith certeyne apparel and other neceffaryes of the Mofcouites.
The regyons of theyr habytations (the feelde Tartars I meane) are not lymytted with any boundes or borthers.
There was on a tyme a certeyne fatte Tartar taken pryfoner of the Mofcouites : to whom when the prynce fayd,
How art thow fo fatte thowe dogge, fythe thowe haRe not to eate, the Tartar anfwered. Why fhulde not I haue
to eate fythe I poffeffe fo large a land from the Eaft to the wefl, wherby I may bee abundauntely nuryffhed ?
But thowe mayfte rather feeme to lacke, fyth thowe inhabytefl fo fmaule a portion of the worlde, and dufte
daylye flryue for the fame.
Cafan, is a kyngedome, alfo a citie, and a caflell of the feme name, fituate by the ryuer Volga on the
further banke, almofl. threfcore and tenne leaques beneath Nouogardia the lower. Alonge by the courfe of
Volga towarde the Eaft and South, it is termined with deferte fyeldes. Towarde the fommer Eaft, it confineth
with the Tartars cauled Schibanfki, and Kofatzki. The kynge of this prouince, is able to make an army of.
XXX. [thirty] thoufande men, efpecially foote men, of the which the Czeremiffe and Czubafchi are moft expert
archers. The Czubafchi are alfo cunnynge maryners. The citie of Cafan, is threfcore leaques diftant from the
principal caftel Vuiathka. Furthermore, Cafan in the Tartars language, fignifieth a brafen potte boylynge.
Thefe Tartars are more ciuile then the other. For they dwell in houfes, tyll the grownde, and exercife the
trade of marchaundies. They were of late fubdued by Bafilius the greate duke of Mofcouia, and had theyr
kynge affigned them at his arbitriment. But (hortely after, they rebelled ageine : and affociate with other
Tartars, inuaded the region of Mofcouia, fpoyled and wafted many cities and townes, and ledde away innumer-
able captiues, euen from the citie Mofcouia which they poffeffed for a tyme, and had vtterly deftroyed the fame
if it had not byn for the valyantneffe of the Almayne gunners which kept the caftell with great ordinaunce.
They alfo putte duke Bafilius to flyght, and caufed him to make a letter of his owne hande to Machmetgirei
theyr kynge to acknowleage hym felfe for a perpetuall tributarie to them, wheruppon they diffolued the fiege,
and gaue the Mofcouites free libertie to redeeme theyr captiues and gooddes, and fo departed. But Bafilius
not longe able to abyde this contumelie and difhonour, after that he had putte to death fuche as by flyinge at
the fyrft encounterynge were the caufe of this ouerthrowe, affembled an armye of a hundreth and fourefcore
thoufande men fhortely after in the yeare. 1523. And fent forwarde his army vnder the conducte of his Lieue-
tenaunte : and therewith an heralde at armes to bydde battayle to Machmetgirei the kynge of Cafan, with
woordes in this effecte : The laft yeare lyke a theefe and robber withowt bydding of battayle, thou dyddefte
pryuilie oppreffe me. Wherefore I nowe chalenge the, once ageyne to proue the fortune of warre if thou
myftrufte not thyne owne poure. To this the kynge anfwered, that there were manye wayes open for hym to
inuade Mofcouia : And that the warres haue no leffe refpect to the commoditie of tyme and place then of
armure or fljength : And that he wold take th[e]aduantage therof when and where it fhulde feeme beft to him
and not to other. With which woordes Bafilius beinge greatly accenfed and bumyng with defyre of reuenge,
inuaded the kyngdome of Cafan : whofe kynge beinge ftryken with fuddeyne feare at th[e]approche of fo
terrible an army, afligned the gouernance of his kyngdome to the younge kynge of Taurica his neuie, whyle he
hym felfe went to requyre ayde of the Emperour of the Turkes. But in fine the kynge of Cafan fubmytted hym
felfe vppon certeyne conditions of peace whiche the Mofcouites dyd the gladlyer excepte for that time becaufe
theyr vittayles fayled them to maynteyne fo great a multitude. But wheras duke Bafilius hym felfe was not
prefent at this laft expedition, he greatly fufpected Palitzki the Lieuetenaunte of th[e]army to bee corrupted
with brybes to proceade no further. In this meane tyme, the kynge of Cafen fent ambaffadours to Bafilius to
338
Mofcoiila and Cathay.
329
intreate of peace : whome I fawe in the dukes courte at my beynge there : but I coulde perceaue no hope of
peace to bee betwene them. For euen then, Bafilius to endomage the Cafans, tranflated the marte to Nouo-
gardia, which before was accuftomed to bee kepte in the Ilande of marchauntes nere vnto the citie of Cafan :
Commaundyng alfo vnder peyne of greuous punyffliemente that none of his fubiectes fhulde reforte to the
Ilande of marchauntes : thynkynge that this tranflation of the marte fhulde greately haue endomaged the Cafans :
and that only by takyng away their trade of falte (which they were accuftomed to bye of the Mofcouites at that
marte) they (hulde haue byn compelled to fubmyffion. But the Mofcouites them felues felte no leffe incon-
uenience hereby then dyd the Cafans, by reafon of the dearth and fcarfeneffe that folowed hereof of al fuch
thynges as the Tartars were accuftomed to brynge thyther by the ryuer of Volga from the Cafpian fea, the
kyngedomes of Perfia and Armenia, and the marte towne of Aftrachan : efpecially the great number of moft
excellent fyffhes that are taken in Volga both on the hyther and further fyde of Cafan.
But hauynge fayde thus much of the warres betwene the Prince of Mofcouia and the Tartars of Cafan, we
wyll now procede to fpeake fumwhat of the other Tartars inhabytyng the regions towarde the foutheaft and the
Cafpian fea.
Next beyonde the Tartars of Cafan, are the Tartars cauled Nagai or Nogai, which inhabite the regions
beyond Volga abowt the Cafpian fea at the ryuer laick, runnyng owt of the prouince of Sibier. Thefe haue no
kynges but dukes. In owre tyme, three bretheme diuydynge the prouinces equally betwene them, pofTefled
thofe dukedomes. The fyrft of them named Schidack, pofTeffeth the citie of Scharaitzick, beyond the ryuer of
Rha or Volga towarde the Eafte, with the region confinynge with the ryuer laick. The feconde cauled Coffum,
enioyeth all the lande that lyethe betwene the ryuers of Kaman laick and Volga. The thyrde brother named
Schichmamai, poffefTeth parte of the prouince of Sibier and all the region abowt the fame. Schichmamai, is as
much to fay by interpretacion, as holy or myghty. And in maner al thefe regions are full of wooddes, excepte
that that lyeth towarde Scharaitz, which confyfteth of playnes and fyeldes.
Betwene the ryuers of Volga and laick, abowt the Cafpian fea, there fumtymes inhabyted the kynges
cauled Sawolhenfes. Demetrius Danielis (a man among thefe barbarians, of fmguler fayth and grauitie) toulde
vs of a maruelous and in maner incredible thyng that is fene among thefe Tartars. And that his father beinge
fente by the prynce of Mofcouia to the kynge of Sawolhenfe, fawe whyle he was in that legacie, a certeyne feede
in that Ilande fumwhat lefTe and rounder then the feedes of Melones : Of the whiche beinge hydde in the
grounde, there groweth a frute or plante very lyke a lambe, of the heyght of fyue fpannes : And is theifore
cauled in theyr tounge Boranetz, which fignifyeth a lyttle lamb. For it hath the headde, eyes, eares, and all
other partes like vnto a lambe newly eyned : with alfo a very thynne fkynne wherwith dyuers of th[e]inhabi-
tauntes of thofe regions are accuftomed to line theyr cappes and hattes and other tyrements for theyr heades.
Many alfo confirmed in owre prefence that they had feene thefe fkynnes. He fayde furthermore that that
plant (if it may bee cauled a plant) hath bludde, and no fleffhe : but hath in the fteade of fleffhe a certeyne
fubftance like vnto the fleffhe of creuyffhes. The hoofes alfo are not of home as are the lambes, but couered
with heare in the fame forme. The roote cleaueth to the nauell or myddeft of the belly. The plante or fruite
lyueth vntyll all the grafle and herbes growynge abowte it beinge eaten, the roote wythereth for lacke of
nuryffhement. They fay that it is very fweete to bee eaten, and is therefore greately defyred and fought for of
the woolues and other rauenynge beaftes. And albeit I exfteme all that is fayde of this plant to be fabulous,
yet forafmuch as it hath byn toulde me of credible perfons, I haue thought good to make mention hereof.
Of this ftraunge frute, Mandeuell maketh mention, where in the. Ixxxiiii. [eighty-fourth] chapiture of his booke he wryteth thus :
Nowe Ihall I fay of fum landes, countreys, and lies that are beyonde the lande of Cathay. Therfore who fo goeth from Cathay to
India the hygh and the lowe, he (hall go through a kyngedome that men caule CadiflTen, and is a great lande. There groweth a
maner of frute as it were gourdes. And when it is rype, men cut it a funder: and fynd therein a beaft as it were of flefihe, bone, and
bludde, as it were a lyttle lambe withowt wolle. And men eate that beaft and the frute alfo, which is a great maruayle. Neuerthe-
leffe, I fayde vnto them that I helde that for no maruayle. For I fayde that in my countrey are tres that beare frute that become
byrdes flying which are good to bee eaten. And that that fauleth into the water lyueth : And that that fauleth on the earth dyeth.
And they had greate maruayle of this. etc.
From the prince of Schidack, proceadyng. xx. [twenty] dayes iorney towarde the Eaft. are the people which
the Mofcouites caule lurgenci, whofe prince is Barack Soltan, brother to the greate Chan of Cathay. In tenne
dayes iorney from Barack Soltan, they coomme to Bebeid Chan. And this is that great Chan of Cathay.
Names of dignities amonge the Tartars, are thefe, Chan, fignifieth a kynge, Soltan, the foonne of a kynge.
Bii, a Duke. Murfa, the foonne of a duke. Olboud, a noble man or counfiler. Olboadulu, the foonne of a
noble man. Seid, the hygh prefte. Kfi, a priuate perfon.
The names of offices are thefe : Vlan, the feconde dignitie to the kynge. For the kynges of the Tartars
haue foure principall men whofe counfayle they vfe in al theyr weyghty affayres. Of thefe the fyrfte is cauled
Schimi : the feconde Bami : the thyrde, Gargni : The fourth, Tziptzan. And to haue fayde thus muche of the
Tartars, it fhall fuffice.
The Hand of
QutrchAuutes
The Caspian sea.
Persia.
Armenia.
Astrachan.
302
The Tartars near«
to the Caspian sea.
NogaL
The possession of
three brytheme.
The kynges cauled
Sawolheoses.
A maruelous frute
lyke a lambe.
MandeueU.
Barnacles of the
Orkeneys.
Barack Soltan.
Cathay.
Names of dignities
amonge the
Tartars.
Names of offices.
330
Mofcouia and Cathay.
303 Marcus Paulus wryteth that the greate Chan, is cauled Chan Cublai that is, the great kynge of kynges : as the greate turcke
Chan Cublai. wryteth hym felfe in lyke maner, as I fawe in a letter wrytlen by hym of late to the citie of Ragufa, in the which he vfeth this fub-
fcription : Soltan Soliman de felim Cham Signore de Signori in fempitemo. As concemynge Mofcouia and Cathay, I was mynded
to haue added hereunto dyuers other thynges, but that for certeyne confiderations I was perfuad^ to proceade no further. Vnto
whofe requefle, herein fatiffyinge rather other then my felfe, wyllynge otherwyfe to haue accomplydhed this booke to further perfec-
tion, I was content to agree for two caufes efpecially mouynge me : wherof the one is, that as touchynge thefe trades and vyages, as
in maner in all other fciences, there are certeyne fecreates not to bee publyfdied and made common to all men. The other caufe is,
that the parteners at whofe charge this booke is prynled, although the coppy wherof they haue wrought a longe fpace haue coft them
nought doo not neuertheleffe ceafe dayly to caule vppon me to make an end and proceade no further : affirmynge that the booke wyll
bee of to great a pryce and not euery mans money : fearyng rather theyr owne lolTe and hynderaunce, then carefull to bee beneficiall
to other, as is nowe in maner the trade of all men, which ordinarie refpecte of priuate commoditie hath at this tyme fo lyttle moued
me, I take god to wytnefle, that for my paynes and trauayles taken herein fuch as they bee, I may vppon iuft occafion thynke my
felfe a loofer manye wayes, except fuch men of good inclination as (hall take pleafure and feele fum commoditie in the knowleage of
thefe thynges, fliall thynke me woorthy theyr good woorde, wherwith I flial repute my felfe and my trauayles fo abundantly fatiffyed,
that I (liall repute other mens gaynes a recompenfe for my loffes, as they may bee in deede, yf men bee not vnthankefull, which only
vice of ingratitude hath hyndered the worlde of many benefites.
S^ The nattigatioji by the fro/en fea.
Nouogardix
Suecia vnder the
kynge of
Denmarke.
Dwina-
Potiwlo.
Hygh mountaynes
neare the north
Ocean.
Finlappia.
The wylde
Lappians.
The region of
Nortpoden
The cape cauled
the holy nose.
A whyrlpoole or
swalowing goulfe.
304
Such whyrlepooles,
are cauled vipers
The stone cauled
Semes.
Superstition.
' my beinge in Mofcouia when I was fent thyther by kynge Ferdinando my lorde and mailer,
it lb chaunfed that Georgius Ifloma the duke of Mofcouia his interpretour, a man of great
experience who hadde before lemed the latin tounge in the court of lohn kynge of Den-
marke, was there prefent at the fame tyme. He in the yeare of Chryfl, 1496. beinge fente
of his prince with mailer Daiiid a fcotte borne and then ambalfadour for the kynge of Den-
marke, (whom alfo I knewe there at my fyrfl, legacie) made me a breefe information of all
th[e]order of his iorney. The which, forafmuch as it may feeme difficult and laborious afwel
lor the diflaunce as daungerous places, I haue thought good to defcribe the fame as I receaued it at his
mouth.
Fyrfl he fayde that beinge fent of his prince with the fayd Dauid, they came fyrfl to Nouogardia the great
And wher as at that tyme the kyngedome of Suecia reuolted frome the kynge of Denmarke, and alfo the duke
of Mofcouia was at difcention with the Suetians, by reafon wherof they coulde not paffe by the mofl accuftomed
way for the tumultes of war they attempted theyr iorney by an other way longer but fafer And came fyrfl from
Nouogardia to the mouthes of the ryuer of Dwina and Potiwlo, by a very difficult and paynefull iorney. For
he fayd that this iorney which can not bee to muche detefted for fuche laboures and trauayles, continueth for
the fpace of three hundreth leaques. In fine, takyng foure fmaul fhyppes or barkes at the mouthes of Dwina,
they fayled by the coafle on the ryght hande of the Ocean, where they fawe certeyne hyghe and rowgh moun-
taynes : and at the lengthe faylynge. xvi. [fixteen] leaques, and paffynge a great goulfe, folowed the coafte on
the lefte hande : And leauyng on the ryght hand the large fea which the name of the ryuer Petzora (as haue
alfo the mountaynes adiacent to the fame) they came to the people of Finlappia : who, although they dwell
here and there in lowe coitagies by the fea fyde, and leade in maner a beaftly lyfe, yet are they more meeke
and tractable then the wylde Lappians. He fayde that thefe alfo are tributaries to the prince of Mofcouia.
Then leauynge the lande of the Lappians, and faylynge fourefcore leaques, they came to the region of Nort-
poden vnder the dominion of the kynge of Suecia, This the Mofcouites caule Kaienfka Semla, and the people
Kayeni. Departynge from henfe, and faylynge alonge by the coafle of a wyndynge and bendynge fhore reach-
yng towarde the ryght hand, they came to a promontorie or cape cauled the Holy nofe, beinge a greate flone
reachynge farre into the fea to the fimilitude of a nofe : vnder the whiche is feene a caue with a whyrlepoole
which fwalow[e]th the fea euery fyxe houres : and caftynge furth the fame ageyne with terryble rorynge and
violence, caufeth the fayde whyrlepoole. Sum caule this the nauell of the fea : and other name it Charybdis.
He affirmeth that the violence of this fwalowynge goulfe is fuch, that it draweth into it, inuolu/th, and fwalow-
eth vp fhyppes and al other thynges that comme neare it : and that they were neuer in greater d.' ingioure. For
the whyrlepoole fo fuddeynly and violentely drewe vnto it the fhyppe or barke wherin they were caryed, that
with the helpe of ores and great labour they hardly efcaped. When they had thus ouerpafTed the holy nofe,
they came to a certeyne flonye mountayne which they fhulde needes compafTe abowte. But beinge there flayed
with contrary wyndes for the fpace of certeyne dayes, the pylotte of the fhippe fpake vnto them in this effecte :
This flone (Jayth he) that yowe fee, is cauled Semes : The which excepte we pleafe with fumme gyfte, wee
(hall not paffe by withowt great daungiour. But the pylot beinge reproued of Ifloma for his vayne fuperflition;
helde his peace. And when they had byn deteined ther by tempefl for the fpace of foure days, at the length
Mofcouia and Cathay.
331
tlie tempefl ceafed and they went forwarde on theyr vyage with a profperous wynd. Then the pilotte fpake
vnto them ageyne, fayinge : You defpifed my admonicion of pleafynge the Semes, and fcorned the fame as
vayne and fuperflitious. But if I had not priuilie in the nyght afcended a rocke and pleafed the Semes, wee
fliulde furely haue had no paflage. Beinge demaunded what he offered to the Semes, he fayde that he poured
butter myxt with otemele vpon the (lone which wee fawe reache furth into the fea. As they fayled further, they
came to an other cape named Motka, which was almoll enuironed with the fea lyke an Ilande : in whofe
extreme poynte, is fituate the caflell of Barthus, which fum caule Wardhus, (that is) a houfe of defence or for-
treffe. For the kynges of Norway haue there a garryfon of men to defende theyr marches. He fayde further-
more that that cape reacheth fo farre into the fea, that they coulde fcarfely compaffe it in eyght dayes. By
which tarying leafle they fhulde bee hyndered, they caryed on theyr fhulders with greate laboure, theyr barkes
and fardelles ouer a flreyght of lande conteynyng halfe a leaque in breadth. From henfe they fayled to the
region of the wyld Lappones, cauled Dikilappones to a place named Dront, beinge. CC. [two hundred] leaques
diftant from Dwina towarde the North. And thus farre as he fayth, doth the prince of Mofcouia exacte tribute.
Furthermore leauyng theyr barkes here, they fynyffhed the refidue of theyr iorney on fleades. He further
declared that there were heardes of hartes as are with vs of oxen, whiche in the Noruegians tounge are cauled
Rhen, beinge fumwhat bygger then owre hartes. Thefe the Lappones vfe in this maner. They ioyne them to
fleades made lyke fyffher botes, as wee put horfes to the carte. The man in the fleade, is tyed fafl by the feete
leafl he fall owte by the fwyfte courfe of the hartes. In his lefte hande, he holdeth a collar or rayne wherwith
he moderateth the courfe of the hartes : and in the ryght hand, a pyked flaffe wherwith he may fufleine the
fleade from faulyng if it chaunce to decline to much on any part. And he toulde me that by this meanes he
trauayled twentie leaques in one daye, and then difmyffed the harte, who by hym felfe returned to his owne
mafler and accuflomed flable. This iorney thus fynyffhed, they came to Berges a citie of Norduegia or Norway,
fituate directly towarde the northe betwene the mountaynes : and wente from thenfe to Denmarke on horfe-
backe. At Dront and Berges, the day is fayde to bee. xxii. [twenty-two] houres longe in the fommer Equi-
noctiall. Blafius an other of the prynce of Mofcouia his interpretours, who a fewe yeares before, was fent oi
his prince into Spayne to Th[e]emperour, declared vnto vs an other and fhorter way of his iorney. For he
fayde that when he was fent from Mofcouia to lohn the kyng of Denmarke, he came fyrfte on foote vnto
Roftowe : And takynge (hyppe there, came to Pereaflaw : and from Pereaflaw by the ryuer Volga to Caftromow:
and that frome thenfe goynge feuen Werfles by lande, he came to a lyttle ryuer : faylynge by the which, when
fyrfl he came to Vuolochda, then to Suchana, and Dwina, and in fine to the citie of Berges in Norway, ouer-
paffynge in this vyage all the perelles and laboures that I Roma rehearfed before, he came at the length to
Hafnia the chiefe citie of Denmarke, whiche the Germaynes caule Koppenhagen. But in theyr returnynge
home, they both confeffe that they came to Mofcouia by Liuonia : and that they were a yeare in this vyage :
Albeit Georgius Ifloma, fayde that halfe the parte of that tyme, he was hyndered by tempefles, and inforced to
tary longe in many places by the waye. Yet they both lykewyfe conflantely affirme that in this iorney eyther
of them trauayled a thoufand threefcore and ten V/erfles (that is) three hundreth and fortie leaques. Further-
more alfo Demetrius who of late was fent ambaffadour from the prynce of Mofcouia to the byffhoppe of Rome,
(by whofe relation alfo Paulus louius wrote his defcription of Mofcouia) confirmed all thefe thynges to bee
trewe. All they being demaunded of me of the congeled or frofen fea, made none other anfwere but that in
places nere vnto that fea, they faw many and great riuers by whofe vehemente courfe and abundaunt flowynge,
the feas are dryuen farre from the fliore : and that the fayde water of the ryuers is frofen with the fea a good
fpace from the lande, as in Liuonia and other partes of Suecia. For althowgh by the vehemencie of the
wyndes, the Ife is broken in the fea, yet dooth this chaunce feldome or neuer in ryuers, excepte by fum inun-
dation or flud the Ife gathered togyther bee lyfted vp and broken. For the flakes or piefes of Ife caryed into the
fea by force of the ryuers, doo flote aboue the water in maner all the hole yeare, and are ageyne fo vehemently frofen
togyther, that a man niaye there fumtymes fee great heapes of the Ife of manye yeares, as dooth appere by fuch
piefes as are dryuen to the fhore by the wynde. I haue alfo byn credebly informed by faythfull men that the
fea Baltheum (otherwyfe cauled the goulfe of Liuonia) is often tymes frofen in many places. They fay further-
more, that in that region whiche is inhabyted of the wylde Lappones, the foonne in the fommer Equinoctiall
dooth not faule for the fpace of. xl. [forty] dayes : yet that that the body therof is fo hydden with a darke myfle
or cloude three houres, that the beames doo not appere : Neuertheleffe to gyue fuch lyght durynge that tyme,
that the darkeneffe hyndereth not theyr woorke. The Mofcouites make theyr bofle that thefe wylde Lappones
are tributaries to theyr prynce. Wherat I do not greatly maruayle, forafmuch as they haue none other neare
vnto them, that may demaunde tribute of them. Theyr trybute is onely furres and fyfflie, hauynge in maner
none other thynge greately commodious. And albeit they lacke breade, falte, and other intyfements of glutteny,
and lyue onely with fyffhe and wylde beafles, yet are they exceadyng prone to lechery. They are fuch expert
archers, that if in theyr huntynge they efpye any beafles whofe flcynnes they defyre to faue vnperyfflied, they
33l
Sacrifice to the
stone Semes
The cape Motka.
The cistel of
Wardbtis.
The region of the
wylde Lappones.
Dront.
lomeyinge on
sleade&
Howe the hartes
drawe sleades.
XX. [twenty]
leaques in one day
The citie of
Berges in Norway
A shorter iorney.
Rostow.
Pereaslaw.
Castromow,
Vuolochda.
Suchana.
Dwina.
Hafnia.
Koppenhagen
Liuonia,
Werste, is almost
an Italian myle.
305
Paulus louiiis.
Ryuers faulyng
into the froscn sea.
Wynde.
Ise.
Ise of many
yeares.
The sea Baltheum
Where the sun
fauleth not in. xl.
[forty] days
The wylde
I-appones are
tributaries to the
Moscouites
Furres and fysshe
Experte archers.
332
Mofcouia and Cathay.
Good felowshyp.
Necessary warres.
No Tse of money.
Theyr cotages.
Mountaynes
Continually
burnyng.
Purgatory.
The ryuer
Petzora.
306
The beaste cauled
Mors
The prouidence
of nature.
The frosen sea.
Engronland or
GroneUmd
wyll not lyghtly myffe to hytte them in the nofethrylles. When they go furth on huntynge, they are accuflomed to
leaue at home with theyr wyues fuche marchauntes or flraungers as they haue receaued into theyr houfes. So that
if at theyr retume, they perceaue theyr wyues throwgh the company of the flrangers to be myrier and more iocunde
then they were wonte to bee, they gyue the ftraungers fum prefent. But yf they fynd it otherwyfe, they thrufl them
furth of the doores with woordes of reproche. But nowe by the company they haue with flraungers that reforte
thyther for gaynes, they begyn to leaue theyr natiue barbaroufneffe. They gladly admitte marchauntes, bycaufe
they brynge them apparel of grofe cloth : alfo hatchettes, needels, fpones, knyues, drynkynge cuppes, earthen
and brafen pottes, with fuch other neceffarie wares : So that they vfe now to eate fodden and rofled meate,
and doo embrafe more ciuile maners. Theyr owne apparel is made of the (kynnes of dyuers bealles fowed
togyther. And in this apparell they fumtymes comme to Mofcouia. Yet fewe of them haue cappes or hofen,
which they vfe to make of hartes (kynnes. They haue not the vfe of golde or fyluer money : but vfe only
barteryng of ware for ware. And beinge ignorant of other languages befyde theyr owne, they feeme amonge
flraungers to bee in maner domme. Theyr cotages are couered onely with the barkes of trees. They haue no
certeyne reflynge habitacion. But when they haue confumed the fyffhe and wylde beafles in one place, they
remoue to an other. Furthermore alfo the fayde ambaffadours of the prince of Mofcouia, declared that in the
fame partes they fawe certeyne hygh mountaynes continually caflynge furth flames of fyre as doth the moun-
tayne of Etna in the Ilande of Sicilia : and that euen in Norway, many mountaynes are faulen downe and
burnte in maner to affhes with fuch continuall flames. Which thynge fum confyderyng, fayne the fyre of Purga-
torie to bee there. And as concemynge thefe mountaynes of Norway, when I was fent ambaffadour to
Chriflieme kynge of Denmarke, I was informed the lyke by the gouernours of Norwaye who chaunced at that
tyme to bee prefent there.
Abowt the mouthes of the ryuer Petzora that are toward the ryght hande from the mouthes of Dwina, are
fayd to bee dyuers and great beafles in the Ocean : and amonge other, a certeyne great beafl as bygge as an
oxe, which th[e]inhabitauntes caule Mors. This beafl hath fhorte feete lyke a beuer or an Otter, with a brefl
fumwhat hygh and brode for the proportion of the refidue of his body : and two longe and greate teeth grow-
ynge owte of the vpper iawe. Thefe beafles for refl. and increafe, doo fumtymes leaue the Ocean, and by great
heardes afcende the mountaynes : where before they gyue themfelues to profounde fleepe (wherunto they are
naturally inclined) they appoynt one of theyr number as it were a watcheman as doo cranes for the fecuritie of
the refle. Whiche if he chaunce to fleepe, or to bee flayne of the hunters, the refidue may eafely bee taken.
But if the watchman gyue wamynge with rorynge (as the maner is) immediately the hole hearde awakened
thereby, fuddeynly put theyr hynder feete to theyr teeth : And fo faulynge from the mountayne with great
celeritie as it were on a fleade, they cart, them felues headlong into the Ocean : where alfo they refl and fleepe
for a whyle vppon the heapes of Ife. The hunters purfue thefe beafles only for theyr teethe : Of the which
the Mofcouites, Tartars, and efpecially the Turkes, make haftes for fwoordes and dagge[r]s very artificially :
And vfe thefe rather for ornamente, then to gyue the greater flroke for the weyght or heauineffe thereof as fumme
fable. Alfo amonge the Turkes, Mofcouites, and Tartars, thefe teethe are foulde by weight, and are cauled the
teethe of fyffhes.
The frofen fea reacheth farre and wyde beyonde Dwina to Petzcora and vnto the mouthes of the great
riuer Obi : beyonde the which they fay to bee the region of Engroneland, vnknowen and feperate from the
trade and conuerfation of owre men, by reafon of hygh mountaynes couered and coulde with perpetuall fhowe,
and the fea no leffe incumbered with contynually Ife whiche hyndereth nauigations and maketh them daun-
gerous, as they faye.
333
EXEMPLAR EPISTOLAE SEV
LITERARVM MISSIVARVM
QVAS ILLVSTRISSIMVS PRINCEPS
Edvvardus eius nominis Sextus, An-
gliae, Franciae, et Hiberniae Rex,
mlfit ad Principes Septemtrion-
alem ac Orientalem mundi
plagam inhabitantes iuxta
mare glaciale, nee non In-
diam Orientalem. Anno
Domini. 1553. Regni
fui Anno feptimo
et vltimo.
Dvvardus fextus, Anglix, Francise, and
Hiberniae Rex. etc. Omnibus,
Regibus et Principibus ac Dominis,
et cuncflis ludicibus terrae, et Duci-
bus eius quibufcunque efl ex-
cellens aliqua dignitas in ea
cunftis in locis quae funt fub vniuerfo ccelo : Pax,
tranquillitas, et honor vobis, terris, et regionibus veflris
quae imperio veflro fubiacent, cuique veflrum quemad-
moduni conuenit ei. Propterea quod indidit Deus
Opt Max. hominibus prae cunRis alijs viuentibus cor
et defiderium tale, vt appetat quifque cum alijs focie-
tatem mire, amare, et vicifsim amari, beneficijs afficere,
et mutua accipere beneficia lludeat, ideo cuique pro
307facultate fua hoc defiderium in omnibus quidem
hominibus beneficijs fouere et conferuare conuenit, in
illis autem maxime, qui hoc defiderio adducti, a re-
motis etiam regionibus ad eos veniunt Quo enim
longius iter, eius rei gratia ingrelsi funt, eo ardentius
in eis hoc defiderium fuiffe declararunt. Infuper etiam
ad hoc, nos patrum maiorumque noftrorum exempla
inuitant, qui femper humanifsime fufceperunt et benig-
nifsime tradlauerunt illos qui turn a locis propinquis
turn a remotis, eos amice adibant, eorum fe proteflioni
commendantes. Quod fi omnibus id praellare sequum
efl, certe mercatoribus imprimis prceftari debet, qui
per vniuerfum orbem difcurrunt, mare circumluRrantes
et aridam, vt res bonas et vtiles qute Dei beneficio in
THE COPY OF THE LETTERS
MISSIVE WHICH THE RIGHT
NOBLE PRINCE EDWARDE THE. VI.
fent to the Kynges, Princes, and other
potentates inhabytynge the Northeaft
partes of the worlde towarde the .
myghtyeEmpire of Cathay, at fuche
tyme as fyr HughWillobyknyght
and Rychard Chaunceler with
theyr company attempted theyr
vyage thyther in the yeare of
Chryft. 1553. and the. vii. and
lafte yeare of his reigne.
Dwarde the fyxte by the grace of God,
kynge of Englande, Fraunce, and
lerlande. etc. To all Kynges,
Princes, Rulers, Judges, and gouer-
nours of the eartlie, and all other
hauynge any excellent dignitie on
the fame in all places vnder the
vniuerfall heauen : Peace, tranqui-
litie, and honoure, bee vnto yowe, and your landes
and regions which are vnder yowr dominions, and to
euery of yowe as is conuenient.
Forafmuche as the greate and almyghty god hath
gyuen vnto mankynd aboue al other liuing creatours,
fuch a hart and defyre, that euery man defyreth to
ioyne frendefhyppe with other, to loue and bee loued,
alio to gyue and receaue mutuall benefites, it is ther-
fore the dewtie of all men, accordyng to theyr poure
to maintayne and increafe this defyre in euery man
with well deferuynge to all men, and efpecially to
fhewe this good affection to fuch as beinge moued with
this defire, coome vnto them from farre countreys.
For in howe much the longer viage they haue attempted
for this intent, fo much the more doo they therby de-
clare that this defyre hath byn ardent in them. Fur-
thermore alfo th[e]exemples of owre fathers and predi-
ceffours doo inuite vs hereunto, forafmuch as they haue
euer gentelly and louyngly intreated fuch as of frendely
mynde came to them afwel from countreis nere hand
as farre remote, commendynge them felues to theyr pro-
tection. And if it bee ryght and equitie to fhewe fuch
humanitie toward all men, doubtleffe the fame owght
chiefely to bee fhewed to marchauntes, who wander-
ynge abowt the worlde, fearche both the lande and fea
to cary fuch good and profitable thinges as are founde
in theyr countreys, to remote regions and kyngedomes :
and ageyne to brynge from the fame, fuche ihynges as
333
334
The kynges letter.
308
regione eorum inueniuntur, ad remotifsimas regiones et
regna adferant, atque inde viuifsim referant quod fuse
regioni vtile ibi repererint : vt et populi ad quos eunt,
non dellituantur commodis quee non profert illis terra
eorum, et ipfi fint participes rerum quibus illi abun-
dant Nam Deus coeli et terrse, humano generi maxi-
ma confulens, noluit vt omnia in quauis regione inueni-
rentur, quo regio ope alterius regionis indigeret, et
gens ab alia gente commodum aliquod expedlaret, ac
ita ftabiliretur amicitia inter omnes, fmgulique omni-
bus benefacere qusererent, Hoc itaque ineundse ac
flabiliendie amicitiae defiderio moti viri quidam regni
noflri, iter in remotas maritimas regiones inftituerunt,
vt inter noflros et illos populos viam mercibus inferen-
dis et eferendis aperirent : Nofque rogauerunt vt id
illis concederemus. Qui peticioni illorum annuentes,
conceffimus viro honorabili et forti Hugoni Wilibeo et
alijs qui cum eo funt feruis nollris fidis et charis, vt
pro fua voluntate, in regiones eis prius incognitas eant,
quEefituri ea quibus nos caremus, et adducant illis ex
nollris terris, id quo illi carent. Atque ita illis et nobis
commodum inde accedat, fitque amicitia perpetua et
ftedus indifsolubile inter illos et nos, dum permittent
illi nos accipere de rebus quibus fuperabundant in
regnis fuis, et nos concedemus illis ex regnis noflris
res, quibus deftituuntur. Rogamus itaque vos Reges
et Principes et omnes quibus aliqua eft poteftas in
terra, vt viris iflis noftris tranfitum permittatis per regi-
ones veftras. Non enim tangent quicquam ex rebus
veftris inuitis vobis. Cogitate quod homines et ipfi fijnt
Et fi quare caruerint, oramus pro veftra beneficentia,
eam vos illis tribuatis, accipientes vicifeim ab eis quod
poterunt rependere vobis. Ita vos gerite erga eos
quemadmodum cuperetis vt nos et fubditi nollri nos
gerer'emus erga feruos veftros fi quando tranfierint per
regiones noftras. Atque promittimus vobis per Deum
omnium quae ccelo, terra et mari continentur, perque
vitam noflram et tranquillitatem regnorum noftrorum,
nos pari benignitate feruos veftros accepturos fi ad
regna noftra aliquando venerint. Atque a nobis et
fiibditis noftris, ac fi nati fiiiflent in regnis noftris, ita
benigne tractabuntur vt rependamus vobis benigni-
tatem quam noftris exhibueritis. Poftquam vos Reges,
Principes, etc. rogauimus vt humanitate et benefi-
centia omni profequamini feruos noftros nobis charos,
oramus omnipotentem Deum noftrum, vt vobis diu-
tumam vitam largiatur, et pacem quae nullam habeat
finem. Scriptum Londini, quae ciuitas eft regni noftri.
Anno. 5515. a creato mundo, menfe liar, xiiii. die
menfis, anno feptimo regni noftri.
they f)nde there commodious for theyr own countreys:
Bothe, afwell that the people to whom they go, may
not bee deftitute of fuch commodities as theyr countreys
brynge not furth to them, as that alfo they may bee
partetakers of fuche thynges wherof they abounde.
For god of heauen and earth, greatly prouydynge for
mankynde, wolde not that al thinges fhulde bee founde
in one region, to th[e]ende that one ftiuld haue neede
of an other, that by this meanes frendftiippe myght bee
eflablyfOied amonge all men, and euery one feeke to
gratifie all. For th[e]eftablyfftiynge and furtherance of
which vniuerfall amitie, certeyne men of owre realme
moued hereunto by the fayde defyre, haue inftitute and 309
taken vppon theym a vyage by fea into farre countreys
to th[e]intent that betwene owre people and them, a
way bee opened to br)'nge in and cary owt marchaun-
dies, defyryng vs to further theyr enterpryfe. Who
affentynge to theyr peticion, haue licenced the ryght
valiante and woorthy fyr Hughe Wylloby knyght, and
other owre trufty and faithful feruauntes which are
with hym according to theyr defyre to go to countreys
to them heretofore vnknowen, afwell to feeke fuche
thynges as we lacke, as alfo to cary vnto them
from owre regions, fuche thynges as they lacke.
So that hereby not only commoditie may enfewe
both to them and to vs, but alfo an indifioluble
and perpetuall league of frendftiippe be eftab-
lyfftied betwene vs bothe, whyle they permitte vs
to take of theyr thynges fuche whereof they haue
abundaunce in theyr regions, and we ageine graunt
them fuche thynges of owrs wherof they are deftitute.
Wee therfore defyre yow kynges and princes, and all
other to whom there is any poure on the earth, to
permitte vnto thefe owr feruantes, free paflage by
yowr regions and dominions. For they fhall not
touche any thynge of yowres vnwyllyng vnto yow.
Confyder yow that they alfo are men. If therfore
they flial ftand in neede of any thynge, we defyre
yowe of all humanitie, and for the nobilitie whiche is
in yowe, to ayde and helpe theym with fuch thynges
as they lacke, receauynge ageyne of them fuch thynges
as they (halbe able to gyue yowe in recompenfe.
Shewe yowre felues fo towarde theym, as yowe wolde
that wee and owr fubiectes (hulde fliewe owr felues
toward yowr feruauntes, if at any tyme they ftiall pafle
by owre regions. Thus doinge, wee promefle yowe
by the God of all thynges that are conteyned in heauen,
earth, and the fea, and by the lyfe and tranquilitie of owre
kyngedomes, that we wyl with lyke humanitie accepte
yowre feruauntes if at any tyme they ftial coomme to
owre kyngdomes, where they fliall as frendly and gen-
telly bee interteyned as if they were borne in owr
dominions, that we may hereby recompenfe the fauour
and benignitie which yow haue ftiewed to owr men.
Thus after we haue defyred yow kynges and princes,
eta With all humanitie and fauour to interteyne owr
welbeloued feruantes, wee pray owre almyghty god to
graunt yowe longe lyfe and peace which neuer fliall
haue ende. Wrytten in London whiche is the chiefe
citie of owre kyngedome : In the yeare frome the
creation of the worlde. 5515. in the moneth of liar,
the. xiiii. day of the moneth, and feuenth yeare of
owre reigne.
C This letter was wrytten alfo in Greeke and dyuers other languages.
335
[The Third English book on America,
Which is also
The First English Collection of Voyages, Traffics, & Discoveries.
Cftt liecalrt^ 0£ the nt\ot tooiilrt or toe^St Snlria, ttt.
SECTION V.
Other notable things as touching the Indies,
out of the Writings and Maps of
Francisco Lopez de Gomara,
and
Sebastian Cabot.
337
t OTHER NOTABLE THYNGES
AS TOVCHYNGE THE INDIES:
AND FYRST OF THE FOREKNOWLEAGE THAT THE POET SENECA HAD
of the fyndynge this newe worlde and other regions not then knowen.
Francisco Lopes.
j^mm^mk^^Lmakakmrnka^t^mM^mmmmmmmoU
fpeke of thynges that fhalbe, longe before they are, is a kynde
of diuination if the truth thereof folowe effectually. Neuer-
theleffe althowgh fuch thynges as are fpoken eyther by con-
iecture, or by th[e]inflincte of nature, or by naturall reafon, doo
oftentymes take place and fuccede accordyngely, yet are not
fuch coniectures to bee accoumpted as certeyne as prophefies
reueled by the fpirite of god, which wee ought entierly to be-
leue : but not fo the other gathered only by certeine apparences,
fimilitudes, reafons, and demonflrations : althowghe it bee greatly
to bee maruailed to confyder howe they hytte the truthe fum-
tyme : which perhappes they doo accordyng to the prouerbe
that fayth : He that fpeaketh much fhall fumtimes flumble on
the truth. All this I fpeake confyderynge the fayinge of the
poet Seneca in his tragedie of Medea, where his woordes
feeme in all poyntes to agree with the difcouerynge of the Indies
founde of late by Chriilofer Colon and the Spanyardes. The
woordes of Seneca, are thefe,
Venient annis
ScBcula feris, quibus Oceanus
Vincula rerum laxet, d ingens
Patent tellus, Tiphifque nouos
Detegat orbes,
Nee Jit terris vltima Thyle.
That is to faye ; There fhall coomme worldes in late yeares, in the whiche the Ocean (hall vnlofe the
bondes of thynges, and a great lande fhall appeare. Alfo Typhis (that is nauigation) fhall difcouer newe
worldes : and Thyle fhall not bee the furthefl lande.
C Of the great Ilande which Plato cauled Atlantica or Aflantide.
He Philofopher Plato wrytethe in his Dialoges of Timeus and Cricia, that in the owlde time
there was in the fea Atlantike ouer agenft, Affrica, an Ilande cauled Atlantide greater then
Affrica and Afia : aflfirmynge that thofe landes are from thenfe continent and greate : And
that the kynges of that Ilande gouerned a greate parte of Affrica and Europe. But that in
a certeyne greate earthequake and temped of rayne, this Ilande foonke and the people were
drowned : Alfo that there remaynedfomuchmudde of thedrownynge or fynkyngeof thatllande,
that that fea Atlantike coulde not bee fayled. Sura take this for a fable : and many for a trewe
Edbh.
Diutnatton.
Contccture.
Prophesie
So do the
Egiptianx.
The wordes of
Seaeca.
Islande was in
owlde time cauled
I'hyle as summe
thiake.
310
Plato sayth that
these kynges were
the sonnes of
Neptuniis.
An earthquake.
2 C
333
Other notable tJiynges as toiichynge the Indies.
Mardlius Ficinus.
Proclus.
Mexico or new
Spaine.
Hespcrides.
Capo Verde
Ophir.
Tharsis.
Gorgonas.
Solinus.
Landsfoiind by the
Carthaginenses.
ArisIotelL
TheophrasL
lonas fledde to
Tharsis.
The nauigations
of Salomon.
Bermeio is the
Arabian sea.
hyftorie, as doothe Marcilius Ficinus inducinge Proclus alleagynge certeyne hyftories of the Ethiopians wrytten
by one Marcellus, who confirmeth the fame to bee trewe. But there is nowe no caufe why wee (hulde any
longer double or difpute of the Hand Atlantide, forafmuch as the difcouerynge and conquefl. of the weft Indies
do plainly declare what Plato hath wrytten of the fayde landes. In Mexico alfo at this day they caul that water
Atl. by the halfe name of Atlant, as by a woorde remaynynge of the name of the Ilande that is not. Wee may
lykewyfe fay that the Indies are eyther the Ilande and firme lande of Plato or the remanent of the fame : and
not the Ilandes of Hefperides or Ophir, or Tharfis, as fum haue thought of late dayes. For the Hefperides,
are the Ilandes of Cabo Verde and the Gorgonas from whenfe Hanon browght apes : Albeit in conferrynge it
with Solinus, there is fum double by reafon of the nauigation of fortie dayes wherof he fpeaketh. Afwell maye
it bee, that Cuba or Hayti, or any other Ilande of the Indies, fhulde bee thofe which the Carthaginenfes founde
and forbodde theyr citifens to make any vyages thyther or to inhabite the fame as Ariftotle and Theophrafte
doo rehearfe where they wryte of the marueylous and vnknowen workes of nature. As concernynge Ophir and
Tharfis, it is not knowen what or where they bee, althowgh many lerned men as faynt Auguftine and other
haue fearched what citie or lande Tharfis myght bee. Saynt lerome who was experte in the Hebrewe tounge,
fayth in many places vppon the prophetes that Tharfis is as much to fay as the fea : and that whereas it is
wrytten that lonas fledde to Tharfis, he wente to the fea by a longe iomey. Furthermore as concernynge the
nauigations of Salomon, it is not to bee thowght that his nauies fayled to the weft Indies, forafmuch as to paffe
thyther, it was requifite for them to fayle Weftwarde departynge frome the fea of Bermeio : and not Eaftward
as they fayled. Ageine, the weft Indies haue no vnicomes, elephantes, diamondes, and fuch other thynges as
they browght in the trade of their nauigations.
C Of the colour of the Indians.
How colours dyffer
by degrees.
The coloure of the
west Indians.
D>'ue[r]s sortes of
whyte and blacke.
311
Difference of
coloure in the
same dyme.
Rio de la Plata.
Peru.
Blacke men in
the west Indies.
From whensc
proceadeth the
varietie of colours.
Gods wysedome
and poure is seene
in his workes.
Curld heare and
baldnes.
Ne of the marueylous thynges that god vfeth in the compofition of man, is coloure : whiche
doubtleffe can not bee confydered withowte great admiration in beholding one to be white
and an other blacke, beinge coloures vtterlye contrary. Sum lykewyfe to be yelowe whiche
is betwene blacke and white : and other of other colours as it were of dyuers liueres. And
as thefe colours are to be marueyled at, euen fo is it to be confidered howe they dyffer one
from an other as it were by degrees, forafmuche as fum men are whyte after dyuers fortes of
whyteneffe : yelowe after dyuers maners of yelowe : and blacke after dyuers fortes of blacke-
neffe : and howe from whyte they go to yelowe by difcolourynge to browne and redde : and to blacke by aflhe
colour, and murrey fumwhat lyghter then blacke : and tawnye lyke vnto the weft Indians which are all togyther
in general eyther purple, or tawny lyke vnto fodde quynfes, or of the colour of cheftnuttes or olyues : which
colour is to them natural and not by theyr goynge naked as many haue thought : albeit theyr nakedneffe haue
fumwhat helped therunto. Therfore in lyke maner and with fuche diuerfitie as men are commonly whyte in
Europe and blacke in Affrike, euen with like varietie are they tawny in thefe Indies, with dyuers degrees
diuerfly inclynynge more or leffe to blacke or whyte. No leffe maruayle is it to confyder that men are whyte
in Siuile and blacke at the cape of Buena Speranza, and of cheftnutte colour at the ryuer of Plata, beinge all in
equall degrees frome the Equinoctiall line. Lykewyfe that the men of Affryke and Afia that lyue vnder the
burnte line (cauled Zj}na Torridd) are blacke : and not they that lyue beneathe or on this fyde the fame line as
in Mexico, Yucatan, Quauhtema, Lian, Nicaragua, Panama, Santo Domingo, Paria, Cape faynt Auguftine,
Lima, Quito, and other landes of Peru which touch in the fame Equinoctiall. For in al the tracte of thefe
coaftes certeyne blacke men were found only in Quarequa when Vafchus Nunnez of Balboa difcouered
the fea of Sur. By reafon wherof it may feeme that fuche varietie of colours proceadeth of man, and not of the
earth : whiche maye well bee althowgh wee bee all borne of Adam and Eue, and knowe not the caufe why god
hath fo ordeyned it, otherwyfe then to confyder that his diuine maieftie hath doonne this as infinite other to
declare his omnipotencie and wifedome in iiich diuerfities of colours as appere not only in the nature of man,
but the lyke alfo in beaftes, byrdes, and floures, where dyuers and contrary colours are feene in one lyttle fether,
or the leaues growynge owt of one lyttle ftalke. An other thyng is alfo greatly to bee noted as touchynge thefe
Indians. And this is, that theyr heare is not curlde as is the Moores and Ethiopians that inhabite the fame
clime : neyther are they balde excepte very feldome, and that but lyttle. All whiche thynges may giue further
occafion to phylofophers to fearch the fecreates of nature and complexions of men with the nouelties of the newe
worlde.
S3B
other notable thynges as touchynge the Indies.
339,
C Why they were caiiled Indians.
ym thynke that the people of the newe world were cauled Indians bycaufe they are of the
colour of the Eafle Indians. And althowghe (as it femeth to me) they dyffer much in colour
and faffhions, yet is it trewe that of India they were cauled Indians.
India is properlie cauled that great prouince of Afia in the which great Alexander kepte
his warres : and was fo named of the ryuer Indus : and is diuyded into many kyngedomes
confynynge with the fame. From this greate India (cauled the Eafl India) came great com-
panyes of men as wryteth Herodotus : and inhabited that parte of Ethiopia that lyeth betwene
the fea Bermeia (otherwyfe cauled the redde fea or the goulfe of Arabia) and the ryuer of Nilus : al which
regions that great ChriRian prince Prefler lohn dooth now pofTeffe. The fayde Indians preuayled fo much, that
they vtterly changed the cuflomes and name of that lande, and cauled it India : by reafon wherof, Ethiopia alfo
hath of longe tyme byn cauled India. And hereuppon came it that Aryflotell, Seneca, and certeyne other
oulde autours fayd that India was not farre from Spayne. After this alfo, of later dayes owre Wed India was
fo cauled of the fayde India of Prefler lohn where the Portugales had theyr trade. For the pylot of the caruell
that was fyrile dryuen by forcyble wynde to an vnknowen lande in the Welle Ocean, cauled the fame India by-
caufe the Portugales fo cauled fuch landes as they had lately difcouered Eaflwarde. Chryftopher Colon alfo
after the fayde pylot, cauled the well landes by the fame name. Albeit, fum that take Colonus for an expert
Cofmographer, thynke that he fo named them of the Eafl India, as to be the furthefl and vnknowen ende therof
reachynge into the Welle vnder the other hemifpherie or halfe globe of the earthe beneathe vs : affirmynge that
when he fyrfl. attempted to difcouer the Indies, he went chiefely to feeke the ryche Hand of Cipango, which
fauleth on the parte of great China or Cathay as wryteth Marcus Paulus Venetus and other : And that he
fhulde fooner come thyther by folowyng the courfe of the foonne Weflwarde then ageynfl the fame : Albeit
manye thynke that there is no fuche Ilande, or at the leafle not yet knowen by that name: wheras alfo Marcus
Paulus obferued no exacte defcription of the place eyther of this Ilande or of Cathay.
5^ The fyrjle difcouerynge of the JVeJie Indies.
Certeyne caruell faylynge in the wefle Ocean abowt the coalles of Spayne, had a forcyble and
continuall wynde from the Eafl wherby it was dryuen to a land vnknowen and not defcrybed
in any mappe or carde of the fea : and was dryuen flyl alonge by the coafle of the fame for
the fpace of many dayes vntyll it came to a hauen : where in a fliorte tyme the mofl parte of
the maryners beinge longe before verye weake and feeble by reafon of hunger and trauayle,
dyed : So that only the pylot with thre or foure other remayned alyue. And not only they
that dyed dyd not inioy the Indies which they fyrfl difcouered to theyr myffortune, but the
refydue alfo that lyued had in maner as lyttle fruition of the fame : not leauynge or at the leafl not openly pub-
lyfhynge any memorie therof, neyther of the place, or what it was cauled, or in what yeare it was founde.
Albeit, the faute was not theyrs, but rather the malice of other, or the enuie of that which wee caule fortune. I
doo not therefore marueyle that the auncient hyflories affirme that great thynges proceade and increafe of fmaul
and obfcure begynnynges, fyth wee haue feene the fame verefyed in this fyndyng of the Indies being fo
notable and newe a thynge. Wee neede not bee curious to feeke the name of the pylot fyth death made
a fhorte ende of his doinges. Sum wyl that he came from Andaluzia, and traded to the Hands of Canaria and
the Ilande of Madera when this large and mortal nauigation chaunced vnto hym. Other fay that he was a
Bifcayne, and traded into Englande and Fraunce. Other alfo, that he was a Portugale : and that eyther he
wente or came from Mina or India : which agreeth well with the name of thefe newe landes as I haue fayde
before. Ageyne, fum there bee that fay that he browght the carauel to Portugale : or to the Ilande of Madera,
or to fum other of the Ilandes cauled de los Azores. Yet doo none of them affirme any thynge, althowgh they
all affirme that the pylotte dyed in the houfe of Chryflopher Colon, with whome remayned al fuch wrytynges
and annctacions as he hadde made of his vyage in the fayde carauell, afwell of fuch thynges as he obferued both
by lande and fea, as alfo of the eleuation of the pole in thofe landes whiche he had difcouered.
The colour of the
East Indiana.
East India.
Prcster Tohn came
owt of India to
Kthiope.
Ethyopia cauled
India.
India not far
from Spayne
Prester lohn
knowen to the
Portugales.
At the furthest
Kaste, begynneth
the west.
The Hand ol
Cipanga
China.
Cathay.
To the East by
the west.
Marcus Paulus
Veuetus.
A harde
begynnyng.
312
Great thinges
proceadyiig o(
smaule and
obscure
begynnynges.
The pylofe that
fyrst founde the
Indies.
Mina.
340
Other notable thynges as touchy nge the Indies.
C What maner of man Chryjiopher Colon was : and howe he Came
fyrjl to the knowleage of the Indies.
Thus also begaa
Rychard
chaunceler.
Colon was not
much lemed.
The Ilande
Allantide.
The lande
found by the
Carthaginenses.
313
Col^n conferred
with lemed men.
Chaunce and arte.
A Christian
The camel
compared to the
ship of Noye.
folde.
Hriflopher Colon was bome in Cugureo, or (as fum fay) in Nenii, a vyllage in the territorie of
Genua in Italic. He defcended as fum thynke, of the houfe of the Peleflreles of Placentia
in Lumbardie. He beganne of a chylde to bee a maryner : of whofe arte they haue great
exercife on the ryuer of Genua. He traded many yeares into Suria and other partes of the
EafL After this, he became a mafler in makynge cardes for the fea, whereby he had great
vantage. He came to Portugale to knowe the reafon and defcription of the fouth coafles of
Affrica and the nauigations of the Portugales, thereby to make his cardes more perfecte to bee
He maryed in Portugale as fum fay : or as many fay, in the Ilande of Madera, where he dwelt at fuche
; . : ^--^fJ:.:^^''
tyme as the fayde caruell ariyued there, whofe pylot fuiomed in his houfe, and dyed alfo there, bequethynge
to Colon his carde of the defcription of fuche newe landes as he hadde founde, wherby Colon had the fyrfl
knowleage of the Indyes. Sum haue thowght that Colon was well lemed in the Latine tounge and the fcience
of Cofmographie : and that he was therby fyrfl. moued to feeke the landes of the Antipodes and the rj'che Ilande
of Cipango whereof Marcus Paulus wryteth. Alfo that he had redde what Plato in his dialoges of Timeus and
Cricias, wryteth of the greate Ilande Atlantide, and of a great lande in the Well Ocean vndifcouered beinge
bygger then Afia and Aflfrica. Furthermore that he had knowleage what Ariftotell and Theophraft.us faye in
theyr bookes of maruayles, where they wryte that certeyne marchauntes of Carthage faylyng from the flreyghtes
of Gibraltar towarde the weft and fouth, founde after many dayes a greate Ilande not inhabited : yet replen-
yfhed with al thynges requifite, and hauynge many nauigable ryuers. In deede Colon was not greately lemed :
yet of good vnderftandynge. And when he had knowleage of the fayde newe landes by the information
of the dead pylot, made relation thereof to certeyne lemed men with whom he conferred as touchynge the
lyke thynges mentioned of owlde autours. He communicated this fecreate and conferred chiefely with a
fryer, named lohn Perez of Marchena that dwelt in the monaflery of Rabida. So that I verely beleue, that in
maner all that he declared, and many thynges more that he lefte vnfpoken, were wTytten by the fayde Spanyfhe
pylot that dyed in his houfe. For I am perfuaded, that if Colon by fcience atteyned to the knowleage of the
Indies, he wolde longe before haue communicate this fecreate to his owne contrey men the Genuefes, that
trauayle all the worlde for gaynes, and not haue comme into Spayne for this purpofe. But doubtelefle he
neuer thought of any fuch thyng before he chaunced to bee acquainted with the fayd pylot who founde thofe
landes by fortune, accordynge to the fayinge of Plinie : Quod ars docere non potuit, cafiis inuetiif. That is :
That arte coulde not teache, chaunce founde. Albeit, the more Chryftian opinion is, to thinke that god of his
finguler prouidence and infinite goodnefle, at the length with eyes ofcompaflion as it were lookynge downe
from heauen vpon the fonnes of Adam fo longe kepte vnder Sathans captiuitie, intended euen then (for caufes
to hym only knowen) to rayfe thofe wyndes of mercy whereby that caruell (herein moft lyke vnto the (hyppe of
Noe whereby the remanent of the hole world was faued as by this camel this newe worlde receaued the fyrft
hope of theyr faluation) was dryuen to thefe landes. But wee wyll nowe declare what great thynges folowed of
this fmaule begynnynge, and how Colon folowed this matter reueled vnto hym not withowte goddes prouidence.
C What labour and trauayle Colon tooke in attemptyng hisfyrst vyage
to the Indies.
The Icynge of
Portugale.
The kyng of
Castile.
Kynge Henry
the seuenth.
f Fter the death of the pilot and mariners of the Spanyfhe camell that difcouered the Indies,
Chryflopher Colon purpofed to feke the fame. But in howe muche more he defyred this,
the lefle was his poure to accomplifhe his defire. For, befyde that of him felfe he was not
able to fumyflhe one fliyppe, he lacked alfo the fauour of a kynge vnder whofe protection
he might fo enioy the riches he hoped to fynde, that none other myght take tiie fame from
hym or defeate hym therof. And feinge the kynge of Portugale occupied in the conqueft
of Africa and the nauigations of the Eaft which were then fyrft attempted, I he kynge of
Caftyle lykewyfe no lefle bufyed in the warres of Granada, he fent to his brother Bartholomewe Colon (who
was alfo priuie to this fecreate) to practife with the kynge of Englande Henry the feuenth beinge very ryche
other notable thynges as touchynge the Indies.
341
and withowt warres : promyfynge to brynge hym great ryches in (hort time if he wolde (hew him fauour and
fumyflhe hym with fhippes to difcouer the newe Indies wherof he had certeyne knowleage. But neyther here
beinge able lo brynge his fule to pafle, he caufed the matter to bee moued to the kynge of Portugale Don
Alonfo the fyfte of that name : at whofe handes he founde neither fauour nor money, forafmuch as the hcen-
ciate Calzadilla the byfliop of Vifeo, and one mailer Rodrigo men of credit in the fcience of Cofmographie,
withftoode him and contended that there neither was nor coulde any golde or other ryches bee founde in the
weft as Colon affirmed. By reafon whereof he was very fadde and penfiue : but yet was not difcouraged or
defpaired of the hope of his good aduenture which he afterward found This done, he tooke fhippinge at
Lifbume, and came to Palos of Moguer where he communed with Martin Alonfo Pinzon an expert pylot, who
offered hym felfe vnto hym. After this difclofynge the hole fecreates of his mynde to lohn Perez of Marchena
(a fryer of th[e]order of faynt Frances in Rabida, and wel lemed in Cofmographie) and declaryng vnto hym
how by folowyng the courfe of the fon by a temperate vyage, rich and great landes myght be founde, the fryer
greatly commended his enterpryfe, and gaue him counfayle to breake the matter to the duke of Medina Sidonia
Don Eurique of Guzman a great lorde and very ryche: And alfo to Don Luys of Cerda the duke of Medina
Celi, who at that tyme had great prouifion of fhippes well furnyfhed in his hauen of Santa Maria. But wheras
both thefe dukes tooke the matter for a dreame and as a thynge diuifed of an Italian deceauer who (as they
thought) had before with lyke pretence deluded the kynges of Englande and Portugale, the fryer gaue hym
courage to go to the courte of the Catholyke princes Don Ferdinando and lady Ifabell princes of Caftile :
affirmynge that they wolde bee ioyfull of fuch newes. And for his better furtherance herin, wrote letters by
hym to fryer Ferdinando of Talauera the queenes confeflbr. Chryftopher Colon therfore, repayred to the
court of the CathoUke princes, in the yeare. M. CCCC. Ixxxvi. [i486 A.D.] and delyuered vnto theyr handes the
peticion of his requefl as conceminge the difcouerynge of the newe Indies. But they beinge more careful!,
and applyinge all theyr mynde howe they myght dryue the Moores owt of the kyngdome of Granade, which
great enterpryfe they had alredy taken in hande, dyd lyttle or nothynge efteme the matter. But Colon not
thus difcouraged, found the meanes to declare his fute to fuch as had fumtymes priuate communication with
the kynge. Yet bicaufe he was a ftranger and went but in funple apparell, nor otherwyfe credited then by the
letter of a gray fryer, they beleued hym not, neyther gaue eare to his woordes: wherby he was greatly tor-
mented in his imagination. Only Alonfo of Quintanilia the kynges chiefe auditour gaue hym meate and
drynke at his owne charges, and hard gladly fuch thynges as he declared of the landes not then founde:
defyrynge hym in the meane tyme to bee contente with that poore enterteynemente, and not to defpayre of his
enterpryfe : puttynge hym alfo in good conforte that he fhulde at one tyme or other, coome to the fpeache of
the Catholyke princes. And thus fhortly after by the meanes of Alonfo of Quintanilia, Colon was browght to
the prefence and audience of the Cardinal! Don Pero Gonzales of Mendoza, archbyffhop of Toledo, a man of
great reuenues and autoritie with the kynge and queene, who brought hym before them after that he well per-
ceaued and examyned his intent. And by this meanes was his fute harde of the Catholyke princes, who alfo
redde the booke of his memorials which he prefented vnto them. And although at the fyrft they tooke it for
vayne and falfe that he promyfed, neuertheleffe they put hym in good hope that he fhulde bee well difpatched
when they had fynyfhed the warres of Granada which they had now in hand. With which anfwere. Colon
beganne to reuyue his fpirites, with hope to bee better eftemed and more fauourably to bee h[e]ard amonge the
gentelmen and noble men of the court, who before tooke hym only for a craftie felowe and deceauer : and was
nothynge difmayde or difcouraged when fo euer he debated the matter with them, althowghe many iudged hym
phantafticall, as is the maner of ignorant menne to caule all fuch as attempte any thynge beyonde theyr reach
and the compaffe of theyr knowleage: thinkyng the worlde to bee no bigger then the cagies wherin they are
brought vp and lyue. But to retume to Colon : So hotte and vrgente was the fiege of Granada, that they
prefentely graunted hym his demaunde to feeke the newe landes, and to brynge from thenfe golde, fyluer,
perles, precious ftones, fpices, and fuche other rych thynges. They gaue hym alfo the tenth parte of all the
reuenues and cuftomes dewe vnto the kynge of al fuch landes as he fhulde difcouer, not doynge preiudice
in any thynge to the kynge of Portugale. The particulars of this agrement were made in the towne cauled
Sancta Fe : and the priuilege of the rewarde, in Granada the. xxx. [thirtieth] daye of Aprell the fame yeare
that the citie was woonne. And wheras the fayde Catholyke princes had not mony prefently to difpatch
Colon, Luys of S. Angell the kynges fecretary of accomptes, lente theym fyxe quentes of marauedes, whiche
in a groffe fumme make. xvi. [sixteen] thoufande ducades. Two thynges are herein chiefely to be noted :
wherof the one is, that for fo fmaule charges they haue increafed the reuenues of the crowne of Caftyle as much
as the Indies are in value. The other is, that endynge the conqueft of the Moores who poffelfed the
kyngedome of Granada eyght hundreth yeares, they immediatly beganne the conqueft of the Indies, as though
the nation of the Spanyardes were euer appoynted to feyght ageynft infidels and enemies of the iayth of lefu
Chryft.
Bamarde Icncwe
not all thynges.
The duke of
Medina Sidonia.
The duke of
Medina CclL
314
The conquest
of Granada.
What men knowe
not they count
fantasticall.
Colon his
interteir. mente.
The archbysshop
of Toledo.
Colon is brought
to the kynges
presence
The iudgement of
ignorant folkes.
Colon ts
dispatched.
Colon his rewarde
One qoent is. x
[ten] ntmdreth
thousande.
C 2
342
Other notable thynges as touchynge the Indies.
315
The citie of
Mexico or
Temixtitan.
Goldc and syluer.
Sylke.
Cotton.
Alam.
Woade.
Sugar.
Shelles for money
Come.
Beastes.
Haukyng and
huntynge.
Paintynge.
Women
sumptuously
appareled.
A warlike nation.
Captiues sacrificed
to Idoles.
By this trauayle of Colonus in fo noble an enterpryfe and fo harde fucceflfe, dooth the fayinge of Plinie appere to be moft trew,
wher in the preface of his natural hyftory wrytten to th[e]emprour Vefpafian he writeth in this maner. Res ardua vetujlis noui-
tatem dare : Nouis, au\c\toritatem : ab/oletis^ nltorem ; ob/curis^ lucem : fajliditisy graiiam : dubiis^ JUiem : omnibus vero naturam^ et
naliirafua omnia. Itaque eiiam non affecutis, voluijfe abunde pulchrum atque magnifaum ejl. That is to fay : It isa dyfficulte thynge
to gyue newenes to owlde thynges, autoritie to newe thynges : bewtie to thynges owt of vfe : fame to the obfcure : fauoure to the
hateful!: credite to the doubtefuU: nature to all, and all to nature. To fuch neuertheleffe as can not attayne to all thefe, it is
greately commendable and magnificall to haue attempted the fame.
In the fcu[t]chen of armes gyuen to Colon by Don Ferdinando and queene Elizabeth Catholike princes (fo
cauled for theyr warres ageynfl the infidels) thefe verfes were wrytten.
For Cajlilla y por Leon,
Nueuo mundo hallo Colon.
That is : For Caflile and for Leon,
The newe worlde founde Colon.
C Of newe Spayne cauled Notia Hifpania, or Mexico.
IjEwe Spayne is that parte of the continent or firme lande that lyeth Weft and South frome the
lande of Floryda. This was fubdued to th[e]empire of Caftile by the ryght noble gentel-
man Ferdinando Cortefe the marqueffe of the vale of Quaxaca. In this lande are many
prouinces conteynyng in them in maner innumerable cities, amonge which that is the chiefe
which the Indians cai'le Mexico or Temixtitan, confyftyng of more then fiue hundreth
thoufand inhabitauntes. It flandeth in the myddeft of a lake of falte water as doth Venece
in the fea. The lake conteyneth fortie Perfian myles cauled Parafange, euery one confyflynge
of. xxx. [thirty] furlon[g]s, and more as fum fay. In thefe regions is founde great plentie of golde, fyluer, and
precious ftones, with innumerable other thynges both neceffary for the lyfe of man and pleafaunt : as fylke,
bombafme cotton, alame, Safferne, Woade, with dyuers other thynges wherwith clothe and fylke is dyed.
There is alfo fuch abundaunce of fuger, that certeyne Spanyffhe (hippes are yearely fraighted therwith and
brynge the fame into Siuile from whenfe it is caryed in maner to all partes of Chryftendome. Th[e]inhabi-
tauntes of Mexico are fubtyle people, and vfe much craft in theyr bargening. They haue not the vfe of golde
and fyluer monye : but vfe in the fteade therof the halfe fhelles of almonds, whiche kynde of Barbarous money
they caule Cacao or Cacanguate. In maner al kyndes of come are there very good [and] cheape : efpecially barly
and wheate. They haue great plentie of hartes, wylde bores, Lyons, Leopardes, and Tygers, which beaftes
wander in maner in euery place. The region is mofte commodious for haukynge and huntynge for the great
abundaunce it hath of beaftes and foules. But the people exercife all theyr cunnynge in makynge the images
of theyr Idolatry, and in paintyng. Theyr woman are valiant : and fumptuous in theyr apparell and other
tyrementes. For they fo rychely frynge and byfet the fame with perles, precious ftones, and golde, that
nothynge can be more excellent. They haue a kynde of paper greatly difteryng from owrs. In this they
expreffe theyr mindes by certeyn figures. For they haue not otherwife th[e]ufe of letters. The nation is
defyrous of warre : and dooth not longe keepe the condicions of peace vnuiolated : But delyteth rather in ciuile
and moft cruell battayle amonge them felues then to lyue in peace and quietneffe. Suche as in the warres
faule by any meanes into the handes of theyr enemies, eyther by fubmiffion or otherwyfe, are partely facrificed
to the Idoles, and the refydue gyuen to the fouldiers to bee eaten, in lyke maner as wee rewarde dogges and
haukes -ivith parte of theyr pray. They haue innumerable Idoles which euery one maketh for his particular god
after the phantafie of his own brayne, and gyueth therto diuine honour. Albeit at this day they doo by lyttle
and lyttle leaue of theyr barbarous fiercenefle: and with owre religion embrafe better maners. For they
nowe profeffe the fayth of Chryft, and in his name pray vnto God the father.
Vnderftande here that as touchynge thefe regions cauled new Spayne, yow may reade at large in the booke here before entiteled
of the landes and Ilandes lately founde. This booke foloweth immediatly after the Decades, althowgh the printer haue alfo wrytten
the thyrde decade * ouer the head of that booke which intreateth principally of the regions nowe cauled newe Spayoe. Ol the
conqueil of this Mexico, Francifco Lopez hath written a large booke in the Spanyffhe tounge.
• See p. 187.— E. A.
S4*
other notable thynges as toitchynge the Indie<>.
343
C Of Peru.
He prouince cauled Peru, was alfo named noua Caftilia by them that fyrfi.e founde it. This
region is the weft parte of America: and is fituate in the longitude of. 290. degrees, pro-
ceadynge from the Weft to the Eaft, And fouthwarde begynneth fiue degrees beyonde the
Equinoctial line, and is extended very farre into the fouth. This is taken to bee the
rycheft lande in golde, fyluer, perles, precious ftones, and fpyces, that euer was founde yet
to this day. For golde is there in fuch plentie that they make pyfpots therof, and other
vefiels applyed to fylthy vfes. But this is more to bee marueyled at, that in a citie cauled
Collao was founde a houfe all couered with maflie plates of golde. In theyr warres alfo theyr hameffe was of
golde and fyluer. Theyr weapons are bowes, arrowes, flynges, dartes, and pikes. Th[e]inhabitantes are
warlyke people and of great agilitie. They haue cities defended with lawes and armes. The region is
exceadyng frutefull, and yeldeth come twyfe in the yeare. It is fo floryffhynge with many fajTe wooddes,
mountaynes, ryuers, and other both pleafaunt and neceffary commodities, that it feemeth in maner an earthly
Paradyfe. It hath dyuers kyndes of beaftes, and yet none hurtfull or of rauenynge kynde. There are fheepe
of fuch heyght that they vfe them in the fteade of horfes. Sume write that they are as bygge as the younge
foles of camels: and that theyr woolle is very fofte and fine. Alfo that the ewes brynge furth lambes twyfe a
yeare. The people are wytty and of gentyl behauoure. Cunnynge alfo in artes, faythful of promes, and of
maners not greatly to bee difcommended, faue that they are ignorant of Chryft: who neuerthelefle is nowe
knowen vnto them in many places, as our hope is he fhalbe dayly more and more if all princes wyll herein
putte theyr helpynge handes to the plowe of owre lorde, and fende labourers into his vyneyarde.
C Of the great ryuer cauled Rio de la Plata (that is) the ryuer of fyluer.
His ryuer reacheth very farre in length and bredth: and is cauled Vruai in the Indian tounge.
Into this fauleth an other ryuer named Paraue. The fyrile that fayled into the ryuer of
Plata, was lohn Dias Solis, whom the ryght noble kynge of Spayne Ferdinandus made
Admyral of thefe feas. In the ryuer lyeth an Ilande whiche lohn Dias named Martinus
Gratias bycaufe a pylot of his fo cauled, was buryed there. This Ilande is fituate in the
myddeft of the ryuer : and is dyflant from the mouth of the fame abowt fortie leaques. As
the fayde Admirall attempted to expugne the Hand, he was fuddeynly opprefTed and flayne
of the Indians that priuilie aflkyled hym. Wherwith neuerthelefle theyr barbarous crueltie was not fatiflyed
vntyll they had tome him in piefes and deuoured hym. But many yeares after, Th[e]emperoures maieftie and
kynge of Spayne Charles the fyfte, fente foorth Sebaftian Cabot (a man of great courage and (kylfuU in Cofmo-
graphie, and of no leffe experience as concernynge the ftarres and the fea) with commaundement to difcouer
and fubdue the Ilandes of Tharfis, Ophir, Cipango, and Coi Cathay. Receauynge therfore his commiffion and
proceadynge forwarde on his vyage, he arryued by chaunce at this Ilande : The caufe wherof was that the
principall veflell was loft by fhipwracke, and the men that faued theyr lyues by fwymmynge were receaued into
other Ihyppes. Perceauynge therfore that by reafon of this chaunce he could by no meanes performe his
vyage attempted, he intended to expugne the fayde Ilande, and thervppon to conueygh his vyttayles to land,
to prepare his foldiers to th[e]inuafion, to plant colonyes, and to erect fortreffes by the ryuers fyde wherby the
Spanyardes myght bee defended from the violence of the barbarians. But before he attempted this, he was
aduertifed that the Ilande was riche in golde and fyluer. Which thynge dyd fo encorage him, that withowt
refpect of perel he thought beft to expugne it by one meanes or other, wherein his bouldenes tooke good
effecte as often tymes chaunceth in great affayres. Furthermore as touchynge the ryuer, Sebaftian Cabote
made relation that he neuer fawe any comparable vnto this in bredth and depth. For whereas it fauleth into
the fea, it conteyneth. xxv. [twenty-five] leaques in breadth. From the mouth of the ryuer, Cabot fayled vp
the fame into the lande for the fpace of three hundreth and fiftie leaques as he wryteth in his owne carde.
That it is of great depth, may hereby bee confydered that manye greate ryuers faule into it : fo that the
chanell can not bee flialowe that conteyneth fuch abundance of water, and fuche plentie of good and great
fyffties. For there is in maner no fyffhe in the fea, that is not founde in this ryuer. As foone as the Span-
yards were fet alande, they made a proofe if the foyle were frutfuU to beare come. Takynge therefore fiftie
graynes of wheate and commyttynge the fame to the earth in the moneth of September, they gathered therof
316
Peru is the
rychest lande
that is knowen.
A house couered
with gold.
Harnes of golde.
A frutful region.
Great sheepe.
The dewtie of
Chrystian princes.
Paraue.
lohn Dias Soils.
The Ilande
Martinus Gratias.
The viage of
Sebastian Cabote
to the ryuer of
Plata.
Tharsis.
Ophir.
Cipango.
Cathay.
The Tpxa <^ Plata.
317
344
Maruelcus
frutfulnes,
Mountaynes
conteynyngc golde
and syluer.
Great sheep-e.
Theyr colour.
Men with
deformed legs.
Malacha.
Tachola.
The Ilandes of
Malucha.
The Hand of
Samotra.
Spyces.
Calocut.
Ceilam.
Cathay.
China.
Precious stones.
Sylke.
Cautan.
The way to the
Ilandes of Maiuca
by the north sea.
The Spanyardes.
Gasper
Cortesreales.
318
Insula
Cortesrtales.
Snowe and Ise.
Furres.
Other notable thynges as toiichynge the Indies.
two thoufande and fiftie at December nexte folowynge: wherin fume beinge deceaued and miftakynge the
thynge, haue wrytten in the (leade of twoo thoufande and fiftie, fyftie thoufande and two. The like fertilitie is
there of all other grayne and pulfe. Furthermore th[e]inhabitauntes declared that not farre from that place,
ther are great and hygh mountaynes in the which is founde great plentie of golde. And no great diflance
from the fame, to bee other mountaynes no lefle frutefull of fyluer, and many other thynges longe to rehearfe.
Th[e]inhabitauntes are paynefull men, and tyll the grounde diligently, wherin they take great pleafure : and
haue therfore great plentie of breade of Maizium. There are fheepe of fuche byggenefle that they compare
them to younge camels or affes as fum fay. Theyr woolle is very fine: and nearefl vnto the fyneneffe of fylke.
There are alfo beafles of dyuers kyndes. Amonge men there is this dyfference, that fuch as lyue in the
mountaynes, are whyte, and for the mofl parte lyke vnto the men of owre regions. But they that dwell abowt
the ryuer (as though they tooke theyr coloure therof) are blackyffhe or purple of the coloure of fine Iren or
(leele. This alfo chaunceth to many of them, that theyr fiete and legges are lyke the legs and fiete of the
foule cauled the oyllreche.
C Of the hygher Eajl India cauled India Tercera or Terciera.
N this India whiche the Portugales caule Tercera, are very great kyngedomes : as the kyng-
domes of Bengala, Pegu, Berma, Erancangui, Daufian, Capelam, and the greate kyngdome
of Malacha, cauled of the owlde wryters Aurea Cherfonefus : whofe chiefe citie is alfo cauled
Malacha, and was in owlde tyme named Tachola. Vnder this kyngedome are infinite Ilandes
cauled Maluche, whereof the principall are thefe : laua the greater, laua the lefle, Polagua,
Mendana, Cubu, Cailon, Huban, Bur, Tenado, Anbon, and Gilolo, with infinite other. On
the Southwefl parte from Malacha, is the great Ilande of Samotra cauled in owlde tyme
Taprobana, in the which are the kyngedomes of Pedir, Biraen, Pazer, Ardagni, and Ham. This Hand and al
the other cauled Maluche, brynge furth great quantitie of cloues, cinamome, nuttemegges, maces, and all other
kyndes of fpyces excepte pepper, which groweth in the prouince of Calecut and the Ilande of Ceilam. All
thefe fortes of fpices are caryed to Malacha to bee foulde. But the greatefl. parte of them is caryed to Cathay
and China: and from thenfe to the north partes of Tartaric. This kyngdome of China, is very great: and was
in owlde tyme cauled Sina. Here is founde great plentie of precious Rones. The people are very fubtyle and
ryche. They are all appareled eyther in fylke or cloth, or veflures of other woorkemanfhippe : and are of
good ciuilitie. They do not gladly permitte the Portugales or other (Iraungers to trafike in theyr kyngedome :
whofe mofle famous place vppon the fea fyde, is named Cautan, and the fea Machiam, cauled of the owlc^e
writers the fea of Sina.
C Of the landes of Laborador and Baccalaos, lyinge wefl and northwefl
from Ejtglande, and beinge parte of the firme lande of the
IVefl Indies.
Any haue trauayled to fearch the coaft. of the lande of Laborador, afwell to th[e]intente to
knowe howe farre or whyther it reachethe, as alfo whether there bee any paflage by fea
through the fame into the fea of Sur and the Ilandes of Maiuca which are vnder the
Equinoctiall line: thinkynge that the waye thyther (hulde greatly bee fhortened by this
vyage. The Spanyardes as to whofe ryght the fayde Ilandes of fpices perteyne, dyd fyrfl
feeke to fynde the fame by this way. The Portugales alfo hauynge the trade of fpices in
theyr handes, dyd trauayle to fynde the fame : although hetherto neyther anye fuch paffage
is founde or the ende of that lande. In the yeare a thoufande and fine hundreth, Gafper Cortefreales, made
a vyage thyther with two carauelles : but founde not the (Ireyght or paflage he fought. At his beinge there, he
named the Ilandes that lye in the mouth of the goulfe Quadrado, after his name Cortefreales, lyinge in the. L.
[fifty] degrees and more : and browght from that lande abowt three fcore men for flaues. He greatly niariiayled
to beholde the houge quantitie of fnowe and Ife. For the fea is there frofen excedyngly. Th[e]inhabitauntes
are men of good corporature, although tawny lyke the Indies, and laborious. They paynte theyr bodyes, and
weare brafelettes and hoopes of fyluer and copper, Theyr apparel is made of the fkynnes of martemes and
other notable thynges as tonchynge the Indies.
345
dyuers other beafles, whiche they weare with the heare inwarde in wynter, and owtwarde in foommer. This
apparell they gyrde to theyr bodyes with gyrdels made of cotton or the fynewes of fyffhes and beafles. They
eate fyfflie more then any other thynge, and efpecially falmons, althoughe they haue foules and frute. They
make theyr houfes of timber wherof they haue great plentie : and in the (leade of tyles, couer them with the
Ikynnes of fyffhes and beafles. It is fayde alfo that there are grifes in this lande : and that the beares and
many other beafles and foules are white. To this and the Ilandes abowt the fame, the Britons are accuflomed
to reforte : as men of nature agreable vnto them and borne vnder the fame altitude and temperature. The
Norwayes alfo fayled thyther with the pylot cauled lohn Scoluo: And the Englyfflie men with Sebaflian
Cabot.
The coafle of the lande of Baccalaos, is a greate tracte : and the greatefl altitude therof, is. xlviii. [forty-
eight] degrees and a halfe. Sebaflian Cabot was the fyrfl that browght any knowleage of this lande. For beinge
in Englande in the dayes of kyng Henry the feuenth, he furnyffhed twoo fhippes at his owne charges or (as
fum fay) at the kynges, whome he perfuaded that a pafTage might bee founde to Cathay by the north feas, and
that fpices myght bee brought from thenfe foner by that way, then by the vyage the Portugales vfe by the fea
of Sur. He went alfo to knowe what maner of landes thofe Indies were to inhabite. He had with hym three
hundreth men, and directed his courfe by the tracte of Iflande vppon the cape of Laborador at. Iviii. [fifty-
eight] degrees: affirmynge that in the monethe of luly there was fuch could and heapes of Ife that he durfl
paffe no further: alfo that the dayes were very longe and in maner withowt nyght, and the nyghtes very cleare.
Certeyne it is, that at the. Ix. [fixty] degrees, the longefl day is of xviii. [eighteen] houres. But confyderynge
the coulde and the (Iraungenes of the vnknowen lande, he turned his courfe from thenfe to the Wefl, folowynge
the coafl. of the lande of Baccalaos vnto the. xxxviii. [thirty-eight] degrees, from whenfe he returned to
Englande. To conclude, the Brytons and Danes haue fayled to the Baccalaos : and laques Cartier a frenche
man was there twyfe with three galeons : as one in the yeare. xxxiiii. [thirty-four] and the other in the. xxxv.
[thirty-five] and chofe the lande to inhabite frome the. xlv. [forty-fifth] degrees to the. li. [fifty-firfl] beinge as
good a lande as P"raunce, and al thynges therein commune to fuch as fyrfl poffeffe the fame.
Of thefe lands, lacobus Gaflaldus wryteth thus : The newe lande of Baccalaos, is a coulde region, whofe
inhabytauntes are Idolatours and praye to the foonne and moone and dyuers Idoles. They are whyte people
and very ruflical. For they eate fleffhe and fyffhe and all other thynges rawe. Sumtymes alfo they eate mans
fleffhe priuilye fo that theyr Caciqui haue no knowleage therof The apparell of both the men and woman, is
made of beares fkynnes, althowgh they haue fables and marternes, not greatly eflemed bycaufe they are lyttle.
Sum of them go naked in foommer, and weare apparell only in wynter. The Brytons and Frenche men are
accuflomed to take fyffhe in the coafte of thefe landes where is founde great plentie of Tunnyes which th[e]in-
habitauntes caul Baccalaos wherof the lande was fo named. Northwarde from the region of Baccalaos, is the
lande of Laborador, all full of mountaynes and great wooddes in whiche are manye beares and wylde bores.
Th[e]inhabitauntes are Idolatoures and warlike people, appareled as are they of Baccallaos. In all this newe
lande, is neyther citie or caflell: but they lyue in companies lyke heardes of beafles.
C The difcoiierynge of the lande of F lory da.
He gouernour of the Ilande of Boriquena lohn Ponce of Leon beinge difcharged of his office
and very ryche, furnyffhed and fente foorth two caruels to feeke the Ilandes of Boyuca in the
which the Indians affirmed to be a fontayne or fpringe whofe water is of vertue to make owlde
men younge. Whyle he trauayled fyxe monethes with owtragious defyre amonge many
Ilandes to fynde that he fought, and coulde fynde no token of any fuch fountayne, he
entered into Bimini and difcouered the lande of Florida in the yeare. 1512. on Eafler day
which the Spanyardes caule the floryffliyng day of Pafcha, wherby they named that lande
Florida. And fuppofyng that great ryches myght be browght from thenfe, he returned into Spayne and coue-
naunted with kynge Ferdinando as touchynge the trade: and by the interceffion of Nicolas de Quando and
Peter Nunez de Gufman, the kynge dyd not onely make hym gouemoure of Bemini and Florida, but alfo fente
furthe with hym three fhippes from Siuile toward his fecond vyage in the yeare. 15 15. He touched in the
Ilande of Guacana otherwyfe cauled Guadalupe, and fent to lande certeyne of his men with the landrelTes of
the fhyppes : whom the Canibales lyinge in ambuffhe, affayled with theyr inuenemed arrowes : and flaying the
mofl parte, caryed away the women. With this euyll begynnynge, lohn Ponce departed frome henfe to
Boriquen and from thenfe to Florida wher he went alande with his fouldyers to efpie a place mofle commodious
to inhabite and plant a colonie. But the Indians commynge furth ageynfl hym to- defende the enterance,
345
Fysshe.
Gryfcs.
Beares.
The britons.
Sebastian Cabot
The land of
Baccallaos.
The vyage of
Cabot in the dayes
of kyng Henry
the seuenth.
Ise in luly.
Baccallaos.
Brytons.
Danes.
lacques Cartyer.
The people of
Baccallaos
Fysshyng for
tunnyes.
Laborador.
lohn Ponce.
Water of great
vertue, of tliis
reade in the
Decades.
319
Bemmini.
Guacana.
The Canibales.
Boriquena.
346
Other notable thynges as touchynge the Indies.
The death of
loha Ponce.
The land of
Floryda-
Ferdinando de
Sotix
The valient
myndes of the
Spanyardes.
The thyrde
attempce of the
conqu(;ste of
Florida.
Certeine fryers
attempte the
conquest onely
with woordes,
but with euyll
successe.
The fryers are
slayne and eaten.
A new Icynde of
disgrading
affayled the Spanyardes fierecely and flewe and wounded many of them. At which conflicte alfo he hym felfe
beinge wounded with an arrowe, dyed fhortely after in the llande of Cuba : and fo endynge his lyfe, confumed
a great parte of the rycheffe he had before begotten at faynt lohannesof Boriquen. This lohn Ponce had
before fayled with Chryflopher Colon to the llande of Hifpaniola in the yeare. 1493. He was a gentel fouldier
in the warres of this llande, and capitayne of the prouince of Higuel for Nycolas de Ouando that conquefled
the fame. The region of Floryda is a poynt or cape of lande reachynge into the fea lyke vnto a tounge:
beinge a famous and notorious place amonge the Indians by reafon of many Spanyardes that haue bin flayne
there. But wheras by fame this Floryda was eflemed a ryche lande, many valient and noble men defyred the
conqueR therof, amonge whom Ferdinando de Soto (who had before byn a capitayne in Peru and greatly
inryched by th[e]imprifonment of kynge Atahaliba) attempted a vyage thyther with a good bande of men, and
fpente fyue yeare in feekynge of golde mynes, fuppofynge that this lande hadde byn lyke vnto Peru.
In fine, he dyed there and was the deflruction and vndoinge of all that went with hym withowt inhabitynge
that lande, in the which the conquellours had hytherto neuer good fuccefle, forafmuche as thefe Indians are
valiante archers and flronge and hardy men. But the valiant myndes of the Spanyardes not difcouraged by
thefe myfaduentures, after the death of Ferdinando Soto, many woorthy gentelmen defyred this conqueft in the
yeare. 1544. amonge whom was lulyan Samano, and Peter de Ahumada beinge brotheme and men of fuffi-
cient abilitie for fuch an enterprife. But neyther th[e]emprour beinge then in Germanie, neyther the prince
Don Phylippe his fonne who gouerned all the kyngedomes of Callile and Aragonie, neyther yet the counfayle
of the Indies wolde in any cafe agree to the conqueRe. Neuerthelefle not vtterly contemnynge the matter
which they were partly perfuaded myght otherwyfe bee browght to pafle, they fent thyther fryer Luys Cancell
of Baluadro with other fryers of the order of faynt Dominike who offered them felues to conuerte the nations
of that lande from theyr gentilitie to the fayth ofChryR and obedience to Th[e]emperoure, onely with woordes.
The fryer therfore goinge forwarde on his vyage at the kynges charges in the yeare. 1549. went aland with foure
other fryers which he tooke with hym and certeyne maryners withowt hameffe or weapons : vnto whom as he
began his preachynge, many of the Indians of the fayd Florida reforted to the fea fyde, where withowt gyuynge
audience to his woordes, they caryed hym away with three other of his companyons and dyd eate them,
whereby they fuffered martyrdome for the fayth of Chryfl. The refydue that efcaped, made hafl to the fhyppe
and kept them felues for confeflburs as fum fay. Many that fauoure th[e]intente of the fryers, doo nowe
confyder that by that meanes the Indians coulde not be brought to owre frendefhippe and religion. Neuer-
theleffe, that if it coulde fo haue byn browght to paffe, it had byn better. There came of late from that fliippe,
one that had byn the page of Ferdinando de Soto, who declared that the Indians hanged vp the fliynnes with
the heades and crownes of the layd fryers in one of theyr temples.
320
C An opinion thai Eiiropa, Africa, and Afia, are Ilandes : and of
certeyne nauigations abowt the fame.
Noe gare names
to Africa, Asia,
and Europa.
Asia.
Europe.
The hole earthe
is an llande.
The Caspian sea.
Caliz is a ryuer.
Nauigations from
the red sea to
East India.
He anciente wryters diuided this owre worlde into Afia, Africa, and Europa, by the ryuer
Tanais as Ifocrates declareth in his Panegyrico. Afterwarde they diuided Afia and Africa
by the turnynges and courfe of the ryuer Nilus, thowghe the fame had byn better by the
fea Bermeio (that is) the redde fea, which almofle trauerfeth and paffeth throwgh the lande
from the Ocean to the fea Mediterraneum which diuideth Europa and Afia. But Berofus
the Caldean, fayth that Noe gaue names to Africa, Afia, and Europa : and gaue them to his
fonnes, Cham, Sem, and lafet : alfo that he fayled by the fea Mediterraneum ten yeres. In
fine we nowe conclude that the three fayde prouinces occupy this mydlande of the worlde. All in generall
fay that Afia is greater then any of the other, and in maner as bygge as they both. Albeit Herodotus in his
Melpomeme, fcorneth them that make Europe and Afia equall : affirmynge that Europe in longitude is equal to
Afia and Afrike: and that it paffeth tfiem in latitude, wherin he fpeaketh not greatly owt of fquare. But to
fpeake more of this elfwhere, not perteynjnge to the matter wee haue in hande, I fay that Homerus one o:' the
mofl ancient wryters, fayth that the world which is diuided into Afia, Africa, and Europa, is an llande as
reherfeth Pomponius Mela in his thyrde booke. Strabo in the fyrft boke of his Geographic, fayth that the
earth which is inhabited, is an llande enuironed with the Ocean. Higinius alfo, and Solinus, confirme this
fentence, Althowghe Solinus doo erre in miftakinge the names of the feas, fuppofynge that the Cafpian fea was
parte of the Ocean, beinge rather lyke vnto the fea Mediterraneum fo named bycaufe it is in the mydlande as
is the Cafpian fea withowt participacion of the great Ocean. Strabo wryteth that in the tyme of Tolomeus
Euergetes, ©ne Eudoxus fayled three or foure tymes from Caliz to India : And that the guides of the redde
■uf>
other notable thynges as toiichynge the Indies.
347
fea (cauled the goulfe of Arabic or Bermeio) prefented to the fame kynge Tolomeus, an Indian whome he
brought frome thenfe. Kynge luba alfo prooued this nauigation from Caliz to India as wryteth SoHnus.
AVhereby it appeareth that the nauigation to India by the Ocean was then wel knowen and frequented,
althowgh not fo much as at this prefent, the fame beinge neyther then or nowe a thynge of great difficultie or
trauayle by the coafl.es of hotte regions. But to fayle from India to Caliz by the other parte of the north by a
clyme and regions of extreme coulde, (hulde bee doubtlefle a difficult and daungerous thynge, wherof is no
memory amonge the owlde autours fauynge onely of one fliyppe as Plinie and Mela doo wnyte, reherfynge the
teftimony of Cornelius Nepos who affirmed that the kynge of Sueuia prefented to Quintus Metellus Celer
I>ieuetenaunt of Fraunce, certeyne Indians dryuen by tempeft into the fea of Germanic: if the fame were not
of the landc of Laborador or Bacallaos, and they deceaued in theyr coloure. For fum fay that lykewyfe in the
dayes of the Emperoure Fredericus Barbaroffa, certeyne Indians were browght in a Canoa from the citie of
Lubec in Germanic. Furthermore pope Eneas Syluius wryteth that the Sarmation fea, is as certeyne as the
Scythian, Gerraanian, or Indian fea. Nowe alfo there is great knowleage and experience how the nauigations
and paffage may be attempted by Norwaye and other north regions vnder the fame north, and to folow that
coafte to the fouth fea of Sur and keepe that courfe by the tracte of China, Olanus Gothus the archbyfffiop of
Upfalia and borne in Gothlande, hath wrytten muche of thefe north regions and nauigations by the north fea.
In the tract of this vyage by the north fea, arc the Ilandes of Iflandc and Gnmtlande, althowgh there is doubte
whether Gnmtlande be an Ilandc or parte of the firme lande. It is. xl. [forty] leaques, from Lapponia, and
fumwhat more frome Finmarchia a lande of Scandinauia in Europe. The people of Gruntland are flronge men
and of coomly flature. They fayle with fmaul (hippes or barkes couered clofe aboue with lether or beafl.es
hydes for feare of the coulde and fyffhes. Gruntlande as fum fay, is fyftie leaques from the north parte of the
firme lande of the Wefl. Indies by the lande of Laborador. But it is not yet knowen whether this land be
continent or adherent with Gruntlande, or if there bee any flreyght of fea betwene them. If all bee one firme
lande adioynynge by any parte, then the two great partes of the world feeme to ioyne togyther abowt the north
pole or vnder it, or beneth it, forafmuch as it is not paft fortie or fiftic leaques from Finmarche to Gruntland :
wherby it may appere that althowgh there be any fuch flraight diuidynge them, yet are they neyghbours and
not farre in funder. Furthermore from the land of Laborador by th[e]accompt of the pilottes, is abowte foure
hundreth leaques to Faial, one of the Ilandes of Azores, otherwyfc cauled the Ilandes of Soria lyinge in the Wefl
Ocean ouer ageynfl Spayne. Alfo by their accompte the lande of Laborador is abowte fiue hundreth leaques
from Irland, and fixe hundreth from Spayne.
That the Spanyardes haue fayled to the Antipodes (that is) fuche as go
fiete to fiete ageynjl vs, and inhabite the infer ioiir hetnifpherie
or halfe globe of the earthe, contrarie to thl/Yppinion
of the owlde writers.
PL the ancient philofophers of the gentiles do deny that there may be any paflage from owre
hemifpherc or halfe compaffe of the earth to the Antipodes by reafon of the burnt line
(cauled Zona Torridd) and the Ocean fea lyinge in the mydde way, wherby this vyage fliulde
be hyndered and impoffible, as Macrobius wryteth at large in his commentaries vpon the
dreame of Scipio. Of the Chryflyan phylofophers, Clemente wryteth that it is not poffible
for any man to paffe the Ocean : and other wryters of later tyme, feeme to confirme the
fame. In deedc I verely beleue that this way was neuer knowen to them, afwell for that
euer prefuppofyngc the thynge to bee impoffible they neuer attempted it, as alfo that the Indians (whom we
caule Antipodes) haue no fhippes fufficient for fo longe and difficulte a nauigation to br)'nge them knowleage
herof, as haue the Spaniardes to pafle the Ocean vnto them : In fo much that at this prefent this vyage is by
dayly experience fo well knowen vnto the Spanyardes and Portugal es, that they can in maner go thyther blynd-
fielde, contrarye to th[e]oppinion of thofe phylofophers. I wyll here omytte to fpeakc of many fliippes that
haue fayled ordynaryly frome Spayne to India, and fpeakc oncly of the ffiyppc Victoria which compaffed abowt
the hole globe of the worldc and touched in the landes of two or three Antipodes, and in fine returned to
Spayne by a contrary way, wherby is declared the ignorance of the fagc antiquitic. In this nauigation, they
founde many fecreates, amonge the which this is flrangc and woorthy memoric, that al fuch deade Chriflians
as were cafl into the fea, lay on theyr backes and turned thcyr faces vpwarde : but the gentyles lay all groouelyn
The vyage to
India by the north
The hystorye of
Cornelius Nepos.
Note this.
Indians in Lubec
The Sannatian
sea.
IsKnnde.
Giuntlande.
Lapponia.
Finmarchia.
Gruntlande.
The distance
from Gruntlande
to the lande of
Laborador.
321
[Narrowness}
of the streight if
it be.
The Ilandes of
Soria, or Azores.
From laborador
to Irland.
Macrobius.
Clement.
The Indians are
Antipodes.
The shyppe
Victoria-
A straunge tl inge.
348
Other notable thynges as toitchynge the Indies.
Shadowes
towarde the south-
The Sonne rysy-nge
on the ryght hande.
The vyage of
Magellan us.
Antipodes.
Guinea,
The north starre.
The needle and
compassc
322
Septentriones, are
the vii. starres.
that are sene by
Charles wayne or
the great beare.
Argo of lason.
Vlysses.
lohn Sebastian,
on theyr bellyes. They alfo perceaued the foonne and moone to keepe a contrary courfe from that they doo
here, and euer to cafl the fhadowes of all thynges towarde the fouth : whiche thynge alfo was knowen to funi
of the owlde wryters. For this is manifefte that the fonne ryfeth on the ryght hande to theym that lyue in the
thyrtie degrees on th[e]other fyde the Equinoctiall: fo that lookynge towarde the fonne, they turne theyr faces
to the north : wherby it appeareth to bee trew that they affirme. They confumed three yeares lackynge. xiiii.
[fourteen] dayes in goynge and commynge, and lofte a daye in theyr accompte, whereby they dyd eate fleflhe
on frydayes, and celebrated the feafle of Eafler on Mundayes: fo that they ouerleaped a day (not faylynge in
the calender) and kept no iufl, rekenynge of the bifextile. The caufe wherof whyle fome haue fearched by
phylofophie, they haue erred more then the maryners. They fayled. x. [ten] thoufande leaques and. xiiii.
[fourteen] myles by theyr accompte, albeit they fhulde haue gonne lefle, if theyr way hadde line ryght forth.
But as they were enforced partely of neceffitie, and partely to fynde that they fowght, they made many
wyndynges and turnynges. They trauerfed the Equinoctiall line fyxe tymes withowt bumynge, contrary to
th[e]oppinion of the owlde autours. They remayned fyue monethes in the Hand of Tidore, whofe inhabi-
tauntes are Antipodes to theym of Guinea, wherby it is apparente that wee maye communicate with them. And
althowgh they lofl the fyght of the northe flarre, yet dyd they euer dyrecte theyr courfe therby. For beinge
in the. xl. [forty] degrees of the fouth, they fawe the nedle of the compafle flande as directly towarde the north
as it dooth in the fea Mediterraueum : althowgh fura fay that it loofeth his force fumwhat. Abowt the poynt
of the Southe or pole Antartike, they fawe a lyttle whyte cloude and foure flarres lyke vnto a crolTe with three
other ioynynge therunto, which refemble owre Septentrion, and are iudged to bee the fignes or tokens of the
fouth exeltre of heauen. Great was the nauigation of the fleete of Salamon, but greater was this of Th[e]em-
prours maieRie Don Charles kynge of Spayne. The Argos of lafon whiche the antiquitie placed amonge the
flarres, fayled but a lyttle way and a (horte vyage in comparafon of the fliippe Victoria whiche owght woorthely
to bee kepte in the Arfenall of Siuile in perpetuall memory of fo famous an enterpryfe. The daungiours,
paynes, trauayles and laboures of Vlyffes were nothynge in refpecte of fuche as lohn Sebaftian fufleyned :
whereby in the fcu[t]chion of his armes in the flead of a monflrous or inuincible bead, he woorthely gaue the
woorlde with this circumfcription : PRIMVS CIRCVMDEDISTI ME. (that is) Thou art the fyrR that
hath compaffed me abowt.
As touchynge the needle of the compaflre, I haue redde in the Portugales nauigations that faylynge as farre fouth as Cap. de
Bona Speranza, the poynt of the needle ftyll refpected the northe as it dyd on this fyde the Equinoctiall, fauynge that it fumwhat
trembeled and declyned a lyttle, wherby the force fccmed fumwhat to be diminiflhed, fo that they were fayne to helpe it with the
lode ftone.
C Who fyrjl founde the needle of the compajfe, and the vfe therof.
The chiefest parte fi
of the shyppc.
Magnes.
The Spanyardes
and Portugales.
Why the needle
turneth to the
north.
The Hand of
Tercera.
The Hand of
Magneto.
IPeakynge much of nauigations. it myght feme a thynge vndecent to omyt to fay fumwhat of the
needle of the compafle: withowt the which as all nauigations are but blynde and wanderynge
coniectures, euen fo fhulde the Indies neuer haue bynne founde but by helpe of the fame,
forafmuche as the fhippes fhulde haue byn loft in the Ocean, were it not that theyr courfes
were directed by the needle and compafle, which owght therfore to be compted the chiefe
partes of the (hyppe and principall inftrumentes of faylynge. The fyrfl that founde the needle
and the vfe therof (as Blondus and Mapheus Girardus doo wryte) was one Flauius of Malpha
a citie in the kyngdome of Naples, of whome the Neopolitans glory to this day: and that by good reafon, for-
afmuch as a citifen and neyghboures chylde of theyrs, was the fyrft fynder of fo commodious and profytable a
thynge, to the fecreate wherof fo many excellente wyttes as were before hym coulde not attayne, althowgh they
hadde both iren and the lode ftone (cauled Magiies) whiche are the materials of the needle. Next vnto
Flauius, the chiefe commendation is dew to the Spanyardes and Portugales by whofe daylye experience, the
fame is browght to further perfection, and the vfe therof better knowen : althowghe hytherto no man knoweth
the caufe why the iren touched with the lode ftone, turneth euer towarde the north ftarre, as playnely appeareth
in euery common dyall. In maner all wryters attribute this to a fecreate and hyd propertie, fum of the north,
and other of the mixture or naturall temperature of elementes that is betwene iren and the fayde ftone. If it
bee the propertie of the north or north ftarre, then (as the pylots make theyr rekenynge) neyther fliulde the
needle make anye chaunge or dyfier in northeftinge, (as in faylynge northeafte withowt the Hande of Tercera
beinge one of the Ilandes of Azores or Soria and two hundreth leaques from Spayne towarde the Weft Eaft-
weft) neyther yet ftiulde it lofe his oflice (as fayth Olanus) in pafl"ynge from the Hande of Magnete, that is, the
Hand of the lode ftone, which is vnder or neare abowte the northe pole. But howe fo euer it bee, or what fo
euer bee the caufe, trewth it is that the nedle turneth euer to the north although wee fayle abowt the fo-jth,
348
other notable thynges as toitchynge the Indies.
349
We owght therefore to vnderftande that the lode (lone (whiche wee falfely caule the adamant) hath heade, fiete,
and alfo armes as fum fay. The iren that is rubbed with the heade, neuer ceafeth to turne dyrectly towarde
the north, as is to fee in the dyals that are made to the foonne. The rubbynge of the fiete feruethe for the
fouth : as doo lykewyfe the other partes, for other quarters and poyntes of heauen.
Note here that yf a piece of this ftone, of the byggeneffe of an egge or a walnutte, or more or lelTe, bee broken into manye
Imaule pieces as bygge as dyce or leflTe, yet euery of thofe fmaule piefes, hath headde, foote, and armes, as is fayde here before.
C The Situacion and byggenes of the earth.
fT may to fume feeme a vaine thyng to feke the fituacion and byggenes of the earth,
although it bee eafy to knowe, forafmuche as it is fituate in the myddefle of the
worlde as the center of the fame, beinge enuironed and as it were borne vp of the fea
which compafleth it abowt. Mela fayth that the pyllers that fufleyne it, are Eafle,
Well, North, and South : which fayinge Dauyd confirmeth in the C. vi. [io6th] pfalme.
Thefe foure are the mod notable pyllers or fuRentacions that the earth hath in heauen,
accordynge to the motions wherof, all vyages are ruled on the earthe, frome whenfe they
haue theyr originall, as engendered of the dyuers qualities of vapoures and exhalations rayfed by the fonne
and othervvyfe. Eratollhenes put none other fuftentacions then the north and fouth poles, and parteth the
earth by the courfe of the foonne : which particion Marcus Varro dooth greatly commende as agreable to reafon.
The poles are firme and immouable as an exeltre abowt the which the heauen moueth and is therby fufteyned.
They furthermore declare vnto vs vnder what parte of heauen wee bee, howe farre, and which way wee go,
with alfo the largenes of heauen and commenfuration of the earth. As for exemple : the flreyght of Gibraltar,
(accomptynge from Spayne) is from the north, or to fpeake more playnely from the poynte of the earthe that is
or may be directly vnder the north pole, abowt. liiii. [fifty-four] degrees which make. ix. hundreth and. Ixxx.
[980] leaques according to the common computacion of the Cofmographers and Aftronomers : And is from the
Equinoctiall line, xxxvi. [thirty-fix] degrees : which added to the other, liiii. [fifty-four] make. [lx]xxx. [ninety]
degrees, beinge the hole diftance from the north poynte to the Equinoctiall line diuydynge the earthe by the
myddefle, and the quarter or fourthe parte of the hole circumference of the earth : the whiche how great it is
in compafle and how many leaques or myles it conteynethe, is eafy to perceaue accomptynge euery degree. Ix.
[fixty] myles. But that yowe may the better perceaue what degrees are, I haue thowght good to fpeake fumwhat
more hereof.
C What degrees are.
N the owlde tyme theyr maner was to meafure the earth and the woorlde by furlonges, pafes,
and fiete, as is to reade in Plinie, Strabo, and other wr)'ters. But after that Ptolome founde
degrees a hundreth and fiftie yeares after the death of Chryfl, that maner of accompte was
receaued as the befl. Ptolomie diuided all the hole body and face of the land and fea into
three hundreth and fixtie degrees of length or longitude : and other as many degrees of bredth
or latitude : fo that the hole globe of the baule beinge rounde, conteyneth as much in latitude
as longitude. He affigned lykewyfe to euery degree three fcore myles, whiche make. xvii.
[feuenteen] Spanyflhe leaques and a halfe : In fuch forte that the globe or baule of the earth meafured directly
by any of the foure partes of the fame, conteyneth in circuite fyxe thoufand and two hundreth leaques. This
computacion and meafurynge, is fo certeyne, that as it is approued of all men and founde trewe by experience,
fo much the more is it to bee commended and had in admiration for that th[e]inuention hereof was iudged fo
dyfficult by lob and the preacher, that no man had founde the meafure of limites of the fame. They name
thofe degrees of longitude, that they accompte from foonne to foonne by the Equinoctiall line which reacheth
from the Eafl to the Wefle by the myddle of the globe or baule of the earth. Thefe can not well be obferued,
forafmuch as in this tract of heauen, there is no fyxt or permanent figne whereunto the pylots maye directe
theyr eyes or inflrumentes. For the foonne, althowghe it be a mode cleare figne, yet doothe it dayely chaunge
the place of ryfynge and faulynge, and keepethe not the fame courfe the day folowynge as the Aflronomers
affirme. And althowgh there is no number of them that in trauaylyng (Irange landes and feas haue fpent theyr
gooddes and almofle theyr wyttes to fynde the degrees of longitude without errour as are found the degrees of
latitude and heyght, yet is there none that hytherto hath any trewe knowleage therof. The degrees of latitude
or altitude, are they that are accompted from the north pointe to the fouth, the commenfuration or meafuring
Note the quarters
uf the lode stone.
323
The sea.
The wyndes
The polci
The measuryn^n
the circumference
of the earth
Ptolome founde
degrees.
Longitude and
Latitude.
A degree.
Degrees of
Longitude.
The degrees of
Longitude are not
knowen.
The degrees of
latitude.
350
Other notable tJiynges as touchynge the Indies.
324
The north starre.
The circuitc of
the earth.
The inferior
henuspherie.
Hyperborei,
HypemociL
wherby, is mod certeine by reafon that the north ftarre is permane[nt] and remayneth (lyll in one place, or at
lead moueth abowt the pole which is theyr firme and fledfaft figne wherby they accompte theyr degrees and
directe theyr vyages. By the degrees therfore accompted by thefe mofl certeine fignes, is vnfaylably meafured
the hole circumference of the lande and fea, diuydynge the fame into foure equall partes in this maner. From
the north poynte to the Equinoctiall, are. Ixxxx. [ninety] degrees : and from the Equinoctiall to the foutli
poynt, other. Ixxxx. [ninety.] Ageyne on the contrary fide, from the fouth poynt to the Equinoctiall, are other.
Ixxxx. [ninety] degrees : and from the Equinoctial ageyne to the north poynte, are as many. This may we
coniecture by good reafon afwell of th[e]inferioure hemifphery wherof a great parte is knowen vnto vs by the
nauigations of fuch as haue pafled the (Ireyghets of Magellanus and the cape of Bona Speranza, althowgh we
haue noo fuch cleare and manifefl relation as we ought to haue of the lande vnder the fouthe pole beinge the
other exeltree of the worlde whofe fyght we lacke. For (as Herodotus fayth) yf there bee any lande of the
Hyperboreans (that is fuche as are vnder the north) ther is alfo of the hypernotios, that is fuch as are vnder
the fouth : which perhappes are they that lyue in the lande of the flreyghtes of Magellanus as nere vnto the
other pole. But what thefe landes are, or of what greatnes we can haue no certeyne knowleage vntyl fum man
fhal haue compaffed abowt the lands vnder the fouth pole as did lohn Sebaflian the circumference of the Equi-
noctiall line.
Thefe laft annotacions of the Indies, haue I tranflated owt of the bookes of Francifcus
Lopes, wrytten in the Spanyffhe tounge to Th[e]emperours maieftie : and partly alfo owt
of the carde made by Sebaflian CaboL
C A demonjlration of the roundenejfe of the Earth.
The eye is
deceaued.
Arynge.
A circle.
.\ny ignorant men thynke that the earthe is not rounde onely by iudge-
mente of the eye which is deceaued in manye thynges not only of the
woorkes of nature, but alfo of fuche as are doonne by the flight and arte
of man. For they fay : Howe can it bee rounde forafmuche as thowgh
a man trauayle neuer fo farre eyther by land or fea, he feemeth euer to
paffe as it were by a ryght line without any fuch circuite or compaffynge,
afcendynge or difcendynge, as perteyneth to all the partes of a rounde forme. The
which obiection, as it is grofe and fimple, proceadyng of the narowneffe of the vnder-
ftandyng of fuch as can not conceaue the large circumference of the lande and fea, euen fo
may it be anfwered with this fimple demonflration. In a rynge that ferueth for the fynger
of a mans hande, the fpace of halfe an ynche or lyttle more, is halfe a cyrcle. But in a
rynge or cyrcle of bygger circumference, as in the hoope of a tubbe, halfe an ynche
appeareth in maner a ryght line, althowghe it bee not fo in deede, forafmuch as it is not
poffible for any parte of a circle to confifl of a ryght line, neyther any parte of a line to
confyfl; of a cyrcle, fithe the partes mufl needes bee conformable to the hole, confyftynge
of fuch vniforme partes as are in mathematicals. But not to wander to farre in thefe
fubtylties, the greater that yow can imagen the circle to bee, fo fhall a greater parte
therof feeme a ryght line or playne forme : As for exemple, imaginynge a circle whofe
diameter (that is meafure from fyde to fyde) confyfleth of a myle : in this circle a pole
length or more, may feeme a ryght line, as yowe may otherwyfe multiply of the like
infinitely : wherby it fhal appere that the large circumference of the earth well confydered,
a muche greater parte of the circle therof then the eye of man conceaueth, may feeme to
bee a ryght line, and he contynually to walke vppon a playne forme forafmuch as euery
part of a circle is lyke vnto other as I haue fayde. This may fufifice for a fimple and
briefe demonflration and induction for fuche as are defyrous to feeke furth to knowe the
truth herof.
350
other notable thynges as touchynge the Indies.
351
C What credit owght to bee gyuen to wryters as touchynge the woorkes
of nature.
He mofte auncient wryter Diodorus, Siculus, in the fourth booke of his Biblio-
theca, wryteth in this maner. if any man for the maruelous flraungenes and noueltie of
fuche thinges as are defcrybed in owre bookes, wyl not perhappes gyue credyt to owre hyftorie,
let hym with ryght iudgement confider the difference that is betwene the ayer of the Scythians
and the Troglodytes compared to owres, and he fliall the eafelyer perceaue the woorkes of nature
and approue owre wrytynges. For owre ayer dyffereth fo much from theyrs, that it myght
feeme incredible if experience were not more certeyne then doubtfull reafon. In fume regions
the coulde is fo extreme that greate ryuers are fo frofen, that laden cartes and armies of men pafTe ouer the
immouable ife. Wine alfo and other moifl. thynges are fo conieled that they may bee cutte with knyues. But
this is more marueylous, that th[e]extreeme partes of fuche apparell as menne weare, are fo bytten with coulde
that they faule of. Mens eyes are alfo dymmed : the fyre gyueth not his natural bryghtneffe : and brafen
veffelles and images are broken. Sumtime by reafon of thicke cloudes, thunders and lyghtnynges are neyther
feene or harde in fuch regions. Many other thynges more marueylous then thefe hath nature wrought, which
may feeme incredible to the ignorant : but eafy to fuch as haue experience. In the furthefl partes of Egypt and
Trogloditica, the heate of the foonne is fo extreme abowt noone, that noo man can fe hym that flandeth by hym,
by reafon of the thicke ayer caufed by the vapoures and exhalations rayfed by the heate. None can go withowt
(hoos but haue theyr fiete fuddeynly blyflered and exulcerate. Such as are a thyrfl, dye immediatly except
they haue drynke at hande, the heate fo fafle confumeth the moyflure of theyr bodyes. Meate put in brafen
veffelles, is fodde in Ihort fpace by the heate of the foonne withowt other fyre. Yet they that are borne and
browght vp in fuch regions, had rather wyllyngely fufleyne thefe incommodities then bee inforced to Hue other-
wyfe : fuch a loue of theyr natiue countrey hath nature gyuen to all men: cuftome of continuance from younge
yeares being alfo of force to ouercomme the malicioufneffe of the ayer. Neuertheleffe, thefe places of fuch con-
trary natures wherby fuche (Irange effectes are caufed, are not farre in funder or diuided by any great didance.
For, from the maryfflies of Meotis or Meotides where certeyne Scythians dwell in extreme coulde, many haue
fayled with (hyps of burden to Rodes in the fpace of ten dayes : and from thenfe to Alexandria in foure dayes.
From whenfe paffynge throwgh Egypte by the ryuer of Nilus, they haue arryued in Ethiopia in other tenne dayes •
So that the nauigation from the couldefl partes of the worlde to the hottefl regions, is no more then, xxiiii.
[twenty-four] continuall dayes. Where as therefore the varietie of the ayer is fuch in places of fo fmaule diflance,
it is no marueyle that the cuflomes and maners of lyuynge of the people of thofe regions, with the complexions
of theyr bodyes and fuch thynges as are engendered there, do greatly dyffer from owres.
325
The diuersitie of
ayer in dyuers
region&
Extreme colde.
Extreme heate
The force of
education.
Extreme heate
and colde in A
smale distance.
From Scythia
to Ethiopia,
353
[The Third English book on America,
Which is also
The First English Collection of Voyages, Traffics, & Discoveries.
Cfte Secalr^sJ 0£ tire nrtoe iuorUrt 0r tor^St Intriat, tiu
SECTION VI.
Vannuccio Biringuccio.
Pyrotechnia,
First printed in 1540.]
Edek 3 D
The preface.
355
C The preface to the booke of Metals.
0 tliis booke of the Indies and nauigations I haiie thowght good
to adde the booke of metals, for three caufes efpecially me
mouynge : whereof the fyrfl is, that it feemeth to me a thynge
vndecent to reade fo much of golde and fyluer, and to knowe
lyttle or nothynge of the naturall generation thereof, beinge
neuerthelefle thynges not onely mod defyred, but alfo fuch with-
owt the which at this age the lyfe of man can not bee paffed ouer
without many aduerfities, forafmuch as pouertie is hateful! to all
men.andvertue nofurther efleemedthenit isfupported byryches,
fyth nowe that lady that reigned inSaturns dayes,is becommethe
flaue to hym that was then her bondeman in that golden worlde,
fo named, not for the defyre that men had to golde, but for
th[e]innocencie of lyuynge in thofe dayes, when Mars was of no
poure,and men thought itcrueltie by breakynge the bones of owre
mothertheearth,toopenawayto the courte of infernal Plutofroni
thence toget golde and fyluer the feedes of al mi fchiefesand angels
of fuch a god, whom the antiquitie (not without good confydera-
tion) paynted blynde, affirmynge alfo that of hym golde and fyluer haue receaued the propertie to blynde the
eyes of men. But fyth it is nowe fo that we (halbe inforced to feke ayde by that which was fumtymes a myf-
chefe, it refleth to vfe the matter as doo cunnynge phifitians that can mynifler poyfon in proportion with other
thynges in fuch forte qualyfyinge the malicioufneffe therof, that none (hall therby bee intoxicate. Forafmuch
therfore as golde and fyluer haue obteyned this prerogatiue that they are fuche neceflarie euyls which the lyfe
of man can not lacke withowt detriment, not only they but other metals alfo perhappes more neceflarie althowgh
not fo precious, are thynges woorthy to bee better knowen then only by name, fyth they are th[e]inflrumentes
of all artes, the prices of all thynges, the ornamentes of al dignities, and not the leaft portion of nature, wherby
the contemplation of them is no leffe pleafaunte then neceflary. But forafmuch as it is not here my intent to
Lntreate much of metals, I wyll fpeake of the feconde caufe : which is, that if in trauaylyng flrang[e] and
vnknowen countreys any mans chaunce fhalbe to arryue in fuch regions where he may knowe by th[e]information
of th[e]inhabitauntes or otherwyfe, that fuche regions are frutefull of riche metals, he may not bee without fum
iudgement to make further fearche for the fame. The thyrde caufe is, that althowgh this owre realme of Eng-
lande be ful of metals not to bee contemned and much rycher then men fuppofe, yet is there fewe or none in
Englande that haue any greate fkyll thereof, or any thynge wrytten in owr tounge, whereby men maye bee well
inftructed of the generation and fyndyng of the fame : as the lyke ignorance hath byn amonge vs as touchynge
Cofmographie and nauigations vntyll I attempted accordinge to the portion of my talent and fimple lemynge to
open the fyrfl dore to the enteraunce of this knoweleage into owre language, wherin I wolde wylhe that other
of greater lemynge wolde take fume peynes to accomplyflhe and bringe to further perfection that I haue rudely
begunne, not as an autour but a tranflatoure, leafle I bee iniurious to any man in afcrybyng to my felfe the
trauayles of other. And wheras as concernynge the knowleage of metals, I was once mynded to haue tranflated
into Englyfhe the hole woorke of Pyrotechnia wherof I fynyffhed. xxii. [twenty-two] chapitures nowe more then
three yeares fence, and lefte the copie therof in the handes of one of whome I coulde neuer get it ageyne
(omyttynge to fpeake of other ingratitudes) I was therby difcouraged to proceade any further in that woorke.
Neuerthelefle, fythe this hyftory of the Indies hath miniflred occafion to intreate fumwhat of metals, I haue
ageyne tranflated three of the fyrfl chapitures of that booke, which feeme mod necefliaiy to bee knowen in this
cafe. And hereof to haue fayde thus much in maner of a preface it may fuffice.
326
356
The mineral tree.
The mynes doo
growe.
Marchantes.
Signes of metals.
327
Signer and toknns
of metals.
OF THE GENERATION OF METALLES AND
THEIR MYNES WITH THE MANER OF FYNDINGE THE SAME:
WRITTEN IN THE ITALIEN TOVNGE BY VanNVCCIVS BiRINGVCZIVS
IN HIS BOOKE CAVLED P YROTECHNIA.
To his louynge frende Mafter Bernardino Moncellefe, greeting.
ereas I promyfed yow to wiytte of the natures of metalles in
particular, I am nowe inforced to declare euery thinge in generale,
and efpecially of the places of their generation and their order,
with the forme and maner of woorkynge in the fame, and the
inftrumentes therto perteyninge. Yowe fhall therefore vnder-
(lande, that mynes of metalles are founde in the mode partes
of the worlde, more or leffe according to the diligence of witti
fearchers: and fhew them felues (landinge in the grounde in
maner in fuche forte as the veynes of bludde are difparfed in
the bodies of lyuing beafl.es, or like vnto the braunches of trees
fpredde foorth diuers wayes. Wherfor, the diligent fearchers of
mines, willing by a certeyne fimilitude declare howe the mynes
are placed in the mountaynes, haue figured a greate tree full of
branches planted in the myddefle of the bafe of a mountayne,
frome the whyche are diriued dyuers and many bouwes and
branches, fum greate and fum fmaule, muche like vnto verye
trees that are in owlde woddes. They will alfo that in growynge,
they euer ingrofe them felues and reache towarde the heauen, conuertynge into theyr nature the mofle difpofed
and neare matter, vntil the toppes of theyr braunches extend to the higheft. parte of the mountayne, and there
(hewe furthe theyr felues with manifefte apperaunce, puttinge furthe in the fleade of bouwes and floures,
certeyne fumofites of blewe or greene coloure, or marchafites with fmaule veynes of ponderous matter, or fuche
other compofitions of tinctures. And when by this means they (hewe them felues vnto us, we may make firme
coniecture that fuche mountaynes are minerall, and that accordinge to the demonflrations they fhewe more or
leffe, they are richer or porer of myne. Therefore the fearchers, according to th[e]apperaunces which they
fynde, take good courage vnto them : and with hope and fecuritie of profecte, apply al their poffible diligence
with witte and expenfes to digge or gette owte fuche thynges as the fignes and owtewarde apperaunces declare
vnto them. And by this maner of fyndinge of mynes, it hath often tymes chaunced that many haue byn
exalted to the highefl degree of riches. Wheras therfore by this meanes men enter into the mountaynes with
the ey[e]s of confideration and right ludgemente, and fee the places where the mineralles are ingendered and
comprehende in maner theire quantitie, they adapte theyr caues or foffes accordynge therevnto, wheras they
(hulde otherwyfe wander by chaunce, becaufe no man can by any other meanes knowe where the mines are in
the mountaynes, although he were of neuer fo good iudgement, and fliulde make fearche for the fame neuer fo
curyoufly by litle and litle. It fhal therfore in this cafe be neceffary to folow the certificat and aperaunces of
fignes, and to encounter the fame as nere as may be, with ey[e]s and eares euer attentiue where they maye hope to
fynde any tokens of metalles, efpecially by enquyringe of fliepardes and other anciente inhabitauntes of fuch
regions in the which mineralls are engendered. And this I fpeake the rather for that I am perfwaded that at
35«
Of the generation of metals.
357
the firfl. fight of a mountaine, by reafon of the greate barrenneffe and roughnes therof, and alfo by reafon of
the great aboundance of waters that are engendered in the fame, a right good iudgemente (hall not fuffice to
coomme to certayne knoweleage that metall is contayned in fuch mountaynes, vntill the fearchers haue with
charges and trauail caufed miners in fundry places to difcouer the fame. And therfore I alfo beleue that one
man althowgh be bee neuer fo llronge, wyttie, and farre caflinge, (hall not be able in a newe and (Iraunge
contreye, to fearche by fmaule portions not onlye all the mountaynes of one or moo prouinces which may
bringe furth minerals, but (hall with muche difiicultie fcarfely fuffice to fearche the fecreates of only one
mountayne: In fo muche that fum confyderinge the difficultie hereof, are of opinion that in this eflfecte, it (huld
be requyfite to worke by the arte of Negromancie, which I thynke to be a fable withowt further knoweleage.
But I wolde that thefe necromancers fliulde tell me why this theire arte helpeth theym no further in the
woorke after that they haue once founde the myne, if it be trewe that they fay. Why (I fay) doth it not helpe
them furthe as at the begynnynge to fynde the myne, fo confequently in the myddefl and the ende to brynge
the fame to further perfection, as to gette it owte, to brynge it to fufion or meltynge, and to purifie or pourge
it from drolfe, which doubtlelfe it (hulde haue poure to doo if it may bee beleaued that it can doo the other.
But forafmuch as fuch effectes are fo fearefuU and terrible, that they owght not or can not be practifed of al
men, and alfo perhappes bycaufe fuch maner of woorkynge is not knowen, I thinke it not good to be vfed : but
thinke rather by good reafon that this arte is fo much the more to be omytted and contemned, in howe much
we are accuRomed in the begynnynge of dyggynge of mynes, efpecially to caule for the grace of god that it
may pleafe hym to be prefente with his ayde to owre doubtfuU and traualious woorke. Lettynge palfe therefore
this deuylyflhe diuife of fuch beallly and fearefuU men, I exhorte yowe to folowe the practife by the forefayde
fignes minydred vnto yowe by the benignitie of nature, bothe grounded vppon the foundation of truth and
approued by th[e]experience of many practicionars, not confyflynge in woordes or promyffes of thynges vayne
and incomprehenfible. With thefe fignes therfore (hall yow fearche the bankes and fides of the valleys, with
the clyflfes and ryftes of the (lones, and the backes, toppes, or ridges of the Montaynes : Alfo the beddes,
chanels, and courfes of ryuers, lookynge diligently amonge theyr fandes, and the ruines of theyr folfes, amonge
the whiche yow (hall often tymes efpie marchafites or fmaule fparkes of mynes, or other dyuers tinctures of
metals, whereby yow may be certified that certeyne mynes are in fuch places, which yowe (liall exactly fynd by
diligent and curious fearchyng the clyflfes of theyr ryftes and dry places. After thefe aduertifementes, take this
for a generall figne, that all fuche places and mountaynes are mineral, owt of the which many fpringes and
great abundaunce of crude water dooth ifihewe, hauyng with theyr clearenes a certeyne minerall tafle, and fuch
as at variable feafons of the yeare chaunge theyr qualitie, beinge warme in the fprynge tyme and coulde in
fommer. And this thynge owght yow to beleue the more when yow fhall fee the afpecte of fuch mountaynes
to be rough, (harpe, and faluage withowt earth or trees. Or fo that yf there bee a lyttle earth found vpon the
fame with a fmaule veyne of herbes or graffe yowe fhall perceaue the grenenes therof to be faynt and in maner
wythered and dryed. And albeit that fumtymes alfo, mines are founde in mountaynes hauynge earth and
frutefull trees in the toppes therof, yet are they for the mofl. part found in fuch wherof we haue fpoken. Of
thefe other, there maye fewe fignes be gyuen, except to go by lyttle and lyttle to feke the bankes of theyr fydes.
But amonge all thefe, the befl and mofl certeyne figne that may bee gyuen, is wheras on the fuperficiall parte
of the earth eyther on hyghe or belowe, the myne dooth fhewe it felfe apparente to fyght. Sum there are that
for a good figne do greately commende the refidences which certeyne waters make wher they haue refted for a
time and beinge dryed vp of the heate of the fonne, do often times (hewe in certeyne partes of theyr refidencies
dyuers tinctures of mynerall fubflaunce. Summe other are accuflomed to take fuch waters, and in a veffell of
earth or glafife or other matter, caufe them to boyle and vapoure away vntyll the dregs or refidence remayne in
the bottome well dryed in the likenes of a grofe earth, of the which they make an aflfaye eyther by the ordi-
narie tryall of fyer, or after fume other maner as lyketh them bell. And by this meanes (althowgh they
attayne not to th[e]exacte knowleage of the truth) yet do they approche to a certeyne knowleage of the thyng
wherby they haue fum intelligence of what fufficiencie and goodneffe the myne is which they feeke, before they
be at any great charges in folowynge the fame : Prouydynge alway that with all diligent aduertifement the
places neare vnto the rootes of the confine mountaynes be curioufly fearched, with alfo the bankes and fydes
of the felfe fame mountayne, and all fuch fuperficiall partes therof, where any (lones are founde difcouered
eyther of theyr owne proper nature or by the courfe of water: prefuppofynge euer that it is in maner impoflTible
but that yf fuche mountaynes contayne any mynes, they mufle needes fhewe furth fum floures, tinctures, or
colours of theyr exhalations. Yet yf it (hulde fo chaunce that they do not this, the goodnes of the mine may
be the caufe hereof forafmuche as eyther it is not of vaporable nature, or to be of fmaule quantitie, or els
perhappes bycaufe the mountayne is greate and the myne very low or fo farre with in, that it is not fufficient to
put furth any fignes of fumoflties. The caufe alfo hereof maye bee that fum flone lyke vnto that cauled
Albafatw (which I thynke to be of that kynde which we caule the greete (lone) or blacke and whyte marble of
2 D 2 357
Mountaynes in
the which metals
are engendered.
Ageynst seekynge
metals with the
rod which they
caule Virgula
diuina.
Negromancie.
The maner of
searchynge for
mynes.
A generall signe.
Rowgh and barren
mountaynes.
328
The best signe.
The residence
of waters.
Marcliasitex are
the tinctures
of myneral
exhalations.
358
Of the generation of metals.
Metals in frutful
mountayuei.
Howe the si^es
are to bee
consydered.
The assay of the
mines.
329
The richer myne
further within the
montayne.
Cotisyderacions
how the caue
ought to bee made.
Thebodieofthe
myne.
Howscs of office
for the myncrs.
Baptistnge and
dedication of the
caue.
The makinge of
the jauc.
thycke and refyflynge nature, may be found to lye betwene and fo to (loppe the paflages, that the fayde
fumofities may therby be hyndered to arryue to the vppermofte parte of the earth : by reafon wherof, it is
poffible that fuche mountaynes may brynge furth trees and herbes forafmuche as the earth therof dooth reteyne
his vertue and may nuryfhe theyr rootes not beinge incinerate or burnte with hotte and venemous vapours of
the m)mes : fo that the fhoures of rayne or fluds with their courfes can not cary away the earth as in fuch places
wher the fame is found fore dryed. And therfore vppon fuch mountaynes I haue feene great wooddes of
cheflhutte trees, beeches alfo aud okes, with well cultured and frutfuU fieldes. So that to conclude, by the
fignes of the rowghneffe or barennelTe of the mountayne, is not taken away but that other places may alfo
haue plentie of mines whiche ought to be fearched and folowed. But forafmuch as thefe fignes are of the
natures of minerals, I wyll fpeake more determinately of theym in the places where I entreate of theyr proper
mynes : Not intendynge here to faye muche of thefe thynges in generall, but only to induce yow to fum clear-
neffe of the fyrft lyght. And therfore that yow may gyue the more diligent aduertifment, I faye vnto yowe that
all the mynes which yow fliall fynde by fuch fignes, by what meanes fo euer they fhall coome to yowre handes,
whether they be found in flones, earthe, or fande, after that at the fyrde fyght they haue (hewed them felues to
bee mynes of metals, yow owght to confyder of what ponderofitie of weyght they are : The which the greater
that it is, fo much the more dooth it (hewe both the perfection and goodnefle of the fubftaunce, and alfo the
more quantitie of the mine. And thus prefuppofyng that by the fignes or other meanes yow haue founde the
mine, not yet fully perceauynge of what kynde of metall it myght be, to certifie yowe hereof and alfo of what
quantitie it is, or howe it is accompanyed or myxt with other, or lykewyfe of what puritie it is of it felfe, or of
what euyll difpofition or malice it is founde to bee, it (hall herein be necelTary before yow be at any further
charges therwith, to proue the fame by twoo or three affayes or mo, as I wyll further declare in the particular
place of affayes. Beinge therfore certifyed of the myne, and of what metall it is, and alfo what quantitie it
conteyneth, fyndynge it by accompte to bee fo profitable as to beare the charges, I exhorte yowe bouldely to
gyue the fyrfle attempte to faule to mynynge, and with all poffible diligence to folowe yowr enterpryfe: affur-
ynge yowre felfe, that of what fo euer mynerall matter yow (hall take affay accordyng to the proportion of that
pi[e]ce which yow tooke of the vppermoft or owtmofl parte of the mine for that purpofe, yow fhall fynde that to
bee muche better and rycher whiche is further within the mountayne. And thus being certified by the affay of
what quantitie the thynge is that appered by the fignes, and of all other reafonable confyderations apperteynyng
to the worke, yow fhall with all celeritie difpofe yowr felfe to faule to dyggynge, to th[e]intent that yowe may
fhortely eyther here enioye the frute of yowre trauell, or els where with better fucceffe proue yowre good fortune.
But in th[e]attempte of this enterpryfe, yow owght principally to haue refpecte to the fituation of the place
where yowe intende to make the begynnynge of yowr caue or foffe : Takynge good aduertifement that it be
commodious for the labourers that (hal worke therein : prouydynge aboue all thynges that it haue an eafye
enteraunce into the mountayne, with leiTe charges and in (horter tyme to arryue vnder the fignes which yowe
haue taken : encounterynge the fame as muche as is poffible as it were by a ryght line, fyrfl. with iudgemente
and then with workemanfliyppe, vntyll yow (Iryke on the grofe mafle or bodye of the myne, breakynge in the
courfe of the caue al matters of hard compofitions, as quarreys and flones ouerthwartynge the fame : hauynge
euer refpecte to the owtwarde fignes whiche yow folowe, forecaflynge in yowre mynde how yowe may directly
arryue to the fame, ei^en as the maryners directe theyr courfe by theyr compaffe and fyght of the north ftarre.
Alfo byfyde that place where yow haue determined to make the enteraunce and begynnynge of the caue, yow
mufle take choyfe of an other place, eyther on the front of the mountayne or on the fyde that it may bee neare
and commodious to make ope or two or mo cotages for the commoditie and neceffitie of the woorkemen. One
of thefe mufl bee appoynted for theyr dormitorie where fum may red and (leepe whyle other woorke, and that
yow may the more commodioufly be prefeiit and alfydaunte to theyr doynges, diligently to beholde all thynges
and to conforte theim in theyr laboures : alfo to difpence and bedowe theyr vyttayles as fliall bee nedefuU, and
to referue the fame in fafe cudodie, with dayly prouifion of al thynges apperteynynge. The other mud bee as
it were a fmythes forge wherin theyr worne and broken tooles mud bee renewed, and other newe made, to th[e]-
intent that the woorke be not hyndered for lacke of dore of neceffarie indrumentes. When thefe thynges are
thus fynyffhed, with good prouifion pf vyttayles and a fuflicient number of expert myners, then in the name of
God and good aduenture, caufynge a prede to bleffe the mountayne with all the fhoppes, and to baptife the
caue, dedicatynge it (as the maner is) to the holy Trinitie or to owr Lady or to the name of fum other faynt
which yowe haue in deuotion, with inuocation to theym to profper yowre attemptes, yow (hall with good
courage and hope begynne to dygge the caue, with intente to folowe the fame withowte ceafynge as farre as
yowre abilitie fhall reache, or vntyll yowe haue pafled ouer the lymettes fignified by the fignes before named :
Takynge euer diligent heade that yowe begyn yowre caue as lowe as yow may at the foote of the mountayne,
in fuch order that yowr myners fo continue and folow the fame by a right line, that they encounter the veyne of
the myne by the (horted and fafed way that may bee deuifed. For it often times chaunceth, that althowgh
3S8
Of the generation of metals.
359
the caue haue byn wel bejiinne, yet hath it not byn well folowed, for that the myners beinge withdrawen from
the ryght courfe by the hope of fuche braunches of mynes as haue appered vnto them in the waye, doo often
times decline from theyr attempted courfe, and from the fignes which they owght to haue folowed. And
byfyde other preceptes. fee that yow beare in memory to procure that in dyggynge, yovv efchewe as muche as
yowe maye, the cuttynge of fotte or brykell flones, afwell for that it may bee daungerous for ruine of the caue,
as alfo that it feldome chaunceth that any mynes are founde in fuch (lones. But yf yow fhal chaunce fo to
fynde them that yow can by no meanes auoyde them, I confort yow that where fuche caufe of feare Iheweth it
felfe, both that yow lofe not ths charges of the caue and for the better fafegarde of yowre woorkemen, it fhalbe
neceflary that yowe vfe all poffible diligence in well vpholdynge and fortyfyinge the caue with arches of waules
trauerfed with (Ironge poftes of tymber after the maner of framed beames, fufleyned with grofe and flronge
pyles made of goode and Rronge tymber of oke or other great trees. And in this maner owght yow to proceade
in dyggyng yowre myne that yow may with more fecuritie enioy the frute of yowr trauayle. But in the owlde
tyme they that dygged mynes (as is yet to fee in the caues lefte of them) folowed an other maner: fo that in
the fleade of begynnynge the caue belowe at the foote of the mountayne (as doo the later myners) they begunne
to dygge theyr caue in the vpper or hyghefl parte where the daye difcouered the myne, dyggynge downewarde
after the maner of a pytte or a well, folowynge the fame fumtyme on the one fyde, and fumtyme on the other
euen vnto the depth, as the veyne fliewed it felfe to theyr fyght: whereof I haue thought good to make
mention, for that in th[e]oppinion of many men, this way dooth feeme much better and of more fecuritie to
fynde that they feeke, then to dygge by the fydes : bycaufe that by this meanes they haue euer the mine before
theyr eyes eyther more or leffe as a Xxxiz to leade them to the grofle maffe. Yet who fo confydereth the thynge
well, fhall vnderflande that the later myners haue better conceaued the reafon of this woorke, in refpecte (as is
to fee) of many more commodities and fecurities which infue rather of this maner of woorkynge then of the
other : as the difficultie to defcende and afcende the caue, and the daungiour left it bee flopped vp by many
ruines, byfyde the trauaylous labour to draw owt the mine with the rockes and fragmentes of flones : And
aboue al thynges, that they fhal not bee able to drawe owt the waters whiche are often tymes fo abundaunt that
they greatly increafe the charges and trauayles of the patrones of the mynes by reafon of the greate ayde and
helpe which flialbe requifite to haue in that cafe and alfo for the makynge of wheeles, troughes, pypes, and
pumpes, with fuch other inftrumentes feruynge for the purpofe to drawe owt the waters. And yet with all this,
it often tymes chaunceth that although they labour hereat continually, yet flial they be inforced to forfoke their
profitable and laudable enterpryfe So that to conclude, I faye (as yowe maye well vnder (land) that it is a
much better way and of more fecuritie to begynne the diggyng of the caue rather at the roote or fote of the
mountayne and to enter into the fame by litle and lytle a flope vpwarde, then to begynne at the toppe or the
highefl backe therof. And this both for the more commodious paTmge furthe of the water, and alfo for the
eafier trauaile of the labourers. Obferuynge euer diligently the chaunge of the fignes whiche appere vnto yow
owtwardly, vfynge the rudder and compalfe as do they that fayle on the fea. For hereby the myners fhalbe
inflructed euer to folowe the right way in the caue vntill by the conductinge of wytte and arte, they bee browght
to the place of the grofe maffe or bodie of the tree, whyche is the caufe, fontayne, and original from whenfe the
fayd tinctures, fumofites, and mineral fignes, are diriued and fente furth to the fuperficiall partes. And as con-
cernynge this purpofe, I thincke it good to declare vnto yow howe in the Dukedome of Aujlria, betweene
J\n\fpruc and Alia where I contynued manye yeares, I fawe a large vale enuironed with a greate number of
mountaynes, by the myddeft. wherof a ryuer paffed through of greate aboundaunce of water : and in maner in
all the montaynes that are there abowt, is digged great plentie of mine, wherof the mofle parte are of copper or
leade, althoughe alfo in maner euery of them is founde to holde fum portion of filuer. Amonge thefe moun-
taynes, I fawe one in the whyche th[e]inhabitauntes of the countrey dwellyng there abowt allured by the fight
of many fignes, beganne to digge a caue after the maner wherof we haue fpoken : In fo muche that (as it
appered vnto me) from the place where they begane the caue, they had digged little leffe then two myles before
they fawe any fparke or fhadowe of any myne And beinge arryued with the caue in maner perpendicularly
vnder the fignes they folowed, they were encountered with a veyne of the harde flone cauled Albazano, of a
yarde and a halfe thicke, which they paffed through with greate trauayle and longe tyme, and with the helpe of
commodious inflrumentes of iren hardened to woorke in fuche flones. And when they had thus paffed through
this quarrey of flone, they chaunced vppon a verye great veyne of the myne of copper of fuch forte that when
I was there, lookinge betweene the one and the other, I fawe on euery fyde as it were a waule of the hard flone
of Albazano, and therin a voyde place of fuche largenes from the one fyde to the other that more then two
hundreth men al at one time, had fufficiente roome to flande labouringe frome the hyghefle parte to the lowefl,
hauynge non other lyght then of candells, and makinge certeyne markes in euery place where they faw the vre
or myne fhewe it felfe : and thus ceafed not to woorke continually both day and nyght, courfe by courfe, a
thynge fuerly manielous to be holde. Without the mouth of the caue, I fawe great abundaunce of mine partely
Causes of
hindetaunce.
Soft stones.
330
The fortefiing of
the caue.
Howe the caues
were made in
olde tyme.
Abundauncfe] of
water in the
mynes.
The beste maner
of makinge the
caue.
The change of
the signes.
The rudder and
compasse.
Austria.
Mynes of copper
and leade holJmg
syluer.
A caue of two
myles.
A large caue of
rhe myne oi
copper holdinge
siluer.
331
Cmdle light
360
Of the generation of metals.
A greats masse
of pure mync.
Abundaiince of
water in the
mynes.
Water is the
nearest principle
of rainerales.
A general rule.
Great riches
obtayned by
searchinge of
mynes.
Magnanimitie
and pacience.
The mountaynes
are the matrices
of riches.
The grace of god
is receaved by
owre endeuoure.
Monye begetteth
rj'Ches.
332
Necessarie
aduertismcntes.
Plentye of woode.
Cotages and
edifilc]es.
The situacion of
the place.
The vse of water.
mixt with the (lone of the vre, and partely chofen and feperated. Amonge thefe pieces, there was one con-
fiftynge of a hole maffe of pure mine of fuch biggnes and weyght, that two good horfes with a light carre coulde
fcarfely drawe it away. This myne was of copper as I haue fayde. But to magnifie it they cauled it fyluer,
bycaufe it helde fuche plentie thereof that it furmounted the charges, whereas they had alfo the copper for
aduantage. Yowe (hall further vnderRond that in the mydded of the caue, there was a chanell or gutter whyche
gathered togyther the waters that fell into it continually on euery fyde from the ruptures or broken places and
cliffes. Thefe waters ranne through the chanel with fo vehemente a (Ireme, that I fuerly beleue that it might
well fuffice to dryue any greate mylle. In fo muche that in goynge in and comming owt of the caue, I remem-
ber that by the contynual faule and fprinkeling of the waters from aboue and beneth, I was as wet as though
I had palTed through a greate fhoure of rayne. Wherat I maruel the lefTe when I confyder that water is the
fyrfl and neareft principle of the whiche the fubdaunce of minerals is engendered. By reafon wherof, fuch men
of vnderdandynge as haue fearched the natures of thefe thynges, argue hereby and take it for a generall rule,
that all thofe mountaynes owt of the whiche fpryngeth great abundaunce of water, doo alfo abounde with myne.
The which thynge well confyderynge, and weyinge the greatnes hereof, I faule into this accompte with my felfe,
that if to the patrones of the fayde caue, the charges of the fame hadde byn a hynderaunce or greefe, eyther for
the length therof, or for defpayre that they fhuld not haue found that they fought, they wolde furely haue for-
faken it. And beinge nowe comme to this harde (lone after they had fufteyned fo great charges byfyde the
trauayle both of mynde and body, if they fhulde then haue lefte of theyr enterpryfe, they (hulde not haue come
to fuch ryches whereby they haue obteyned many commodities afwell profitable for them felues as alfo for theyr
lordes and princes, theyr countrey, theyr kiniTolkes and famelie. Neyther yet fhulde they haue byn fo wel able
to helpe theyr poore neyghbours as they haue doone by the meanes of the valientneffe of theyr conflant myndes
and perfiflynge in fo good and commendable an enterprife. Wherfore to conclude, yow that wyll begynne to
attempt any fuch thynge, mud be of good courage and much pacience to folowe that yow haue begunne, at the
lead vntill yow knowe by the fignes what the thynge is : hopinge euer that in goynge forwarde, the day folow-
ynge (as it is poffible) dial difcouer the thynge that yowe feeke and content your defyre : Wherof yow may bee
the better affured, if yow well confyder that the moothers and matrices of mod edemed ryches, and the myntes
of al treafures, are the mountaynes : To the whiche (with the helpe of fortune and yowr ingenious indeuoure)
yow (hall open the way, not only to fynde the myne and arryue to the belly of the mountaynes where fuche
thynges lye hyd, but (hall alfo bee exalted by ryches to hyghe honoure and dignitie as they of whome we haue
made mention before : forafmuch as mod beningne and liberall nature, doothe open her lappe and promelfe
good fucceffe to fuche as feeke ryches by fuch honed meanes. The whiche way furely is muche rather to be
folowed, then eyther the warre full of trowbles and miferie, or the carefull trade of marchaundies with wander-
ynge abowt the worlde, or fuche other fadidious cares perhappes vnlawfull for a good man. And albeit (as
fume men vfe to fpeake) the fyndynge of mynes bee an efpecial grace of God, neuertheleffe, forafmuch as we
are borne to laboure, it (halbe neceflary that we feeke the fame in fuche places where they are brought furth by
the woorke of nature, and by fearchynge to fynde them, and beinge founde to dygge for them, and by this
meanes to receaue the grace of God with applyinge owre owne diligence therto, with helpe of the difpofition of
fortune and naturall iudgemente. And yet fhal not this only fuffice withowt fufficiencie of money able to
fudeyne the charges and continue the woorke : to th[e]ende that if yow can not fynyfflie it with yowr owne
expenfes, yow maye fupplye the fame by the ayde of other, eyther patrones or parteners. But let vs nowe
ceafe to reafon any further of thefe thinges. Prefuppofyng therfore that yow haue alredy paffed the charges,
and haue not only founde the myne yow fought, but alfo haue brought furth to lyght a great quantitie therof, it
dial then bee needeful (as a thyng chiefely to be confydered before yow begin to dygge) wel to ponder and
examen both the commodities of fuch thynges as fhall occurre, and alfo of fuch wherof yow (hall haue neede :
as tymber and woodde of all fortes, with water and vyttayles : of all the whiche, yow mude haue great plentie :
and efpecially of woodde, whereof yowe mude haue great quantitie, afwell to feme to the proportion of the myne,
as alfo to make coles to the vfe of meltynge, fynynge, dryinge, garboylyng, and fuch other broylynges, byfyde
that which mud feme to fortifie the caue and to buyld (hoppes and cotages with fuch other edifi[c]es. Diligent
confideration mud lykewyfe be had to the fituacion of the place where the buyldynges (halbe erected : as that
the plotte therof bee commodious with abundaunce of water hauynge a good faule. Alfo not onely of plentie
of woodde and cole nere vnto the myne, but of fuch as may feme the turne. And of all other incommodities,
yowe mude chiefely auoyde the lacke of water, as a thynge of greated importaunce and mod neceffarie in this
effecte. For by the force and weyght of the courfe herof, wheeles and dyuers other ingenious indrumentes are
adapted with eafe to lyfte vppe greate bellowes to make fyers of great poure, to beat with hammers of great
weyght, and to turne myghtie and dronge engens, by the force whereof the trauayles of men are fo much
furthered, that withowt fuch helpe, it were in maner impod'ible to ouercome fuche tedious trauayles or to arryue
to the ende of the woorke, forafmuch as the force of one wheele may lyfte more, and that more iafely then the
360
Of the generation of metals.
361
paynefull labour of a hundreth men. It dial therfore be needefiill to haue great confyderation hereof, not only
to make thefe edifi[c]es or houfes of office, but alfo to make them commodious for the purpofe, as for the cariage
of myne and cole with other neceffaries. For if any of thefe effectes fhulde be wantynge, the code, tyme and
trauayle, fhulde bee call away : forafmuch as thefe thynges doo fo much the more relieue the one the other as
they are ioyned togyther, and hinder the woorke not a lyttle yf any be feparate. But bycaufe thefe commodities
can not euer be hadde all togyther, yowe owght to wey with yowr felfe which of the twoo fenieth for mo necef-
larie vfes, as eyther to haue the cole or the mine mod commodious to the houfes, and accordinge there vnto to
place the houfes nere vnto the fame if the commoditie of water wyll fo permytte. Albeit, if it were poffible, it
fliulde be much better if al thefe neceffarie commodities were ioyned togyther, whereas otherwyfe yowe mufle
contente yowre felfe as occafion ferueth.
Nowe therefore to conclude, byfyde that whiche I haue declared vnto yow of the findinge of the myne and
the digging thereof with other confiderations, I exhorte yowe further to faule to practyfe with fum myne of your
owne, that yow may therby take occafion to ryfe to the degree of ryches whyche yow defire. And therfore I
aduertife yow that after yow haue founde the mountyane and begun to digge, yow thai euer go forwarde with a
boulde mynde and (loute corage, woorkyng with witte and Judgement, forafmuche as in this effecte the one
ferueth the other in the fleede of ey[e]s to enter where they can not. Gyue no credit to that whiche many
ignorante folkes doo fay and beleue, affirminge that in digging for metals, they are founde rather by chaunce
then by arte. The which although it were trewe, yet owght we to trufl more to art and practyfe then to chaunce.
And when yow are nowe entered into the mountayne, beare well in memory that yow haue prefently with yow
the tallie or ruler of the caue, wherby yowe may trauerfe the veyne of the myne when yow are coomme to it.
For if yow fhulde folowe it by the courfe as it lyeth, it is poffible that yowe might folowe it a greate way not
pafle the biggnefife of a mans finger and perhappes leffe : By reafon wherof, it might happen that yow fhuld lofe
it and neuer find it ageyne. The like fhuld chaunce vnto yow if after that yow haue begun to digge a caue, it
fliulde repent yow of the charges, and that for the bafnes therof yowe fhulde forfake it, as many haue doone who
bycaufe they coulde not fynde the mine at the iirfl flroke, defpayringe that they fhulde neuer fynde it, haue
forfaken it as a thyng vnprofitable, thynking that they haue woonne enough in that they were not at further
charges with that which they accompt loffe and domage : And thus furioufly leaue of their enterprife, not
regardinge that they may leaue the frute of theyr expenfes and trauaile to an other that may folowe their
begynninges, and perhappes fynde the myne within the diflance of a cubet, a fpanne, or a finger. We may fay
therfore that fuche men doo willinglye forfake their good fortune as many haue doone. He therfore that hath
begune to digge a caue, let hym determine to folowe it, puttinge away th[e]eflimation of the bafenes therof, and
not to feare the flreyghtneffe of the way, but rather to applye all his poffible diligence withowt remorfe, hopynge
thereby no leffe to obteyne honour and lyches, then to auoyde fhame and infamie for omyttynge fo profitable an
enterprife. And that yow may the more circumfpectly behaue yowr felfe in all thynges, befyde the former
inflructions, I further aduertife yowe to fet euer freffhe men a woorke by courfe in fuch order, that in euery fixte
or eyght houres (accordynge to the number of the myners) yow appoynt fuch to the woorke as haue repofed or
taken theyr refl, that yow may by this meanes the fooner come to th[e]ende yow defyre, whereunto (after yowe
haue layde fo fure a fundation) I exhorte yow to runne withowt a brydle. And wheras to thefe effectes it fhalbe
neceffarie to haue many inftrumentes adapted for the purpofe, I can none otherwyfe fpeake of them then in
generall, confyderynge that according to the nature of the place and the myne, it ffialbe neceffary to vfe inftru-
mentes and iren tooles of dyuers formes, as there ought to be difference in fuch wherwith yow ffiall dygge in
mynes engendered in marble, greete flone, and harde freefe flone, or fuch other. For the dyggynge of fuch as
are found in deade and tender flones, as Alabafler and marie, it is requifite to haue apte and flronge inftru-
mentes, as great beetels, mattockes and fpades of iren, alfo great and longe crowes of iren to lyfte great
burdens : lykewyfe greate and fmaule picke axes fum of iren and fum of fleele : furthermore greate maules with
handels and withowt handels, and fuch other bothe of iren and fine fleele hardened, if the hardenes of flone
ffiall fo requyre. But as for fuch as ffiall feme to dygge the mynes which are engendered in tender and fofte
flones, I neede make no mention of them, forafmuch as the tooles of the common forte may fuffice, and necef-
fitie ffiall dayly furthe[r] inflructe yow to diuife fuch as ffial ferue for yowre purpofe. Albeit, for the niofle parte,
they are beetels, maules, mattockes, pikes, ffiouels, fpades, and fuch lyke. But as well for the fofte flones as for
the harde, it ffialbe neceffarye to haue great plentie of al fortes, to th[e]ende that the myners may lofe no tyme, and
that the woorke may go the better forwarde to the comfort of the patrones of the mine. Byfyde thefe before
named, it ffiall alfo be requifite to haue plentie of greate bafkettes, fpades, ffiouels, fleades, and handbarrowes,
t)othe with wheeles and without wheeles : alfo fackes made of raw or vntande hydes to carye the fragmentes owt
of the caue. It ffiall furthermore be requifite to haue greate quantitie of vnctuous liquours to maintayne fire :
as are the oiles of oliues, of nuttes, of line feede and hempe feede : Lykewife the roots of putrified trees, or
talowe of beafles, or fatte and oyles of fyfffies. For withowt the lyght of fyre, it is not poffible for the labourers
361
Necessarye
considerations.
A false opinion
The trauersinge
of the veyne.
Continuaunce in
the worke.
333
Fresshe r
Instrumentes.
Fyre in the cau&
362
Of the generation of metals.
The conueyance
of eyer.
The exceUencie
of golde.
The originall and
substaunce of
golde.
334
Mineral heate.
The temperature
and purenessc of
golde.
Golde is
incorruptible.
The bewtie of
golde.
Goldela
medicinable.
Golde is
confortable.
The attractiue
qualitie of golde.
to woorke : Nor yet can any fyre be mayntayned in the caue except it receaue the ayer by fum refpiracle or
breathynge place by the meanes of a funell or trunke of woodde or fuch otlier open inflrument wherby the ayer
maye be conueyed into the caue.
C Of the myne of golde and the qttalitie therof in particnlar.
Orafmuche as golde is a compounde mynerall which of the phylofophers and all men of
vnderflandynge, is founde to be of greatefl perfection amonge all other myxt minerals, it is
iudged by the vniuerfal opinion of fuch men, that for the bewtie and excellent qualitie
thereof, it fhulde be of exceffiue vertue to helpe and confort men. And therfore amonge all
thynges that are in this worlde (excepte lyuynge creatures) it is chiefely efleemed. By
reafon wherof, I alfo the more to honour it, wyll fyrft, fpeake of this before I entreate of any
other metall, and declare in particular the conception with the mod apparent qualities therot
The which although it be a metal mofl knowen, defyred alfo and fought for of all kyndes of men, yet are t ere
not many that do care to knowe of what fubftaunce or natural mixtion it confifteth. But that yow (hulde not be
one of theim that knowe it onely by name or fuperficiall app[e]arence, I certifie yow that the originall and proper
matter therof, is none other then elementall fubflaunces with equall quantitie and qualitie proportionate the one
with the other, mofl perfectly purified by the fubtyle woorke of nature. For of thefe beinge thus ioyned togy hei
(and of equall force) is engendered an amiable and mofl perfect mixtion by the helpe of fermentacion and
decoction of the minerall heate, wherby is caufed fuch a permanent vnion betwene the fayde elementes, that
they are in maner infeperable : So that by the vertue of heauenly influence or of tyme, or by th[e]order oi n.oft
prudent nature, or by all thefe caufes concurrant, fuch fubftaunce is conuerted into this metalline body that we
caule golde. The which (as I haue fayd) by his much temperatenes, purenes, and perfect mixtion, is conden-
fate and made thicke, in fuch forte that the elementes therof can not be vnbounde or loofed, fo that it remayn ith
in maner incorruptible : The caufe wherof is, that it eyther conteyneth in it no maner of fuperfluitie, or the far.ie
to be but very lytle. And hereof commeth it, that althoughe it lye many yeares in the earth or in the water, it is
not infected with ruft or canker for that neyther of them are able to corrupte it, nor yet the fyer whofe for e
dooth incinerate cr brynge to affhes and refolue in maner all creatures : And yet is the poure hereof fo fari'e
vnable to deftroy or corrupte this metall, that it is thereby the more purified and made better. Lykewyfe the
fayde perfecte vnion or mixtion, caufeth it to be a body withowt fleame, and withowt vnctuous or fat fuperfluitie :
which is the caufe that it euer remayneth in the natiue bryghtnes and fayrenes of coloure, in fo much that when
it is rubbed vppon any thynge, it leaueth not behynde it the tincture of any blacke or yelowe colour, as doo in
maner all other metals : Nor yet hath it any tafte or fauour that may be perceaued to the fence. Furthermore,
if it be eaten eyther wyllyngly or by chaunce, it is not venemous to the lyfe of man, as are fum of the oth r
metals : but is rather a medicine curynge dyuers difeafes. In fo much that nature hath gyuen vnto it of peculi a
propertie, a vertue and priuileage to conforte the weakenes of the harte, and to gyue ioyfulnes and myrth to tlie
fpirites, difpofynge thereby the mynde to magnanimitie and attemptes of great enterpryfes. Which fmgul ar
qualities, fum wyfe men affirme that it hath receaued by th[e]influence of the fonne, and that it is therfore of
fuch grace and poure to helpe men : efpecially fuch as haue many great bagges and chefl.es full therof. To con-
clude therfore, this metall is a body tractable and bryght, of coloure lyke vnto the foonne : And hath in it
inwardely fuch a naturall attractiue or allurynge vertue, that beinge feene, it greatly difpofeth the myndes of men
to defyre it and efteme it as a thyng moft precious : although many there are whiche crye owt ageynft it and
accufe it as the roote and fede of moft peftiferous and monftrous couetoufnefle, and the caufe of many other
myfcheues. But whether it bee the caufe of more good or euyll, we entende to lette paiTe this difputation as a
thynge vnprofitable. To proceade therfore as I haue begun I fay (as before) that the woorthynefle which is
founde in it, hath caufed me to intreate of it before any other metall. And this the rather for that th[e]orde of
this prefente worke [feejmeth fo to requyre, that I may the better defcende to the degrees of other metals, to
th[e]ende that in thefe owre partes of Italy, yow may haue fum inftruction of practife, whiche may redounde
from yow to other, whereby the m3Tides of all men may receaue fum lyght : beinge well afliired that newe
informations, wilbe the feedes of other newe wittie diuifes in the vnderftandynges of fuche men as with tbefe
keys fhall open theyr wyttes to arryue to fuche places whyther they can not els coomme or by any meanes
approche. And nowe therfore, byfyde that which I haue fayde vnto yowe in generall, I wyl further in particular
declare the nature hereof and the generation of the fame, with alfo the fignes whiche it flieweth furth, that I
do not om) tte any thynge. Laft of all, I wyll fliewe yowe howe it owght to bee pourged from luperfluou
36a
Of the generation of metals.
363
earthynes of the mine, after that I flial haue exprefled the maner howe it is founde. But forafmuch as I haue
not with mine eyes feene the mountaines which conteyne the mynes of golde, or the places where this thynge
is put in practife, I wyll only fhewe yow (hauynge made diligente inquifition for the fame) what hathe byn
toulde me of credible perfons, or what I haue gathered in readynge of dyuers autoures, by whom I am certified
for a truth that the greateft plentie of this metall, is founde in Scithia, in thofe prouinces which we commonly
caule the Ea(l partes, where the foonne extendeth his chiefe force and vigour. Of thefe places India is thought
to be the chiefe, and efpecially thofe Ilandes which the fhips of Th[e]emperours maieflie and the kynge of
Portugale haue founde of late : as the Ilandes about Feru and Faria with the Srme lande of the fame which
extendeth it felues very farre on both fydes the Equinoctiall. In Europe alfo, golde is founde in many
places : as in AJlefia, and in many places in Boheme. Alfo in Hungarie, in Rhene, and in Apfa. Plinie fayth
that it is lykewyfe founde in Aujlria and in Portugale : and that the Romans had from thenfe yearely. xxiiii.
[twenty-four] pounds weyght And thus fpeakynge of this precious metall, I beleue certeynly, that it is and may
be engendered in all fuche places wherthe influence of the heuens difpofeth the elementall caufes to brynge furth
an apte fubflaunce for this purpofe. But nowe intendynge more particularly to fpeake of the places of the con-
ception hereof, yowe fhall vnderflande that it is engendered in dyuers kyndes of flones in great and rowgh
mountaynes, and fuche as are vtterly bare of earth, trees, grafle, or herbes. And amonge all the flones of this
myne, that is bed which is of a blewe or afurine coloure lyke vnto a faphire, and is commonly cauled Lapis
Lazuli. But it is not bryght and harde as is the faphire. It is alfo founde in orpemente cauled Auripigvientum :
but more often in the mynes of other metals. It is lykewyfe founde in many prouinces in the fandes of ryuers.
That which is founde in the mountaines lyeth in order of veynes betwene quarrey and quarrey ioyned with the
fayde Azurine ilone and myxte therwith. They faye that this myne is fo much the better in howe much it is
the heuyer and of hyghe colour, fhewyng in it many fparkes of gold. They fay furthermore that it is engendered
in an other flone lyke vnto falte marble : but it is of a deade colour. And alfo in an other whofe colour is
yelowe with certeyne redde fpots within it They affirme lykewyfe that it is founde in certeine blacke flones,
whofe veynes fprede dyuers wayes much like the courfes of ryuers. They further declare that it is founde in a
certeyne bituminous earth, of coloure lyke vnto cley and very heauy, hauynge in it a great fauour of brymftone :
And that the golde which is founde in this, is very good, and in maner all togyther fyne, yet very harde to bee
gotten owte, bycaufe it confyfleth of fo fmaule fparkes lyke vnto inuifible atomes of fuch lytelneffe that they can
hardely bee perceaued with the eye. And herein may yow not do as in Lapis Lazuli, or other flones, or as the
maner is to do with that which is found in the fands of ryuers : the which the more it is waffhed, the more it
fauleth to the bottome : and in meltynge with the mother of his earthines, doth incorporat it felfe therwith in a
brickie fubflance. But in fine, with much pacience and by one meanes or an other, or by the helpe of quicke-
fyluer, it is drawen owt. Ageyne (as I haue fayde before) it is found in the fandes of dyuers ryuers, as in Spayne
in the ryuer Tago : in Tracia, in Ebro : In Afia, in Fatolo and Ganges. In Hungarie and Boheme, it is founde
in iMfiefia in dyuers ryuers : And in Italie, in the fands of Tefino, Adda, and Fo. But not euery where in the
beddes of theyr chancls, but in certeyne particular places where in certeyne cloddes the fande is difcouered in
the tyme of the ouerflowynge of the ryuers when the water leaueth behynde it a fine fande wherwith the fayde
golde is myxte in the forme of certeyne fmaule fcales, and fhynynge graynes. Then in the fommer feafon, with
pacience and ingenious practife, the fearchers to pourge it from the grofe earthinefle of the myne, and waffhe it
diligently : preparynge for that effecte, certeyne tables made eyther of the tymber of plane trees, or elme, or
whyte nuttes, or fuch other woodde apte to be fawen, hauing theyr playnes made ful of hackes, and notches, with
the helpe of the fawe or fuch other inflrumentes of iren. Vpon thefe tables flandynge fumwhat a flope or
declynynge, with a holowe fhouel they cad a great quantitie of water myxt with the fayde fande, which they cafl
fo, that the water runne downe directly alonge with the tables. And by this meanes the gold, as a matter mofl
heuy, fauleth to the bottome of the fawne hackes, and there reftynge and cleauynge fafl, is fo diuided from the
fande. When therfore they perceaue a fufticient quantitie of golde thus remaynynge on the tables, they gather
it with diligence and put it in a trey or great fhallowe dyffhe of wod lyke vnto thofe which the golde finers vfe :
And in thefe they waffhe it more exactly ageyne and ageyne from al fylth or vnclenlynefle. This doone, they
beate or mixte (or amalgame it as they caule it) with Mercuric or quickfyluer, whiche afterward they feperate
ageyne from the fame eyther by ftraynyng and prefTynge it through a bagge of lether, or by flyllynge or
euaporatynge the quickefyluer from it in a (lyllatory of glaffe and fo fynde they the golde remaynynge in the
bottome of the veffell in the lykenes of fine fande, which they brynge into a metalline body by meltynge it with
a lyttle borage, or fait petre or blacke fope, and fo cafl it eyther in the forme of a wedge or a rodde, or other-
wyfe as lyketh them befl. And this is the ejfacte nrjaner of drawyijge golde owt of the fandes of riuers, which
many haue vfed to theyr great commoditie : And that the rather bycaufe that in folowyng this order of woorke
in the pourgynge and diuydynge of golde, it fliall not bee requifite as in other maner of practifes, to bee at greate
charges by reafon of many men which fliall be needefuU, with manye murals, fomaces, fiers, and dyuers artificers :
36J
Where moste
plentie of golde is
found.
Cathay.
335
Golde in the
Ilande[s] of the
weste indies.
Golde in Europe^
The influenc[e] of
heauen.
Ihe mountaynes
and stones in the
whiche golde is
engendered.
Lapis Lazuli.
Orpemente.
Golde in other
metals.
Golde in the
sandes of ryuers.
Gold in earth.
Golden duste.
Ryuers in the
which gold is
founde.
The wasshing
and pourgeinge
of golde.
Howe golde is
deuided fromc
sande.
The Spanyardes
make these
disshes with
handels.
The draweinge
out of golde with
quicke siluer.
336
3^4
Of the generation of metals.
From whense
golde is deriued
into the sondes
of ryuers.
That golde is not
engendered in the
sandes of huers.
This mater is
apparent in the
golde founde in
the ryuers in the
Indies.
The faule of
waters from
montaynes.
337
Springes of water
in mountaynes.
Vegetable golde
gTowingc owt of
the earthe.
O/this^ retitie
A Uxancier ah
AUxandra. lib^
4 GeHialium
dUrum. Caf. 9-
Golde founde in
A deade mans
headc
wheras in woorkyng after this forte, one man may fuffice with one table and one holowe fhoouell, with a lyttle
q'lickefyluer and fufficient abundaunce of water. But lettyng paffe to fpeake any further of thefe thynges :
perhappes fumme man wolde here demaunde from whenfe this golde is deryued into the fandes of the fayde
ryuers, and whether it be browght thyther by the water, or engendered there. As touchynge which queftion, I
haue often tymes deliberated with my felfe not withowt great marueyle : and efpecially of that which is founde
in the fandes of the ryuers of Tefino, Adda, and Po, bicaufe (wheras I haue fayde before that it is browght
thyther by the courfe of the water) I can not perceaue from whenfe it fhuld be browght, forafmuch ai there is
no myne of golde, or of any other metal that is knowen, nere to any of thofe places. By reafon whorof, my
iudgemente is in maner confounded, feinge alfo that it is th[e]oppinion of certeyne wryters, that it is engendered
euen where it is founde : The which, if it fo be, it is not trewe that it is browght thyther by the water. Ageyne,
if it be engendered there, it feemeth to me a dyfficult thyng to comprehend whether it be brought furthe there
by the vertue of the water or the earth, or the heauen. If furthermore any of thefe fhuld be the caufe of the
generation hereof, it feemethe agreable to reafon that it fhulde bee both founde and engendered throughowt all
the beddes of fuch riuers, and at al tymes. And if the influence of heauen be the mod prepotent caufe of
this eifecte, then it feemeth to me that it Ihuld woorke immediatly, bicaufe it can not otherwyfe obferue
th[e]order whiche nature vfeth in the generation of metals : fyril brynginge it furth to the open (hewe, in the
place where aboundeth the continuall iffliewe of water, which owght alfo to be of fuch force as to remoue the
earthy fubflaunce thereof from place to place, and not to intermixte fuch great inequalitie of couldeneffe and
moiflnes. And albeit that this compofition begunne in this order, fhuld not be difleuered or broken by the
waters of the ryuers, yet it appeareth to me that the fhowers of rayne and increafe of fluddes, fhulde be of
fufficient poure to. didemper, breake, and vtterly deflroy all fuch compofitions as fhulde be engendered in fuch
places, forafmuch al thynges are conceaued by refl and quietneffe after the commixtion of the fyrfle elementes.
And therfore if this golde of the ryuers, bee there engendered where it is founde, I wolde it were declared vnto
me why it is engendered only in thefe places and not in other : and why in lyke maner, fyluer, copper, leade, or
any other metals are not alfo engendered there as well as golde, beinge matters of an eafyer compofition of
nature then it is, by reafon of the perfecte vnitie and concordaunce with puritie of fubflaunce and perfecte
concoction which is in golde aboue all other metals : whereas alfo in many places in the territories of Rome,
there are founde many fparkes of the mine of iren of blacke colour amonge the fandes of certeyne fmaule ryuers :
And yet thefe only in certeyne particular places of the fayde riuers : wherby it appeareth that thefe alfo, fhulde
not bee engendered where they are founde. By all which reafons and apparent effectes, it feemeth mofl agre-
able to truth that the golde which is found in fuch fandes, is rather brought thyther by the water, then engen-
dered there. And therefore to declare my mynde more playnely herein, I fuppofe that this chaunceth only in
great ryuers which receaue abundaunce of waters of dyuers fpringes, foffes, and other ryuers, engendered partly
of the meltynge of fnowe and partly of great fhowers of rayne, whiche faulyng in certeyne chanels from the
toppes and fydes of [the] minerall mountaynes, waffhe away parte of the earth of theyr bankes and the ouer-
hanginge and holowe rockes which may conteyne the fubflaunce of golde : Or otherwyfe, that in fuch places, there
are ordinarie mines in the hyghe mountaynes or other fuperficiall owt places, perhappes inceffable and eyther fuch
whyther men can not come for extreme heate or cold or other hynderaunces, or els fuch as they haue contemned
to fearche : And yet the fame to bee fo confumed by the force of water as we haue fayde, and by the courfe
therof to bee caried into the ryuers. It may alfo chaunce that fuche mynerall earthes bee farre within the
mountaynes neare vnto fuch ryuers : And that in the fpace of many yeares, the fprynges iflhewynge owt of the
fame, may eyther bee dryed vp (whiche thyng hath byn feene) or els turne theyr courfe an other way So that
it is no maniayle if in fuch a multitude of yeres, the trewe originall of thefe thynges bee vnknowen euen vnto
them that dwell nere fuch places. But in fine, howe fo euer it bee, trewe it is that golde is founde in the fandes
of many riuers : And particularly (as I haue noted) in the forenamed ryuers. And if therefore I haue mar-
uayled at this thynge, I owght worthely to bee excufed, forafmuch as where iudgement can not bee certified by
reafon or effectuall app[e]arence, there arife many doubtfull coniectures and newe caufes of admiration. But
yet do I maruel much more of an other thyng the which I am informed to bee mofl trewe by the report of
many credible perfons : That is, that in fum places of Hungarie at certeyne tymes of the yeare, pure golde
fpryngeth owte of the earthe in the lykeneffe of fmaule herbes, wrethed and twyned lyke fmaule flalkes of
hoppes, about the byggeneffe of a pack threade, and foure fyngers in length or fume a handfuU. As concem-
ynge which thynge, Plinie alfo in the. xxxiii. [thirty-third] boke of his naturall hyRorie, wryteth the lyke to haue
chaunced in Dalmatia in his tyme. The which (if it bee trewe) fuerly the hufbande men of thefe fieldes fhall
reape heauenly and not earthly frutes, fent them of god from heauen, and browght furth of nature withowt theyr
trauayle or arte. A grace doubtleffe mofl efpecial, fyth that in fo great a quantitie of earth graunted to the
poffeffion of men, in maner onely this is thought woorthy fo hygh a priuileage. But what fhall I fay of that
wherof Albertus Magnus wryteth in his booke of minerals, aflSrmynge that he hath feene golde engendered in a
Of the generation of metals.
365
deade mans heade : And that the fame beinge founde by chaunce in dyggynge, and perceaued by the weyght
and coloure to conteyne fum minerall fubftaunce, was proued by experience to holde a portion of fine golde
mixte with fmaule fande. And in deede his woordes feeme to found to none other fence but only that this
precious inetall was engender[e]d there by the great difpofition of the place and (Ironge influence of heauen :
The which fuerlie is a thynge hardely to be beleued. Yet confyderynge th[e]autoritie of fo greate a clerke,
with the force of the fuperiour caufes and the maruelous poure of nature, I had rather gyue fayth hereto then
raffliely to contemne the iudgement of fo greate a clarke. And forafmuche as I haue begun to tell yow of thefe
eifectes, I wyll not omytte to fliewe yowe of a flraunge thynge which chaunced alfo in a part of Hungarie, where
a myne of gold was fo found by chaunce and vnfought for, that it may neuerthelefle be an aduertifement to
other to fearche diligently. So it is therefore, that a woman of the contrey beinge accuflomed to reforte with
her bucke of clothes to waffhe them in a certeyne fofle or dike where ranne a lyttle water, and vfynge to beate
and rubbe them vppon a flone which feemed commodious for her purpofe, chaunced at the length by her good
fortune to efpie on the flone, a veyne of golde trauerfyng or ouertwhartinge the fame abowte the byggeneffe of
a grofe packe threede, (hewynge fayre and bright by reafon of her much rubbynge. Wherat marueylynge dayly
more and more, at the length opened the matter to her familiers : who conferrynge with fuch as hadde better
(kyll of the thynge, founde it in fine to bee a veyne of pure golde : And that the quarrie of that (lone, trauerfed
the courfe of the water of the foffe. Remouynge therfore the water, and turning the courfe thereof an other
waye, they beganne to dygge and folow the mine which hath now continued certeine. C. [hundred] yeares fence
it was fyrfl found : And hath not only greatly enriched that contrey, But alfo all Chriflendome hath had great
commoditie by the fame. This haue I rehearfed vnto yow the rather that yow (hulde not bee negligent in any
poynt or omitte any figne or token wherebye yowe may bee certified of greate thynges : not contemnynge the
(hadowe of any fmaule tokens : but afwel to gyue attentyue eare and eye vnto them, as to feare and forefee all
fuch thynges as may hynder. For (as yow may hereby well perceaue) if credit had not fyrfl byn gyuen to the
woordes of the fimple wooman, and the thynge afterwarde well folowed, perhappes they fhulde neyther nor euer
hereafter haue enioyed the frute of fo great a commoditie. Men therfore of good courage folowynge fuche
ryche fignes, dyd nother feare the fmauleneffe of the veyne or hardneffe of the (lone : prefuppofynge by good
reafon that golde and fyluer can not lyghtly bee founde in fo fmaule quantitie, but that the fame fhal be able to
furmounte the charges. And this the more, in howe much the further yowe (hall enter into the (lone, as
chaunceth commonly in all other mynes. Albeit, the practifed fearchers, faye that the myne of golde is not
founde in fuch great quantitie as are the mines of other metals. Wherin although perhappes they fay trewly,
yet dooth it not folowe but that golde also maye be; founde in greate quantitie. And fuerly it feemeth to me, that
the benignitie of nature hath graunted large quantities thereof to the worlde, and that much hath euer byn and
is founde amonge men, confyderynge in how many places it is dayly gathered afwel in mountaynes as in
fendes of ryuers, byfyde that whiche is founde accompanied and ioyned with other metals. A further profe
hereof may that bee, which is confumed and hydde by the dyuers inuentions of men : As that whiche the
paynters bedowe in adoumynge theyr woorkes : And goldefmythes both in gyltynge other metals and alfo in
makynge dyuers woorkes of mafTie golde : byfyde that which the woorker of clothe of golde and arras doo
confume : with fuch as imbrotherers and fylke woomen fpende abowt the vanities of men and womens apparell
and tyrementes. Alfo fuch as is confumed vppon trappers and fumimentes for horfes, with gylted harneffe and
fuch other fumptuoufnelfe as perteyneth to the warres and magnifical buyldinges of noble mens houfes and
temples : Byfyde that alfo whiche the couetoufneffe of men hath hydde in (Ironge waules, and buryed in the
grounde, inclofed in chayned cofers locked with triple keyes : And that which ferueth to the dayly vfes of men
and wandereth about the worlde through the handes of marchauntes. The whiche thynges well confydered,
who fo thinketh that nature bringeth furth but lyttle golde, (hall perceaue that there is greate quantitie therof in
the worlde, although there bee but fewe that haue fo much as may fatiffie the third of theyr couetoufne(re. And
to fpeake particularly of Italie, althoughe there bee no myne of golde knowen in it, yet by the vertue and
diligence of good wyttes, it hath euer and at all ages byn more ryche then many other prouinces : Notwith-
flandynge it hath often tymes byn fpoyled and ouerrunne of dyuers nations, as nowe of late in owre tyme by the
cniell handes of the Barbarians which entered into it abowt. xl. [forty] yeares pade. But who knoweth (as hath
chaunced in the dayes of owre valient predicelfors) whether Godde wyll ageyne gyue vs occafion to chadife them
and fo to inuade theyr regions that wee maye woonne owre owne ageyne with increafe of dowble vfurie. Or if
he wyll not permitte this, perhappes he wyll graunte vs to fynde fum ryche myne of golde. For, confyderynge
and feynge that this owre region of Italie is replenyffhed with as many excellent thynges as in maner heauen
can gyue to any habitable place, it is not to bee thought that this benefite of golde fhulde bee wantynge, wheras
it bryngeth furth fuch plentie of al other mines except this of golde and tynne. And yet doo I verely beleue
that it is not withowt the mynes of thefe alfo, although they be not yet difcouered to the knowleage of men :
As I am perfuaded bothe by the golde that is founde in the fayd ryuers, and alfo by the dyuers and fundry
365
A myne of golde
founde by chaunce.
A vayne of golde
in a stone.
No signes to be
omitted.
338
Golde is not
founde in like
quantitie as are
other metals.
Argumentcs of
plentye of golde.
Howe diucrs
wayes golde is
coasumed.
Many haue to
muche, but fewe
haue enowgh.
Italie wasted by
the barbarians.
Commendacion
of Italic
Golde and tynne
Mcane minerals.
366
Of the generation of metals.
The golde of
Italic.
Golde contayned
in other metals.
The maner of
pourginge of golde.
339
Lapis lazuli.
Asure.
Howe golde is
drawen frome
Lapis lazuli with
quickesyluer.
The baine or
test of leade.
TTie maner of
pourginge golde
with leade.
Whether syluer
haue A mine by
hit selfe or no.
CeorgiusAgricola .
A table of mineral
syluer.
Tlie workcs of
nature.
Mixtc metales.
meane minerals which are founde in many places and adiudged of the practicionars to bee certeyne cleare
tokens of theyr proper and natural agentes. But for that they are not found, felte, or feene, we owght not
therby to affirme that they are not To conclude therfore, I thinke that in owr partes of Italic, pure golde is
none other wayes founde (excepte that which is currant amonge the marchauntes) then after twoo fortes, wherof
the one is that which is founde in the fandes of ryuers : And the other, that whiche is gotten by the induflrious
and fubtyle art of partyng gold from new fyluer, or from giltyng fyluer, or other metals which hold gold, as there
are in maner but fewe which hold not fura fmaul portion therof, more or leffe according to the mi.xtion and
permanencie of theyr fubftances, or accordynge to the qualitie and force of the pianettes which e.xpreffe theyr
influence in the generation of them. And in fine, this is the golde that which is founde in owre partes of Italie.
Nowe therfore to retume to the matter whereof is owre chiefe intente to intreate, hauynge before fpoken fuffici-
ently of the generation and inuention of the myne of golde, I wyll further declare vnto yowe howe it owght to
be pourged from earthly fuperfluitie, and efpecially that whiche is founde lyinge in the forme of veynes, and
although I haue not feene the edifi[c]es and engens wherwith the myners are accuftomed to get it owt, yet wyll
I fhewe yow howe by other practifes I haue learned to pourge it, that yow may not bee without fum knowleage
yf your fortune fhalbe fo good as to fynde any in Italy. When yow haue therfore dygged owt the myne and
placed it in order, yow owght to confider in what kynde of llone it is engendered. And if it bee in that which
is cauled Lapis Lazuli, then mufle yow fo drawe owte the golde that yowe alfo faue the Hone, bycaufe perfecte
Afure is made therof, and fuch as the paynters caule Azurro Oltramarino, that is, Afure of beyonde the fea,
which they greatly efteme and bye it deare. And to do this, it is neceffary that yowe fyrfl beate it into fine
pouder, and then put it in a trey or brode treene dyfflie, and waffhe it fayre and cleane with water. This
done amalgame or rubbe it well with quickefyluer vntyll it haue lycked vppe and drawne al the golde into it
and left the (lone pure of it felfe. Then (Irayne the quickefyluer from the golde through a bagge of lether, or
vapour it away in a flyllatorie of glaffe : And thus (hal yowe fynde the golde in the bottome of the veflell in
maner pure without quickefyluer, as I haue fayde before. And if yow haue no refpecte to faue the flone, it
fhall fuffice to vfe the common experience, meltynge it in a fornace in a bayne or telle of leade. But in my
opinion, the bed maner to brynge it to pureneffe, is fyrfl. to burne the mine with a gentell fyre in an open
fornace, and to fuffer it to euaporate well if it bee not in fuch flone as yowe defyre to faue. Then grynde it in
a mylle or beate it with peflel'es adapted with a wheele vntyll it be browght to fine pouder. And when yow
haue wel wafflied it and fo much wafled the fuperfluous earthyneife therof, then put it in a telle made
accordynge to the quantitie of the fame, and melt it therin with leade whiche yowe fhall confiime partely by
vapoure and partely with drawynge it owt by the fyde of the telle (as is the maner) vntyll yowe come to the
pure golde whiche yowe fhall in fine brynge to perfecte pureneffe in vtterly confumynge the remanent of the
leade with vehement fire increafed by the helpe of flronge bellowes. And this is the vniuerM maner which
yow may vfe not only in pourgynge the myne of golde, but alfo the mynes of all other metals.
S^ Of the myne offtluer and the qualitie therof
Here are (as I vnderflande) diuers opinions emonge the practitionars of the mynes, whether
fyluer haue a proper myne by it felfe or no. The reafons of fuche as writte of the natures of
mineralles, and th[e]autoritie of the mod, perfuade me to affent to the affirmatiue : Not only
to fee the naturall matter diflincte, as is to perceaue in the mynes of golde, copper, leade and
other metals whiche in theyr mynes are found pure by them felues without mixtion, but alfo
that I vnderlland that there hath bin found likewyfe certeyne pieces afwell of this mettall of
filuer, as of gold and copper, browght to his lade fyneffe by th[e]only worke of nature. And
this dooth Gcorgius Ap'icola a lerned man of Germany confirrae in his booke of minerals where he writteth
that in Saxonie there was found in a caue a piece of mineral filuer of fuch bignes, that the duke the prince and
patrone of that place, caufed a chayre and fquare dyninge table after the maner of Almanye to be made therof
withqwte any further woorke of mans hande : Gloryinge often tymes that in this thynge he furmounted the
greatneffe and magnificence of the Emperoure. But in deede (excepte copper) I haue feene no metall taken
owte of the caue pure withowt his vre. Yet doo I beleeue it a thynge poffible, confyderinge the greate force and
poure of nature, th[e]ende of whofe woorkynge euer intendeth to bringe all thynges to perfection as farre as it is not
othenvyfe hyndered. Yet (as I haue fayde) of the mode parte of thofe mynes whiche I haue feene, none of
theym haue byii withowt mixture, not only of the earthe of their owne proper myne, but haue byn alfo myxte
with other metals : And efpecially this of fyluer more then any other, excepte onlye that which was digged in
Schio, in Vicmlina. And therefore not withowt fum fliadow of apparent reafon, haue fuche doubles rifm
366
Of the generation of metals.
367
amonge the practitionars of the mynes. And yet (as I haue fayd) I beleue that filuer may haue and hath his
proper mine, forafmuche as euery fubflaunce that maye be conuerted into metall, may afvvell flande by it felfe
pure in his owne kynde, as eyther feperate or mixte with other, as is often times feene in one maffe in the
whiche diuers metals are conteyned and engendered by nature. And by this meanes it often chaunceth that
he that fpeaketh of the mine of filuer, may with the fame brethe and withowt diflinction, fpeake alfo of all other
metales, forafmuche as there are but fewe mynes which are not mixte with other. But bycaufe the mofle
noble and ryche metals haue obteyned the prerogatiue to be eflemed aboue other, therfore the name of the
myne is gyuen to them wher they are mixte with other : as the mynes which holde copper, leade, or iren,
(as doo the mofle parte) yet if they holde alfo golde or fyluer, they are cauled gold mynes or fyluer mynes,
according vnto that which is founde in them to bee of mofl value. But to lette pafle this matter, yowe
(hall further vnderflande that when fuche mynes are mixte of dyuers metals, they fhew furth fo much
the more diuers and variable fumofites of tinctures and marchafites, as fignes where they bee and of what
pureneffe : forafmuch as euery of them according to theyr natures, exalte theyr colours which they (hewe furthe
to the eye, fum in the fimilitude of afurine or blewe flones, fum greene, fum yelowe, and fum of vndiflinct
colours accordynge to the compofitions and mixtures of the fyrfl, matters of metals, which is alfo the caufe that
they are founde more or leffe in quantitie. Nowe to fpeake more particularly of this metall of fyluer, the
philofophers fpeculatours of naturall thynges, faye that it is engendered of fubflaunce more watery then
fyerie, of complexion feminine and flegmatike in comparifon to gold : receauynge more of th[e]influence of the
moone then of the fon, and therfore engendered more in coulde regions nerer vnto the moone, then in hotte
regions vnder the foonne : confifling alfo of pure elementes, although fumwhat crude and vndygefled in refpecte
of the elementes of golde as may bee plainely perceaued by theyr colours, weyght, and fixation. The practi-
cionars afRrme that it is engendered in a flone lyke vnto Albazano, and alfo in an other (lone of a niffet, deade,
and darke colour : And is often tymes founde in an other flone lyke vnto Treuertino or in Trenertino it felfe.
The myne hereof, is very ponderous, and hathe in it often tymes certeyne fhynynge graynes : The which howe
much the leffe they are like to the poynte of a needle fo muche is the myne founde to bee the perfecter,
bycaufe this is a token of pureneffe and fixion. And when it is founde in a whyte flone, or leade flone, it is fo
muche the better, bycaufe it maye be the eafyer pourged from the flone and earthyneffe. When alfo it is
founde lyinge as it were loofe amonge certeine fcales or cloddes of earth, they faye that it is perfecte, although
it haue not to the eye fuche refplendence as other are wonte to haue. They fay alfo that it is engendered in an
earth of darke ruffet colour : And that when it is founde in this, it is of great quantitie and perfection, and that
there is great plcntie therof within the mountayne : This alfo to be fo much the better in howe much more it is
fhynynge of the coloure of iren or redde. And that yowe may the better comprehend the fignes of the myne of
the forefayde metall, yowe fhall vnderiland that eueh togyther with the myne, eyther where it is fyrfle founde,
or nere vnto the fame, yowe fhall fee certeyne marchafites of yelowe coloure lyke vnto golde. The which, the
more they holde of fuche hyghe colour, fo much the more do they fhewe adufl or burnt matter and heate, as
thynges contrary to the nature of theyr metals. And therfore accordynge to the degrees of fuche colours,
yow may in maner iudge of what fatnes or leaneneffe the myne is lyke to bee. Such marchafites therfore
as fhewe the befl fignes of the goodneffe of theyr mynes, owght in coloure to approche to whyteneffe as
much as may bee, and to confyfl of fmaule graynes, and not in greate quantitie. And this is a generall rule of
all marchafites, that howe much the narower and leffe they are, the more do they fhewe the goodneffe of theyr
myne. This myne of fyluer is alfo often times founde in a veyne of great quantitie, and yet fo leane in
qualitie that it wyll not beare the charge of the dyggyng, bicaufe it is founde in a harde flone lyke vnto
Aibazano, beinge verye harde to bee dygged or broken. Sum tymes alfo. it is found in the company of
copper or leade : The which lykewyfe if it do not furmount the value of the charges, it is not to bee
folowed. Otherwhyles alfo, it fo chaunceth that thefe thre metals are founde accompanyed togyther in one
myne : In whiche cafe it fhalbe neceflarie to vfe aduertifement of arte. And prefuppofynge that yowe defyre
to feparate the fyluer frome the other metall, it is neceffarie that yowe increafe the leade. But if yow paffe
not to faue neyther the fyluer nor the leade, but only the copper, it fhalbe requifite to proceade with longe
and great fyers vntyl the weakefl matters bee confumed. But this owght to be doone efpecially in fuch mines
as hold iren. Yet neyther for this or thofe, can there any general rule be gyuen, but that accordynge vnto
theyr qualitie and nature, fo owght they to be diuided : And this fo much the more in that they are often
tymes mixte with fum drye earthe, or with a quantitie of antimonie or arfenike, which are matters altogyther
euaporable and bumte, or of harde fubflaunce to bee reduced to fufion or meltynge : In fo much that the
artificers fumtymes beinge ouercumme of them, leaue them as thynges vnprofitable. Wherof there can none
other caufe often times be gyuen, then theyr owne ignoraunce by reafon of extraordinarie and longe fyers whiche
they gyue them. And therefore they woorke inordinately in fuch kynd of mynes, except they accompanie them
in the fufion or meltynge with fuch thinges as may defende them from the fyer. For wheras is fuche abun-
■07
340
Diuers meta1<( in
one masse.
In the Indies
golde founde in
greate quantitie,
pure and vnmixte.
The coulours of
mineral fumosites.
The generacion
and qualitie of
siluer.
The influences
of the mone.
Stones in the
which syluer is
engendered.
The myne of
syluer.
The mountayne.
Marchasites of
syluer.
What marchasites
are the bestr
signes.
Syluer myn[e]s
in harde stones.
Syluer with
copper or leade.
The deuyding of
siluer from other
metals.
341
Iren.
Metals mixte with
Antimonie or
Arsnike
Howe metals are
presented m
fusion.
368
Of the generation of metals.
Sulphur and
mercury e.
Grinding and
wasshinge of
mynes.
The amalgfamynge
of mines with
Mercury.
Mines holdynge
the fourthe part
of stluer.
Copper holdinge
syluer.
Thre vnces vi. of
siluer in euery
hundreth of mine
War betwene
Maximilian
Th[eJemperour
and the Venecians.
The mynes of
Ahnanye.
The marchasite
mixte with the
myne.
342
daunce eyther of burnte matter, or of fuperfluous wateryneffe, wherof the one is cauled Sulphur or brymRone,
and the other Mercurie or quickfyluer not fixed, or arfenike, it is neceflarie that the one bume the fyluer, and
the other cary it a way, fo that of the myne there refleth none other then an earthye fubdaunce infufible and
not able to bee molten. To faue the fayde myne therefore it fhalbe requifite to vfe difcretion with much
pacience and conueniente meanes, fyrfte after the common maner of woorkynge to euaporate the myne (as wee
haue fayde) or withowt euaporation to grinde it fmaule : then to waffhe it often, and in fine, if not by great
fyers, at the leafle by great baynes or tefles of leade to pourge it And to brynge this effect the more eafely to
paffe as much as may be, after that it is grounde yow owght to proue in the fame grindynge or in an other,
if it may be amalgamed with Mercurie which is the bed maner of profe, if the myne bee of a drye nature : And
I knowe that it hath bynne vfed of many to theyr greate profyte : And efpecially in thofe forte of mynes which
I fayde before to bee dygged in Vigaitina in Schio, beinge very ryche and good. Proue it therfore. For all
kyndes of mines do not receaue it And of this wherof I haue fpoken, I haue intelligence that there hath bynne
pieces founde holdynge a fourth part of fyluer, and fum more then halfe. And this was founde lyinge in maner
in the fuperficiall parte of the earth : and fum tymes in pathes and high wayes. It hath alfo bin founde vnder
the rootes of fuche trees as haue byn ouerthrowen by tempefte : and this very perfecte. So that emonge all the
mynes whiche I haue feene in the dominions of Venice, as in Carnia and in many other places, I can not faye
that I haue feene any better : Although there bee many caues wherof the mofl. parte are of copper holdinge
fyluer : and emonge other, that in the mountayne of Auanzo, where I in the company of certeyne other gentle-
men caufed a caue to bee digged. And bycaufe the hole charge was committed to mee, I wente by occafion
twyfe into high Almanye to fee the mynes of that countrey, wherby I might haue the better experience to faule
to practyfe at my retume. In fo much that I founde the mine which we had taken in hande to folowe, to bee
very good and rj'che : holdynge more then three vnces and a halfe of fyluer in euery hundreth of the myne.
And doubtleffe we (huld haue obteyned great commoditie hereby if fortune at that tyme had not rayfed warre
betwene Maximilian Th[e]emperoure and the fignorie of Venece : which was the caufe that thofe places of Frioli
and Carnia, coulde not be quietly inhabited : whereby we were enforced to forfake owre enterpryfe, and to rafe
and dellroy th[e]order which we had begunne. And by reafon that the warres continued longe, we were con-
(Irayned to diuide owr company, where I alfo departed an other way, hauyng euer in mynde to folowe owre
attempted enterpryfe when better oportunitie (hulde ferue. In the meane tyme returnyng ageine into hyghe
Almanie, I made more diligent fearche to knowe the mynes then before : and went to Sbozzo, Plaiper, /[»]■
fpruch. Alia, and Arottinbergh : frome whenfe I wente into dyuers places of Italy. So that to conclude,
the mofl and befl mynes whiche I haue fene to holde mofl of fyluer, are thofe that are founde in
Vicentina in certeyne Hones of a dark grey, or ruffet colour, as I haue fayde before. And nowe
for a generall aduertifement, I wyll not omyt to tell yow, that when yow haue attempted to
dygge any mynes, and haue founde the marchalite and the myne myxt togyther, yowe
fhall leaue of yowre woorke, bycaufe it fignifieth that the myne is neare to the fuper-
ficiall part of the earth, and that it is of but lyttle quantitie. And thus as
touchyng this myne of fyluer, I can fay no more fauynge that I haue not
yet Ihewed yowe the maner of pourgynge it from earthely grofenes
and to brynge it to perfect metall. But bycaufe I haue deter- '
myned to fpeake largely hereof in the proper place of the
fufion or meltynge of all metals, I haue thowght
good to fpeake no further of this matter at
this prefente.
Of the generation of metals.
369
THE MANER OF WORKYNGE IN GOLDE
MYNES IN EGIPTE IN OWLD TYME, AFTER THE
DESCRIPTION OF DIODORVS SICVLVS, WHO WROTTE HIS HISTORIE
cauled Bibliotheca, fumwhat before the dayes of th[e]emperoure
Octauianus Auguftus, and before th[e]incarnation of
Chrift abowt. xl. [forty] yeares.
He wryteth therefore in his fourthe booke as foloweth.
E haue not thowght good to pretermit howe golde is founde, digged, and wrought amonge the
Egiptians. In the confines therefore of Egipte where it borthereth with Ethiopia and Arabia,
there are certeyne places frutefull of metalles, owt of the whiche, golde is digged with great
laboure and expenfes. For a blacke earthe of minerale nature, hath certeyne vaynes of mofle
white marble exceadinge bright and fhyninge. The furueyours of this woorke, haue affigned
them a great company of men to woorke and coyne golde. For the kinges of Egipte are
accuflomed to appoynte to thefe paynefull trauailes, all fuche as haue byn conuicte for cer-
teyne crimes and condemned by lawes, or taken prifoners in the warres, or fuche as haue byn committed to
prifon through the indignation of princes who by this meanes haue bothe great vantage by theyr laboure, and
punyfhe them fufiiciently for theyr offenfes. For barbarous and flrange fouldiers of diuers languagies, bare rule
ouer them and keepe them to theyr worke, in fuche forte that th[e]ufe of fpeache beinge taken from theym, they
can not bee corrupted by loue or intreatie. They drawe golde owt of the hardefl earth decocte with much fyer.
The fofteft flone which is broken with meane labour, is digged with inftrumentes of iren by the trauayle of many
thoufands of men. The fcrier which decemeth the veines of the myne, go[e]th before the workemen, appoynt-
ing them the places where they fhall digge. The marble flone whiche he fheweth theim, they breake and
cleaue with wedgies of iren by the mere (Irength of theyr bodies withowte arte. They make theyr fofle or caue,
not right furthe, but as the bright nature of the golden marble leadeth them, beinge otherwyfe darke and obfcure
by reafon of theyr fundry turnes and bendinges diuers wayes. The labourers caryinge lyght before theyr for[e]-
heades, digge great flones owt of the myne, whyche they let faule on the ground. From this labour they neuer
reft, inforced to contynual woorke with ftrokes and contumelious woordes. Children of th[e]age of. xii. [twelue]
or. xiii. [thirteen] yeares or vppewarde, are diuided into two companyes, whereof the one breake the ftones into
fmaule pieces, and the other cary furth that which is broken. They that are paft th[e]age of. xxx. [thirty]
yeares, receaue the fayd broken ftones at theyr hands and beate them in veflels of ftone with maules of iren, to
the quantitie of tares or fytches : which afterward they caft into many miJles, whereby the laboure of two or
three women or owlde men to euery mylle, they are grounde as fmaule as meale. The fylthinefle of the bodies
of thefe labourers, is apparent to all men. For not fo muche as their priuie members are couered with any
thinge : And theyr bodies byfyde fo fylthy, that no man can beholde them withowt compaflion of theyr miferie.
But no pitie, no refte, no remiflion is graunted them, whether they bee men or women, younge or owlde, fycke
or feeble : But are all with ftrokes inforced to continuall labour vntyl the poore wretches faynt and often tymes
dye for extreme debilitie : In fo much that many of them for feare of theyr lyfe to coomme (which they thynke
woorfe then the prefent payne) preferre death before lyfe. When they haue thus grounde the ftones very
fmaule, they caft that fubftaunce vppon brode tables inclynynge fumwhat ftiepe or ftandynge a flope, and caft
water thereon, fterynge continually the fayde pouder of marble : by the meanes wherof the earth and vre of the
myne is waffhed away, and the golde as the heauier matter remayneth on the tables. When they haue doone
thus often tymes, they ouertume the golde continually with theyr handes and rub it with thynne fpoonges, owt
of the which they prefle a fofte earth, and thus continewe vntyll the pure metall remayne lyke vnto golden fande.
After that this preparation is fynyfftied, other woorkemen receauynge it at theyr handes by meafure and weyght,
caft it into earthen pottes, puttynge thereto a certeyne portion of leade, with branne of barly, and weedes of
the fea cauled reites or oufe. Thefe thynges proportioned accordingly, tliey clofe the pottes diligently with
cley, and fo let them ftand in a fumefle with fyer for the fpace of fyue continuall dayes and nyghtes. In which
fpace, al other thinges of contrary mixture beinge confumed, only the golde is found in the veflels, fumwhat
diminyffhed of the fyrft weyght. And by this labour and diligence is golde poflefled in the furtheft parte of
Egypt. Wherby, euen nature her felfe teacheth vs howe laborious it is in fyndynge, tedious in purfuinge, daun-
gerous in keepynge, and in vfe conftitute betwene pleafure and forowe.
Edeh. 2 E 369
Gold In a black
earthe, and white
marble
Then damned to
the metales as
nowe to the
galUes,
The scricr of the
vayne.
Golden marble.
The woorke of
chyldren.
Mylles.
The misery of
the miners
The pourglngc of
the metall frome
the vre.
The melting of
golde.
343
Alga.
371
[The Third English book on America,
Which is also
The First English Collection of Voyages, Traffics, & Discoveries.
SECTION VII.
The first two Voyages out of
England into Guinea,
ISS3-'SS4A.D.]
373
CTHE DISCRIPTION OF THE TWO VIAGES
MADE OWT OF ENGLAND INTO GVINEA IN AFFRIKE
AT THE CHARGES OF CERTEYNE MARCHAVNTES ADVENTVRERS
of the citie of London, in the yeare of owre Lorde.
M. D. LIII.
Hat thefe vyages to Guinea are placed after the booke of Metals as
feparate frome other vyages, the caufe hereof is, that after I had
delyuered the fayde booke of metalles to the handes of the
printers, I was defyred by certeyne my frendes to make fumme
mention of thefe viages, that fum memorie myght thereof remayne
toowrpofteritie if eyther iniquitie of tymeconfumyngeall thinges,
or ignoraunce creepynge in by barbaroufneffe and contempte of
knoweleage, (hulde hereafter bury in obliuion fo woorthy attemptes,
fo much the greatly er to bee eflemed as before neuer cnterpryfed
by Englyffhe men, or at the leafle fo frequented as at this prefent
they are and may bee to the greate commoditie of owre mar-
chauntes, if the fame be not hyndered by th[e]ambifion of fuch
as for the conqueftynge of fortie or fyftie myles here and there,
and erectynge of certeyne fortreffes or rather blockhoufes amonge
naked people, thinke them felues woorthy to bee lordes of
ha fe the worlde,enuying that other (hulde enioy the commodities
which they them felues can not holy poITelTe. And although fuch
as haue byn at charges in the difcouerynge and conquedynge of fuch landes, owght by good reafon to
haue certeyne priuilegies, preeminencies, and tributes for the fame, yet (to fpeake vnder correction) it may
feeme fumwhat rigorous and ageynfl good reafon and confcience, or rather ageynfl the charitie that owght
to bee amonge Chryflen men, that fuch as violentely inuade the dominions of other, fhuld not permit other
frendely to vfe the trade of marchandies in places neuer or feldome frequented of them, wherby theyr trade is
not hindered in fuch places where they them felues haue at theyr owne election appoynted the martes of theyr
trafike. But forafmuche as at this prefente it is not my intent to accufe or defend, approue or improue, I wil
ceafe to fpeake any further hereof, and proceade to the defcription of the fyrft viage as briefely and faythfully as
I was aduertifed of the fame by th[e]information of fuch credible perfons as made diligent inquifition to knowe
the truth hereof as much as fhalbe requifite, omyttynge to fpeake of many particular thynges not greatly necef-
farie to be knowen : whiche neuerthelefle with alfo th[e]exact courfe of the nauigation, fhal be more fully
declared in the fecond vyage. And if herein fauoure or frendfhyppe fhall perhappes caufe fum to thinke that
fum haue byn fharpely touched, let them laye a parte fauoure and frendfhippe and gyue place to truth, that honefl
men may receaue prayfe for well doinge, and lewde perfons reproche as the iufl. (lipende of theyr euyll defertes,
whereby other may bee deterred to do the lyke, and vertuous men encouraged to proceade in honefl attemptes.
But that thefe vyages may bee more playnely vnderflode of al men, I haue thowght good for this purpofe
before I intreate hereof, to make a breefe defcription of Affrica beinge that greate parte of the worlde, on whofe
Welle fyde begynneth the coafl of Guinea at Cabo Verde abowt the. xii. [twelve] degrees in latitude on this
fyde the Equinoctiall line, and two degrees in longitude from the meafurynge line, fo runnynge from the north
to the fouth and by eaR in fum places within v. iiii. and. iii. degrees and a halfe within the Equinoctiall,
and fo furth in maner directly eafl and by north for the fpace of. xxxvi. [thirty-six] degrees or there abowt in
longitude from the Wefl to the Eafl, as fhall more playnely appere in the defcryption of the feconde vyage.
2 E 2 573
Ambition.
Africa.
The coast of
Guinea.
374
The vyage to Guinea.
344
A BREEFE DESCRIPTION OF AfFRIKE.
Tunnes.
Bugia.
Tripoli-
Numidia.
Ilandes of Tunnes.
Malta.
The disertes of
Libia.
Barbaric.
Mauritania.
The kingdoms of
Fes and marrock.
Tremesin.
Oram.
Nassaquiber
Sallx
Azamor.
The Ilandes of
Canarie.
Guinea.
Ethiopians,
Marrocka
Fes.
Tremesin.
Guinea.
Africa the great.
Affrike the lesse.
Carthage.
Prester lohn.
Cape de Buona
Speranza.
The sea of sande.
Alcair.
345
From whense the
qucene of Saba
came.
ManicongnL
The earthly
Paradysc.
The trees of the
soonne and
moone.
[N AlTrica the leffe are thefe kyngedomes : The kyngedome of Tunes, and Condantina which is
at this day vnder Tunes, and alfo the region of Bugia, Tripoli, and Ezzab. This part of
Afrike is very baren by reafon of the greate defertes, as the defertes of Numidia and Barcha.
The principall portes of the kyngedome of Tunes are thefe : Goletta, Bizerta, Portofarnia,
Boua, and Stora. The chiefe cities of Tunes, are Conflantia and Bona with dyuers other.
Vnder this kyngedome are many Ilandes, as Zerbi, Lampadola, Pantalarea, Limofo, Beit,
Gamelaro, and Malta where at this prefente is the greate mafler of the Rodes. Vnder the
fouthe of this kyngedome, are the great defertes of Libia. Al the nations [of] this Africa the
less, are of the fecte of Machomet and a rufticall people lyuynge fcattered in vyllages. The befle of this parte
of Afrike, is Barbaria lyinge on the coafle of the fea Mediterraneum.
Mauritania (nowe cauled Barbaria) is diuided in two partes, as Mauritania Tingitania, and Cefarienfis.
Mauritania Tingitania, is nowe cauled the kyngdome of Fes and the kyngedome of Marrocko. The principall
citie of Fes, is cauled Feffa : and the chiefe citie of Marrocko, is named Marrocko. Mauritania Cefarienfis is
at this day cauled the kyngedome of Tremifen, with alfo the citie cauled Temifen or Trelenfm. This region
is full of defertes, and reacheth to the fea Mediterraneum to the citie of Oram with the porte of Maflaquiber.
The kyngedome of Fes reachethe vnto the Ocean fea from the Wefl to the citie of Argilla : and the porte of
the fayde kyngedome is cauled Salla.
The kyngedome of Marrocko is alfo extended aboue the Ocean fea vnto the citie of Azamor and Azafi
whiche are aboue the Ocean fea towarde the Wefl of the fayde kyngdome. In Mauritania Tingitanea (that is
to fay in the two kyngedomes of Fes and Marrocko) are in the fea, the Ilandes of Canarie cauled in owlde time
the fortunate Ilandes. Toward the fouth of this region, is the kyngedome of Guinea, with Senega, laiofo,
Gambra, and manye other regions of the blacke Moores cauled Ethiopians or Negros, all whiche are watered
with the ryuer Negro cauled in owlde tyme Niger. In the fayde regions are no cities : but only certeyne lowe
cotages made of bouwes of trees plaflered with chauke and couered with llrawe : In thefe regions are alfo very
great defertes.
The kyngedome of Marrocko hath vnder it thefe feuen kyngedomes : Hea, Sus, Guzula, the territorie of
Marrocko, Duchala, Hazchora, and Telde. The kyngedome of Fes hath as many : as Fe^, Temefne, Azgar,
Elabath, Errifi, Garet, and Elcauz. The kyngedome of Tremifen hath thefe regions : Tremifen, Tenez, and
Elgazaet, all which are Machometides. But all the regions of Guinea are pure Gentyles and Idolatours withowt
profeffion of any religion or other knowleage of god then by the lawe of nature.
Africa the great, is one of the three partes of the worlde knowen in owlde tyme and feuered from Afia, on
the Eafl by the ryuer Nilus : On the Wefl, from Europe by the pillers of Hercules. The hyther part is nowe
cauled Barbarie, and the people Moores. The inner parte is cauled Libia and Ethiopia. Afrike the lefle is in
this wyfe bounded : On the wefl it hath Numidia : On the eafl Cyrenaica : On the north, the fea cauled Medi-
terraneum. In this countrey was the noble citie of Carthage.
In the Eafl fyde of Afrike beneth the redde fea, dwelleth the greate and myghtye Emperour and Chryflian
kynge Prefler lohan, well knowen to the Portugales in theyr vyages to Calicut. His dominions reache very
farre on euery fyde : and hath vnder hym many other kynges both Chryflian and hethen that pay hym trybute.
This myghty prynce is cauled Dauid Th[e]emperour of Ethiopia. Sum wr}'te that the kynge of Portugale
fendeth hym yearely. viii. [eight] fhyppes laden with marchaundies. His kyngedome confineth with the redde
fea, and reacheth farre into Afrike towarde Egypte and Barbarie. Southwarde it confineth with the fea towarde
the cape de Buona Speranzo : and on the other fyde with the fea of fande cauled Mare de Sabione, a very
daungerous fea, lyinge betwene the great citie of Alcaer or Cairo in Egypte and the countrey of Ethiopia : In
the whiche way are many vnha[bita]ble defertes continuinge for the fpace of fyue dayes iomey. And they affirme
that if the fayde Chryflian Emperour were not hyndered by thofe defertes (in the which is great lacke of vittayles
and efpecially of water) he wolde or nowe haue inuaded the kyngedome of Egypte and the citie of Alcayer.
The chiefe citie of Ethiope where this great Emperour is refydent, is cauled Amacaiz beinge a fayre citie, whofe
inhabitauntes are of the coloure of an olyue. There are alfo many other cities, as the citie of Sana vppon the
ryuer of Nilus where Th[e]emperoure is accuftomed to remayne in the foommer feafon. There is lykewyfe
a great citie named Barbaregaf: And Afcon from whenfe it is fayde that the queene of Saba came to
lerufalem to heare the wyfdome of Salomon. This citie is but lyttle, yet very fayre and one of the chiefe
cities in Ethiope. In the fayde kyngdome is a prouince cauled Manicongni, whofe kynge is a Moore
and tributarie to Th[e]emperour of Ethiope. In this prouince are many excedynge hyghe mountaynes vppon
the which is fayde to be the earthly Paradyfe : And fum fay that there are the trees of the foonne and moone
whereof the antiquitie maketh mention : yet that none can paffe thyther by reafon of greate defertes of a
hundreth dayes iomey. Alfo beyonde thefe mountaynes, is the cape of Buona Speranza. And to haue fayde
thus much of Afrike it may fuffice.
The fyrjl vyage to Guinea.
375
G THE FYRST VYAGE TO GVINEA.
N the yeare of owre Lorde. M. D. LIII. the. xii. [twelfth] day of
Augiill, fay led from Porchemouth two goodly fhyppes, the Prim-
rofe and the Lion, with a pynneffe cauled the moone : beinge all
well fumyffhed afwell with men of the lufliefl. forte to the number
of feuen fcore, as alfo with ordinaunce and vyttayles requifite to
fuch a vyage : Hauynge alfo two capitaynes, the one a (Iraunger
cauled Antoniades Pinteado a Portugale, borne in a towne named
the porte of Portugale, a wyfe, difcrete, and fober man, who for
his cunnynge in faylynge beinge afwell an expert pylot as poly-
tyke capitayne, was fumtyme in greate fauoure with the kynge of
Portugale, and to whom the coafles of Brafile and Guinea were
commytted to bee kepte from the Frenchemen to whom he was
a terroure on the fea in thofe partes : and was furthermore a
gentleman of the kinge his maflers houfe. But as fortune in
maner neuer fauoureth but flattereth, neuer promifeth but
deceaueth, neuer rayfeth but cafleth downe ageyne, and as great
wealth and fauour hath alwayes companions emulation and enuie,
he was after many aduerfites and quarels made ageynll hym, inforced to come into Englande : where in this
golden vyage he was euyll matched with an vnequall coompanion and vnlyke matche of mofl fundry qualities
and conditions with vertues few or none adoumed, with vices dyuers and many fowly fpotted, knowen of many
without profyte, and defyred of fewe or none for his wyckednes : whofe fmaule acquayntaunce was profitable to
all men, and his familiar conuerfation an vndoinge, that happye was the man or woman that knewe hym not, he
for his gooddes and flie for her name. In fine, vnfortunate was the coompany that had owght to doo with hym:
in fo much that it was no maruayle that fo goodly an enterpryfe with fo noble a furniture of men, (hyppes, and
ordinaunce of all fortes, with all kynde of vyttayles and that of fo great abundaunce, had fo fmaul fucceffe :
which could be none otherwyfe wher fo foule a fpotte dyd blemyffhe, ye rather deface the reft. Thus departed
thefe noble ftiyppes vnder fayle on theyr vyage. But firfl this capitayne Wyndam, puttyng furth of his fliyp at
Porchmouth, a kynfeman of one of the headde marchauntes, and fhewynge herein a mufter of the tragical partes
he had conceaued in his brayne, and with fuch fmaule begynninges nuryffhed fo monft.rous a byrth, that more
happy, yea and bleffed was that younge man beinge lefte behynde then if he had byn taken with them, as fum
doo wyfflie he had doonne the lyke by theyrs. Thus fayled they on theyr vyage vntyl they came to the Ilandes
of Madera where they toke in certeyne wynes for the flore of theyr fhyppes, and payde for them as they agreed
of the price. At thefe Ilandes they met with a great galion of the kynge of Portugale full of men and ordi-
naunce : yet fuche as coulde not haue preuayled if it had attempted to withftande or refyft owre fliyppes, for
the which caufe it was fet furth, not only to lette and interrupte thefe owre fhyppes of theyr purpofed vyage,
but all other that fhulde attempte the lyke ; Yet chiefely to fruftrate owre vyage. For the kyng of Portugale
was finiflerly informed that owre fliyppes were armed to his caftel of Mina in thefe parties, wheras nothing leffe
was ment.
After that owr fhyppes departed from the Ilandes of Madera forwarde on theyr vyage, began this woorthy
capitaine Pinteados forowe as a man tormented with the company of a terrible hydra who hytherto flattered with
hym and made hym a fayre countenance and fhevve of loue. Then dyd he take vppon hym to commaunde all
alone, fettynge nowght bothe by capitayne Pinteado with the refle of the marchaunte factours : fumtymes with
opprobrious woordes and fumtymes with threatenynges moft fhamefuUy abufynge them, takinge from Pinteado
the feruice of the boys and certeyne mariners that were affigned hym by th[e]order and direction of the woor-
fliypfull marchauntes, and leauynge hym as a common maryner, which is the greateft. defpite and greefe that
can be to a Portugale or Spanyarde to be diminyfflite theyr honoure which they efteeme aboue all rychefle.
Thus faylyng forward on theyr vyage, they came to the Ilandes of Canarie, continuynge theyr courfe from thenfe
vntyll they arryued at the Ilande of faynt Nicolas where they vyttayled them felues with freffhe meate of the
375
The Piymrose
The Lyon.
The Moone
Pinteado.
Brasile.
Guinea.
The flatteryng of
fortune.
The cuel
conditions of
Wyndam.
The Ilandes of
Madera.
A galeon of
the kinge of
Portugale.
The castel of
Muia.
346
Howe Wyndam
abused Pmtcada
The Ilandes of
Canarie.
The Ilande oC
S. Nicolas.
376
The fyrjl vyage to Gtiinea.
Guinea.
The ryuer of
Sesla
Graynes.
Thethristofgolde.
The castel of
mena.
The quantit[i]e of
golde.
Benin.
Pepper.
Furie admitteth
no counsayie.
The Rosaa.
Rottinge heate.
Scorchinge heate.
Benin.
Francisco.
Nicolas Lambert.
The kyng of
Benin his court.
347
Reuerence
towarde the kynge.
The
communication
bctwene the kynge
of lienin and owr
men.
Pepper.
The kynges
gentlencsse
towarde owr men.
flefflie of wylde goates whereof is great plentie in that llande and in maner of nothyng elfe. From henfe folowynge
on theyr courfe, and taryinge here and there at the deferte Ilandes in the waye, bycaufe they wolde not coome
to tymely to the countrey of Guinea for the heate, and taryinge fumwhat to longe (for what can bee wel
mynyflred in a common wealth where inequalitie with tyrannie wyll rule alone) they came at the length to the
fyrft lande of the countrey of Guinea where they fell with the great ryuer of Seflo where they myght for theyr
marchaundies haue laden theyr fhyppes with the graynes of that countrey, which is a very hotte frute, and much
lyke vnto a fygge as it groweth on the tree. For as the fygges are full of fmaule feedes, fo is the fayde frute ful of
graynes which are lofe within the codde, hauynge in the myddefl thereof a hole on euery fyde. This kynde of
ipice is much vfed in coulde countreys, and may there be folde for great aduantage for th[e]exchaunge of other
wares. But owr men by the perfuafion or rather inforcement of this tragicall capitayne, not regardynge and
fettyng lyght by that commoditie in comparafon to the fine gold they thrilled, fayled an hundreth leaques further
vntyl they came to the golden lande : where not attemptinge to come nere the caftell perteynynge to the kynge
of Portugale, whiche was within the ryuer of Mina, made fale of theyr ware onely on this fyde and beyonde it
for the golde of that countrey to the quantitie of an hundreth and fiftie poundes weyght, there beinge in cafe
that they myght haue difpatched al theyr ware for golde, if the vntame brayne of Wyndam had or could haue
gyuen eare to the counfayle and experience of Pinteado. For when that Wyndam not fatifiied with the golde
whiche he had (and more myght haue had if he had taryed abowt the Mina) commaundynge the fayde Pinteado
(for fo he toke vppon hym) to leade the (hyppes to Benin beinge vnder the Equinoctial line and a hundreth and
fiftie leaques beyonde the Mina where he loked to haue theyr (hyppes laden with pepper : And beinge coun-
fayled of the fayde Pinteado confyderynge the late tyme of the yere for that tyme to go no further but to make
fale of theyr wares fuch as they had for golde wherby they myght haue byn great gayners. But Wyndam not
affentynge hereunto, fell into a fuddeyne rage, reuilynge the fayde Pinteado, caulynge hym lewe with other
opprobrious woordes, fayinge. This horfcn lewe hath promifed to brynge vs to fuch places as are not, or as
he can not bring vs vnto. But if he doo not, I wyl cut of his eares and naile them to the mall. Pinteado gaue
the forfayde counfayle to goo no further for the fafeguard of the men and theyr lyues, which they (hulde put in
daungioure if they came to late for the roffia which is theyr wynter, not for coulde but for fmotherynge heate
with clofe and cloudy ayer and florminge wether of fuche putrifyinge qualitie that it rotted the cotes of theyr
backes : Or els for coommynge to foonne for the fcorchynge heate of the fonne which caufed them to lynger in
the way. But of force and not of wyll, browght he the (hyppes before the ryuer of Benin : where rydynge at an
anker, fente theyr pinnefle vp into the ryuer fiftie or threfcore leaques, from whenfe certeyne of the marchauntes
with capitayne Pinteado, Francifco a Portugale, Nicolas I^mbert gentleman, and other marchauntes were con-
ducted to the courte where the kyng remayned. x. [ten] leaques from the ryuer fyde : whyther when they came,
they were browght with a greate company to the prefence of the kynge who beinge a blacke moore (althoughe not
fo blacke as the red) fat in a great houge haule longe and wyde, the walles made of earthe withowte wyndowes,
the roofe of thynne boordes open in fundry places lyke vnto louers to lette in the ayer.
And here to fpeke of the great reuerence they gyue to their kynge, beinge fuch that if wee wolde gyue as
much to owr fauiour Chryd, we fliuld remoue from owr heades many plages which wee dayly deferue for owre
contempte and impietie.
So it is therfore, that when his noble men are in his prefence, they neuer looke hym in the face, but fyt
courynge, as wee vppon owre knees fo they vppon theyr buttockes with theyr elbowes vppon theyr knees and
theyr handes beefore theyr faces, not lookynge vppe vntyll the kynge commaunde them. And when they are
commynge towarde the kynge as farre as they do fee hym, do they (hewe fuch reuerence fytting on the grounde
with theyr faces couered as before. Lykewife when they depart from hym they turne not theyr backes towarde
hym, but go creepynge backewarde with lyke reuerence.
And nowe to fpeake fumwhat of the communication that was betwene the kynge and owre men, yowe (hall
fyrfl vnderflande that he hym felfe coulde fpeake the Portugale tounge which he had lerned of a chylde.
Therfore after that he had commaunded owre men to flande vp, and demaunded of them the caufe of theyr com-
mynge into that countrey, they anfwered by Pinteado that they were marchauntes trauaylynge into thofe parties
for the commodities of his countrey for exchaunge of wares which they had browght from theyr countreys, beinge
fuch as (hulde bee no leCfe commodious for him and his people. The kynge then hauynge of owlde lyinge in
a certeyne (lore houfe thirtie or fortie kyntals of pepper (euery kyntall beinge an hundreth weyght) wyllynge
them to looke vppon the fame, and ageyne to brynge hym a fyght of fuche marchaundies as they had browght
with them. And thervppon fent with the capitayne and the marchauntes certeyne of his men to conducte them
to the waters fyde, with other to brynge the ware from the pinneffe to the courte. Who when they were returned
and the wares feene, the kynge grewe to this ende with the marchauntes, to prouyde in thirtie dayes the ladynge
of all theyr fhyppes with pepper. And in cafe theyr marchaundies wolde not extende to the value of fo muche
pepper, he promyfed to credite them to theyr nexte returne : and therevppon fente the countrey rounds abowt
376
The fyrjl vyage to Guinea.
Zll
to gather pepper, caufynge the fame to be browght to the courte : So that within the fpace of. xxx. [thirty] days
they had gathered foure fcore toonne of pepper.
In the meane feafon owre men partly hauynge no rule of them felues, but eatyng withowt meafure of the
frutes of the countrey, and drynkyng the wyne of the palme trees that droppeth in the nyght from the cutte
branches of the fame, and in fuch extreeme heate runnynge continually into the water, not vfed before to fuch
fuddeyne and vehement alterations (then the which nothynge is more daungerous) were therby browght into
fwellynges and agues. In fo much that the later tyme of the yeare commyng on, caufed them to dye fumtymes.
iii. [three] and fumtymes. iiii. [four] or. v. [five] in a day. Then Wyndam perceauyng the tyme of the. xxx.
[thirty] dayes to be expyred, and his men dying fo fad, fente to the courte in pofle to capitayne Pinteado and
the reft, to come away and to tary no longer. But Pinteado with the reft, wrote backe to hym ageyne, certifynge
hym of the greate quantitie of pepper they had alredy gathered and loked dayly for much more : Defyrynge
furthermore to remember the great prayfe and name they (hulde wynne if they came home profperoufly, and
what (hame of the contrary. With which anfwere Wyndam not fatiffied, and many of theyr men dyinge dayly,
wylled and commaunded them ageine eyther to coomme away furthwith, or els thretened to leaue them behynde.
When Pinteado harde this anfwere, thynkynge to perfuade hym with reafon, tooke his way from the court towarde
the fhyppes beinge conducted thyther with men by the kynges commaundement
In the meane feafon Windam all rageinge, brake vppe Pinteados Caben, broke open his cheftes, fpoyled fuche
prouifyon of coulde ftilled waters and fuckettes as he hade prouided for his health, and lefte hym nothynge neyther
of his inftrumentes to fayle by, nor yet of his apparell. And in the meane tyme faulinge fycke hym felfe, dyed alfo.
Whofe death Pinteado comming aborde, lamented as muche as if he had byn the dereft frend he had in the worlde.
But certeyne of the maryners and other officers dyd fpette in his face, fum caulynge hym lewe, faying that he had
browght them thether to kylle them : And fum drawynge theyr fwordes at hym makynge A fhewe to fley hym.
Then he perceauinge that they wolde nedes away, defyred them to tary that he might fetch the refle of tlie mar-
chauntes that were lefte at the court. But they wolde not graunte his requeft. Then defyred he them to gyue hym
the (hippe boate with as muche of an owlde fayle as myght feme for the fame, promifynge them therewith to bringe
Nicolas Laniberte and the reft into England : But all was in vayne. Then wrotte he a letter to the courte to the
marchauntes informynge them of all the matter, and promyfynge them if god wolde lende hym life to returne with
al haft[e] to fetche them. And thus was Pinteado kepte a bordefhippe ageynfte his wyll, thruft amonge the
boyes of the fhippe, not vfed like a man, nor yet like an honeft boy : But glad to find fauoure at the cokes
hande. Then departed they, leaning one of theyr fliippes behynde them, whiche they foonke for lake of men
to cary her. After this within fixe or feuen days faylinge, dyed alfo Pinteado for very penfiueneffe and thowght
that ftrooke hym to the harte : A man worthy to ferue any prince and moft vilely vfed. And of feuen fcore
men came home to Plymmuowth fcarfely fortye, and of them many dyed. And that no man ftiulde fufpecte
thefe wordes which I haue fayd in commendation of Pinteado, to be fpoken vpon fauour otherwyfe then truth,
I haue thought good to adde herevnto the coppie of the letters which the kyng of Portugale and the infant his
brother wrote vnto hym to reconcyle hym at fuche tyme as vppon the kynge his mafters difpleafure (and not
for any other cryme or offence as may appere by the fayde letters) he was onely for pouertie inforced to coomme
into Englande where he fyrft perfuaded owre marchauntes to attempte the fayde vyages to Guinea. But as the
kynge of Portugale to late repented hym that he had fo punyffhed Pinteado vppon malicious informations of fuch
as enuied the mans good fortune, euen fo may it hereby appere, that in fum cafes, euen Lyons them felues, may
eyther bee hyndered by the contempt or ayded by the helpe of the pore myfe accordynge vnto the fable of Efope.
C TJie coppie of Antonianes Pinteado his letters patentes wherby the kynge of Portugale
made hym knyght of his houfe after all his troubles and imprifonment, which
by wronge information made to the kynge, he had fujleyned of longe tyme,
beinge at tlie lajle deli[u^red, his caufe knowen and majtifefled
to the kynge by a grey fryer the kynges conffoure.
The kynge do gyue yow to vnderftande lorde Francis Deffeofa one of my counfayle and ouer-
feer of my houfe, that in confideration of the good feruice which Antonie Anes Pinteado, the
fonne of lohn Anes, dwellynge in the towne cauled the porte, hath doone vnto me, my wyll
and pleafure is, to make hym knyght of my houfe, alowynge to hym in penfion feuen hundreth
reys monethly, and euery daye one alcayr of barly as longe as he kepeth a horfe, and to bee
payde accordynge to the ordinaunce of my houfe. Prouydynge alwayes that he thai receaue
but one manage gyfte : And this alfo in fuch condition that the tyme which is excepted in owre
The disorder and
death of owre men.
The furie of
Wyndam.
The death of
Wyndam.
Pinteado eull vsed
of the maryners.
348
The death of
Pinteado.
Seuen hundreth
reys are. x. s. [ten
shillingsj.
Alcayr, is halfe
a btishel'
378
The fyrjl vyage to Guinea.
ordinaunce forbyddynge fuch men to mary for gettynge fuch chyldren as myght fucceade them in this alowance,
which is fyxe yeares after the makynge of this patente, flialbe fyrfle expired before he do mary. I therfore
commaunde yowe to caufe this to bee entered in the booke cauled the Matricola of owre houfholde vnder the
tytle of knyghtes. And when it is fo entered, let the clerke of the Matricola for the certentie therof, wryte on
the backe fyde of this Aluala or patente, the number of the leafe wherein this owre graunt is entered. Which
doone, let hym retume this wrytynge vnto the fayd Antonie Anes Pinteado for his warrant.
I Diego Henriques haue wrytten this in Almarin the xxii. [twenty-fecond] day of September, in the years
of owre lorde. 155 1. And this beneuolence the kynge gaue vnto Antonie Anes Pinteado the. xxv. [twenty-fiith]
day of luly this prefent yeare.
Rey. .
349
C The fecretaries declaration wrytten vnder the kynges graunt.
Owre maieftie hath vouchfafed in refpect and confyderation of the good feruice of Antonie
Anes Pinteado dwellynge in the porte, and foonne of lohn Anes to make hym knyght of
yowre houfe with ordinarie alowance of feuen hundreth reys penfion byt he moneth and one
Alcayr of barley by the day as longe as he keepeth a horfe : And to bee payde accordyng
to the ordinaunce of yowr houfe with condition that he fhall haue but one mariage gyfte :
And that not within the fpace of vi. [fix] yeares after the makynge of thefe letters patentes.
The fecretaries note. Entered in the booke of the Matricola. Fol. 683.
Francifco de Siqtiera.
C The coppie of the letter of Don Lewes thl/ynfant and brother to the kynge
of Portugale: fent into Englande to Antonianes Pinteado.
IJNtonie Anes Pinteado, I the infant brother to the kynge, haue me hartely commended vnto
yow. Peter Gonfalues is gone to feeke yow, defyrynge to brynge yowe home ageyne into
yowr countrey. And for that purpofe, hath with hym a fafe conduct for yow, graunted by
the kynge, that thereby yowe may freely and withowt all feare come home. And although
the wether be foule and llormy, yet fayle not to come. For in the tyme that his maieftie
hath gyuen yow, yow maye doo many thynges to yowre contentacion and gratifying the kynge,
wherof I wolde bee ryght gladde : and to brynge the fame to paffe wyll doo all that lyeth in
me for yowre profyte. But forafmuch as Peter Gonfalues wyll make further declaration hereof vnto yow, I lay
no more at this prefenL Wrytten in Luxbume the. viii. [eighth] day of December. Anno. M. D. LII.
C TTie In/ant don Zew[£]s.
L thefe forfayd wrytynges I fawe vnder fe[a]le in the houfe of my frende Nicolas Lyefe with
whom Pinteado left them at his vnfortunate departynge to Guinea. But notwithftanding all
thefe frendly letters and fayre promyfes, Pinteado durfte not attempte to go home, neyther
to keepe company with the Portugales 1ms countrey men withowt the prefence of other, foraf-
much as he had fecreate admonition that they intended to fley hym, if tyme and place myght
haue ferued theyr wycked intent
»*
TJie feconde vyage to Gumea.
CJ= THE SECONDE VYAGE TO GVINEA.
379
in the fyrft vyage I haue declared rather the order
of the hyftory then the courfe of the nauigation,
whereof at that tyme I coulde haue no perfecte in-
formation, fo in the difcription of this feconde vyage
my chiefe intent hath byn to fhew the courfe of the
fame accordynge to the obferuation and ordinarie
cuflome of the maryners, and as I receaued it at the
handes of an experte pylot beinge one of the chiefe
in this viage, who alfo with his owne handes wrote
a briefe declaration of the fame as he founde and
tryed all thynges not by coniecture, but by the arte
of faylynge and inflrumentes perteynynge to the
mariners facultie. Not therfore affuminge to my
felfe the commendations dewe to other, neyther fo
boulde as in anye parte to chaunge or otherwife
difpofe the order of this vyage fo wel obferued by arte and experience, I haue thowght
good to fet furth the fame in fuch forte and phrafe of fpeache as is commonly vfed amonge
them, and as I receaued it of the faid pylot as I haue fayde. Take it therfore as foloweth.
In the yeare of owre lorcle. M. D. LIIII. the. xi. [eleuenth] day of October, wee departed the ryuer of
Temmes with three goodly fhyppes, th[e]one cauled the Trinitie, a (hyppe of the burden of feuen fcore toonne :
Th[e]other cauled the Barthelmewe a fhyppe of the burden of. Ixxxx. [ninety tons]. The thyrde was the lohn
Euangelift. a (hyppe of feuen fcore toonne. With the fayde (hyppes and two pynneffes (wherof the one was
drowned in the coafl of Englande) we went forward on owr vyage, and (leyde at Douer. xiiii. [fourteen] dayes.
We fleyde alfo at Rye three or foure dayes. More ouer lafl of all we touched at Darthniouth.
The fyrfl, day of Nouember at. ix. [nine] of the clocke at nyght departynge from the coafle of Englande,
we fette of the flert bearynge fouthwefl all that nyght in the fea, and the nexte day all day, and the next nyght
after vntyll the thyrde daye of the fayde mooneth abowt noone, makynge owr way good, dyd runne. 60. leaques.
Item from. xii. [twelve] of the clocke the thyrde daye tyll. xii. [twelve] of the clocke the. iiii. [fourth] day of
the fayde mooneth, makynge owr way good foutheafl, dyd runne euery three houres twoo leaques, which
amounteth to. xvi. [fixteen] leaques the hole.
Item from. xii. [twelve] of the clocke the. iiii. [fourth] day to. xii. [twelve] of the clocke the. v. [fifth] day,
runnynge fouthwefl in the fea, dydde runne. xii. [twelve] leaques.
Item runnynge from. xii. [twelve] of the clocke the. v. [fifth] day vntyll. xii. [twelve] of the clocke the. vi.
[fixth] day runnyng foutheafl, dyd runnel xviii. [eighteen] leaques.
And fo from. xii. [twelve] of the clocke the vi. [fixth] daye vntyll. xii. [twelve] of the clocke the. vii. [feventh]
day, runnynge fouthfouthweft, dyd runne euery houre. ii. [two] leaques which amount to. xlviii. [forty-eight]
leaques the hole.
Item from. xii. [twelve] of the clocke the. vii. [feventh] day tyl. iii. [three] of the clocke the. viii. [eighth]
day, fouthfouthwefl, runnyng in the fea, dyd runne. xxx. [thirty] leaques.
Item from three of the clocke the. viii. [eighth] day, vntyll. iii. of the clocke the. ix. [ninth] day, runnyng fouth-
fouthweft, dyd runne. xxx. [thirty] leaques.
Item from. iii. [three] of the clocke the. ix. [ninth] day tyll. iii. [three] of the clocke the. x. [tenth] day, dyd
fouthfouthcaft in runnynge in the fea the fum of. xxiiii. [twenty-four] leaques.
Alfo from. iii. [three] of the clocke the. x. [tenth] day vntyl. xii. [twelve] of the clocke the. xi. [eleventh] day,
350
38o
The feconde vyage to Guinea.
The Tie of
Madera.
The He of palmes.
Teneriffa.
The Canaries.
Frome madera to
the lie of Pahnes.
Grancanaria.
Fortes Venturx
The Hand of
Gomera.
Teaeriffa.
Snowe,
351
The coast of
Barbarye.
Cape blanke.
The ryucr of
dcOlo.
The crosiers or
Crosse starres.
Rio Grande
dyd run fouthfouthwefl the fum of. xii. [twelve] leaques, and from. xii. [twelve] of the clocke tyll. vi. [fix] of the
fayde day, dyd run. vi. [fix] leaques.
Runnynge fouth and by weft in the fea from. vi. [fix] of the clocke the. xL [eleuenthl day tylL vi [fix] of
the clocke the. xii. [twelfth] day, dyd run. xxxvi. [thirty-fix] leaques.
From. vi. [fix] of the clocke at after none the. xii. [twelfth] daye tylL vi. [fix] of the clocke the xiii. [thirteenth^
day at after none, dyd runne. xiii. [thirteen] leaques.
Item from. vi. [fix] of the clocke the. xiii. [thirteenth] day, tyl. vi. [fix] of the clocke the. xiiii. [fourteenth] day at
after none that we were becalmed that wee coulde lye fouthweft with a fayle. And the. xv. [fifteenth] daye in the mom-
ynge, the wynde came to the Eaft and eafte northeaft. The. xvii. [feventeenth] day in the momynge, we had fyght
of the lie of Madera which doth ryfe to hym that corameth in the north northeaft parte vpryght lande in the weft
part of it, and very hyghe : and to the fouth foutheafte a lowe longe lande and a longe poynt with a faddle throwgh
the myddefte of it, ftandeth in the xxxii. [thirty-two] degrees : and in the wefte parte, many fpringes of water
runnynge downe from the mountayne,and many whyte fyeldes lykevnto corne fieldes,andfum whyte houfes to the
foutheaft parte of it : and the toppe of the mountayne fheweth very ragged if yow may fe it, and in the north-
eaft parte there is a byght or bay as thowgh it were a harborowe. Alfo in the fayde part, there is a rocke a
lyttle diftance from the fhore : and ouer the fayde byght, yow (hall fe a great gappe in the mountayne.
The. xix. [nineteenth] day at xii. [twelve] of the clocke, we had fyght of the He of Palmes and Teneriffa and
the Canaries. The lie of Palme ryfeth rounde and lyeth foutheafte and northwefte, and the northweft parte is
loweft. In the fouth, is a rounde hyll ouer the hedde lande, and an other rounde hyll aboue that in the lande.
There is betwene the foutheaft parte of the He of Madera and the northweft parte of the He of Palme. Ivii.
[fifty-feven] leaques. This He of Palme lyeth in the. xxix. [twenty-nine] degrees. And owTe courfe from Madera to
the He of Palme was fouth and fouth and by weft, fo that we had fyght of Teneriffa and of the Canaries. The
foutheaft parte of the He of Palme, and the i;orth northeaft of Teneriffa, lyeth foutheaft and northwefte. And
betwene them is. xx. [twenty] leaques. Teneriffa and the greate Canarie cauled Grancanaria, and the weft part
of Fortifuentura ftandeth in. xxvii. [twenty-feven] degrees and a halfe. Gomera is a fayre Ilande and very
ragged and lyeth weft fouthweft of Teneriffa. And who fo euer wyll come betwene theym twoo Ilandes, mud
come fouth and by eaft, and in the fouth parte of Gomera, is a towne and a good rode in the fayde parte of the
Ilande : and it ftandeth in. xxvii. [twenty-feven] degrees and three terces. Teneriffa is a hygh lande and a greate
hyghe picke lyke a fuger lofe. And vppon the fayde picke is fnowe throughowt all the hole yeare. And by
reafon of that picke, it maye bee knowen aboue all other Ilandes, and there we were becalmed the. xx [twentieth]
day of Nouember from. vi. [fix] of the clocke in the momynge vntyll foure of the clocke at after none.
C Betwene Gomera and Capo de las Barbas.
He. xxii. [twenty-fecond] day of Nouember vnder the Tropike of Cancer, the foonne goeth
downe weft and by fouth.
Vpon the coaft of Barberie. xxv. [twenty-five] leaques by north cape blanke at iii. [three]
leaques of the mayne, there is. xv. [fifteen] fadome and good fhelly grounde and fande
amonge, and no ftremes, and two fmaule Ilandes ftandyng in the. xxii. [twenty-two] degrees
and a terce.
From Gomera to cape de las Barbas is a hundreth leaques and owr courfe was fouth
and by eaft. The fayde cape ftandeth in. xxii. [twenty-two] and a halfe : and all that coaft is flatte. xvi.
[fixteen] or. xvii. [feventeen] fadome deepe, vii. [feven] or. viii. [eight] leaques of frome the ryuer de Oro to
cape de las Barbas, there vfe many Spanyardes and Portugales to trade for fyffhynge durynge the mooneth of
Nouember : and all that coaft is verye lowe landes. Alfo wee went from cape de las Barbas fouthfouthweft and
fouthweft and by fouth : tyll we brought owre felues in. xx. [twenty] degrees and a halfe, rekenynge owr felues
viL [feven] leaques of : and that was the leaft fholes of cape Blanke.
Then we went fouth vntyll we browght owre felues in. xiii. [thirteen] degrees, rekenynge owre felues. xxv.
[twenty-five] leaques of And in. xv. [fifteen] degrees, we dyde reere the croffiers : and we myght haue rered
them fooner if we had loked for theym. They are not ryghte a croffe in the moonethe of Nouember by reafon
the nyghtes are fliorte there. Neuertheleffe we had the fyght of them the. xxix. [twenty-ninth] day of the fayde
mooneth at n)'ght
The fyrft of December owte. xiii. [thirteen] degrees, we fette owre courfe fouth and by Eaft vntyll the fourth
daye of December at xii. [twelve] of the clocke the fame day. Then we were in. ix. [nine] degrees and a terce,
rekenynge owr felues. xxx. [thirty] leaques of the fholes of the ryuer cauled Rio Grande beinge weft fouthwefte
of them : The which (holes be. xxx. [thirty] leaques longe.
380
The feconde vyage to Guinea.
381
The fourth of December, we beganne to fette owr courfe foutheafle, we beinge in. vi. [fix] degrees and a halfe.
The ninth day of December we fet owr courfe eafl foutheafl.
The. xiiii. [fourteenth] day of the fayde mooneth, we fette owre courfe eafl, we beinge in. v. [five] degrees
and a halfe, rekenynge owre felues. xxxvi. [thirty-fix] leaques from the coafl, of Guinea.
The. xix. [nineteenth] day of the fayde mooneth, we fette owre courfe eafl and by north, rekenynge owr felues.
xvii. [feventeen] leaques diflant from cape Menfurado, the fayde cape beinge eafl. northeafl of vs, and the ryuer
of Seflo beinge eafl.
The. xxi. [twenty-firft] day of the fayde mooneth we fel with cape Me[n]furado to the foutheafl abowt two
leaques of. This cape may be eafely knowen, by reafon the ryfynge of it is lyke a porpofe hedde. Alfo towarde
the foutheafl there are three trees, wherof the eaflermofl tree is the hyghefl, and the myddlemofl is lyke a heye
flacke, and the fouthermofl lyke vnto a iebet : and vppon the mayne, are foure or fyue hygh hylles ryfynge one
after an other lyke round hoommockes or hyllockes. And the foutheafl of the three trees, is thre trees lyke a
brandierwyfe : and all the coafle alonge is whyte fande. The fayde cape ftandeth within a lyttle in. vL [fix]
degrees.
The. xxii. [twenty-fecond] of December, we came to the ryuer of Seflo, and remayned there vntyll the. xxix.
[twenty-ninth] day of the fayde moneth Here we thought it befl to fende before vs the pynneffe to the ryuer of
Dulce cauled Rio Dulce, that they myght haue the begynnynge of the market before the commynge of the lohn.
At the ryuer of Seflo, we had a toonne of graynes. This ryuer llandeth in. vL [six] degrees lackynge a terce.
From the ryuer of Seflo to Rio Dulce, is. xxv. [twenty-five] leaques. Rio Dulce flandeth in. v. [five] degrees
and a halfe. The ryuer of Seflo is eafy to bee knowen by reafon there is a ledge of rockes on the foutheafl
parte of the rode. And at the enterynge into the hauen, are fyue or fyxe trees that beare no leaues. This is
a good harborowe : but very narrowe at the enteraunce into the ryuer. There is alfo a rocke in the hauen mouth
right as yow enter. And all that coafl betwene cape de Monte and cape de las Palmas, lyeth foutheafl and by
eall, northwefl. and by wefte, beinge three leaques of the fhore. And yow fhall haue in fum places rockes two
leaques of : and that betwene the ryuer of Seflo and cape de las Palmas.
Betwene the ryuer of Seflo and the riuer Dulce, is. xxv. [twenty-five] leaques. And the hygh lande that is
betwene them bothe, is cauled Cakeado, beinge. viii. [eight] leaques from the ryuer of Seflo. And to the foutheafl-
warde of hym, is a place cauled Shawgro and an other cauled Shyawe or Shauo, where yow may get freffhe water.
Of this Shyawe, lyeth a ledge of rockes : and to the Southeaflwarde, lyeth a hed lande cauled Croke. Betwene
Cakeado and Croke, is. ix. [nine] or. x. [ten] leaques. To the Southeaflwarde of, is a harborowe cauled faynte
Vincent Ryght ouer ageynfl faynt Vincent, is a rocke vnder the water, two leaques and a halfe of the fhore.
•To the foutheaflwarde of that rocke, yow fhall fee an Ilande abowt three or foure leaques of. This Ilande is not
pafle a leaque of the fhore. To the eafl foutheafl of the Ilande, is a rocke that lyeth aboue the water : and by
that rocke goeth in the ryuer of Dulce, which yow fhall knowe by the fayde ryuer and rocke. The northwefl
fyde of the hauen, is flat fande : and the foutheafl fyde therof, is lyke an Ilande and a bare plotte without any
trees, and fo is it not in any other place.
In the rode, yow fhall ryde in. xiii. [thirteen] or. xiiii. [fourteen] fadomes, good owes and fande, beinge
the markes of the rode to bring the Ilande and the northwefl lande togyther. And here wee ankered the lafl of
December.
The thyrde day of lanuary, we came from the ryuer of Dulce.
Note that cape de las Palmas is a fayre high land. But fumme lowe places therof by the water fyde, looke
like redde cliffes with white flrakes like wayes a cable length a piece. And this is to the Eafl parte of the cape.
This cape is the fouthermofl lande in all the coafl of Guinea : And flandeth in foure degrees and a terce.
The coafl from cape de las Palmas to cape Trepoyntes or de tres Puntas, is fayre and cleare without rocke
or other daungiour.
xxv. [twenty-five] leaques from cape de las Palmas, the lande is higher then in any place vntyll we came to
cape Trepoyntes. And abowt. x. [ten] leaques before yow comme to cape Trepointes, the lande ryfeth flyll hygher
and hygher vntyll yow come to cape Trepoyntes. Alfo before yowe coomme to the fayde cape after other fiue
leaques to the northwefl parte of it, there is certeyne broken grounde with twoo greate rockes : and within them
in the byght of a bay, is a caflel cauled Arra, perteyning to the kynge of Portugale. Yow fhall knowe it by the
fayde rockes that lye of it : For there is none fuch from cape de las Palmas to cape Trepoyntes. This coaRe
lyeth eafle and by north, wefl and by fouth. From cape de las Palmas to the fayde caflell, is foure fcore and.
XV. [fifteen] leaques. And the coafle lyeth from the fayde caflell to the Weflermofl. poynte of the Trepoyntes,
foutheafl and by fouth, northwefl and by north. Alfo the Weflermofl poyntes of the Trepointes, is a lowe lande
lyinge halfe a myle owt in the fea : and vppon the innermofle necke to the landewarde, is a tufte of trees, and
there we arryued the. xi. [eleventh] day of lanuary.
The. xii [twelfth] day of lanuary, we came to a towne cauled Samma or Samua, beinge. viii. [eight] leaques
Cape Mensurado.
The riuer of Sesto.
The riuer of Sesto.
Rio Dulce.
Cape de Monte.
Cape de las
Palmas.
352
The l^nde of
Cakeado.
Shauo.
Croke.
Saint Vinccnta
harborouc.
The riuer Dulce.
Cape de las
Palmas.
The coast of
Guinea.
Cape de
tres puntas.
The castetl of
Arm.
The towne of
Sanuna.
3ai
382
The feconde vyage to Guinea.
The ple[d]ge was
sir lobn Yorke
his nevie.
Cap)e Corea.
The castel of mina
perteyninge to
the kynge of
Fortugale.
Perecowe
Perecowe grandc
Monte Rodonda
353
The cumnts
Frome mina
homewarde.
Rio de los Potos.
Iverye.
Cape de las
Palmaf,
Cuitantes.
Tlie He de Flore.
The lie of Corva
Where they lost
the sight of the
northe starre.
Howe the
compasse dooth
varie.
The prymrose.
from cape Trepoyntes toward eaft northeafl. Betwene cape Trepointes and the to\vne of Samua, is a great ledge
of rockes a great way owt in the fea. Wee continued foure dayes at that towne : and the capitayne therof wolde
needes haue a pledge a fhore. But when they receaued the pledge, they kepte hym flyl and wolde traffike no
more, but fhot of theyr ordinaunce at vs. They haue two or three pieces of ordinaunce and no more.
The. xvi. [fixteenth] day of the fayde mooneth, we made rekenynge to come to a place cauled cape Corea
where capitayne Don lohn dwelleth, whofe men interteyned vs frendly. This cape Corea is foure leaques eaft-
warde of the caflell of Mina, otherwyfe cauled La Mina, or Cajlello de Mina, where we arriued the. xviii.
[eighteenth] day of the mooneth. Here we made fale of al owr cloth fauynge two or three packes.
The. xxvi. [twenty-fixth] day of the fame mooneth, we weyd anker and departed from thenfe to the Trinitie
which was. vii. [feven] leaques eaflwarde of vs where fhe folde her wares. Then they of the Trinitie wylled vs
to go eaflwarde of that. viii. [eight] or. ix. [nine] leaques to fel part of their wares in a place caled Perecow, and
an other named Perecowe grande, beinge the eaftermoll place of both thefe, which yow fhal knowe by a great
rounde hyl nere vnto it named Monte Rodondo lynge weflwarde from it. And by the water fyde are many
hyghe palme trees. From henfe dyd we fet furth homewarde the. xiii. [thirteenth] day of February and plyed
vppe alongefl. tyll we came within, vii. [feven] or. viii. [eight] leaques to cape Trepointes. Abowt. viii. [eight]
of the clocke the. xv. [fifteenth] day at after noone, we dyd cafl. abowt to feawarde. And beware of the currantes,
for they wyll deceaue yow fore.
Who fo euer fhall coomme from the coafl of Mina homewarde, let hym be fuer to make his way good weft
vntyll he reken hym felfe as farre as cape de las Palmas where the currant fetteth alwayes to the eaftwarde.
And within, xx. [twenty] leaques eaftwarde of cape de las Palmas, is a ryuer cauled Rio de los Potos where yow
may haue freffhe water and balaffe enowgh, and plentie of luery or Elephantes teethe. This ryuer ftandeth in
foure degrees and almoft two terces.
And when yow reken yowre felfe as farre ftiotte as cape de las Palmas, beinge in a degree or a degree and
a halfe, yow may go weft or weft and by north vntyll yowe comme in three degrees : and then yowe maye go
wefte northweft, and northweft and by weft vntyll yow comme in fiue degrees and then northweft. And in the.
vi. [fix] degrees, wee mette northerly wyndes and greate rooftynge of tydes. And as wee coulde iudge, the
currantes went to the north northweft. Furthermore betwene cape de Monte and cape Verde, go great currantes
which deceaue many men.
The. xxii. [twenty-fecond] daye of Apryll, wee were in. viii. [eight] degrees and two terces : and fo we ranne to
the northweft, hauynge the wynde at northeaft and eaftnortheaft, and fumtymes at eafte untyll we were at. xviiL
[eighteen] degrees and a terce, which was on May day. And fo from, xviii. [eighteen] and two terces, we hadde
the wynde at eaft and eaft northeaft, and fumtymes at eaft foutheaft : and then wee rekoned the Ilandes of cape
Verde eafte foutheaft of vs, wee iudgynge owre felues to be. xlviii. [forty-eight] leaques of. And in. xx. [twenty]
and. xxi. [twenty-one] degrees, wee had the wynde more eafterly to the fouthwarde then before. And fo we ran
to the northweft and northnorthweft, and fumetymes north and by weft and north vntyll wee came into. xxxi. [thirty-
one] degrees, where we rekened owre felues a hundreth and foure fcore leaques fouthweft and by fouth of the llande
de Flore or de los Flores. And there we met with the wynde at fouthfoutheaft, and fet owre courfe northeaft.
In. xxxiii. [thirty-three] degrees, we had the wynde at the fouth and fouthweft : and then we fet owr courfe
north northeaft, and fo we ranne to xl. [forty] degrees : and then we fet our courfe northeaft the wynde beinge
at the fouthweft and hauynge the He de Flore eaft of vs, and. xvii. [seventeen] leaques of.
In. xlL [forty-one] degrees, we met with the wynd at northeaft, and fo we ranne northweftwarde. Then
we met with the wynde at the weft northweft and at the weft within, vi. [fix] leaques runnynge towarde the
northweft : And then wee eaft abowt and ley northeaft vntyll we came in. xlii. [forty-two] degrees, where we
fette owr courfe eaft northeaft, iudgynge the He of Coruo fouth and by weft of vs and. xxxvL [thirty-fix] leaques
diftant from vs.
A rememberaunce that the. xxi. [twenty-firft] day of Maye, we communed with lohn Rafe, and he thought
it beft to go northeafte, and iudged hym felfe. xxv. [twenty-fiue] leaques eaftwarde to the He de Flore, and in.
xxxix. [thirty-nine] degrees and a halfe.
Note that in the fourth day of September [December?] vnder nine degrees, we loft the fyght of the north ftarre.
Note alfo, that in the. xlv. [forty-five] degrees the compaffe is varyed. viii. [eight] degrees to the weft.
Item, in. xl. [forty] degrees, the compaffe dyd vary. xv. [fifteen] degrees in the hole.
Item, in xxx. [thirty] degrees and a halfe, the compaffe is varyed. v. [fiue] degrees to the weft.
Be it alfo in memorie, that two or three dayes before we came to cape Trepointes, the pynneffe went
alongeft the ftiore thinkynge to fell fum of owr wares. And fo we came to anker three or foure leaques weft
and by fouth of the cape Trepoyntes where we lefte the Trinitie.
Then owre pynneffe came a boorde with all owr men. The pynneffe alfo tooke in more wares. They
toulde me more ouer that they wolde go to a place where the Primrofe was and had receaued much golde at
382
The feconde vyage to Guinea.
383
the fyrfte vyage to thefe parties. And tolde me furthermore that it was a good place. But I fearynge a brigan-
tine that was then vppon the coafl, dydde wey and folowe theym, and lefte the Trinitie abowte foure leaques of
from vs. And there we rode ageynfte that towne foure dayes : fo that Martine by his owne defyre and aflente
of fum of the commiffioners that were in the pinneffe, wente a fliore to the towne. And there lohn Beryn went
to trafike from vs beinge three myles of trafekynge at an other towne. The towne is cauled Samma or Samua.
For Samma and Sammaterra, are the names of the two fyrfle townes where wee did trafficke for gold, to the
northeafl, of cape Trepoints :
Hetherto continueth the courfe of the vyage as it was defcribed by the fayde pylot.
Nowe therfore to fpeake fumwhat of the contrey and people, and of fuche thynges as are
browght from thenfe.
They browght from thenfe at the lad vyage, foure hundreth pounde weyght and odde of golde of. xxii.
[twenty-two] carrattes and one grayne in finenefle. Alfo. xxxvi. [thirty-fix] buttes of graynes : and abowt two
hundreth and fiftie elephantes teethe of all quantities. Of thefe, I fawe and meafured fum of ix. [nine] fpannes
in length as they were croked Sum of them were as bygge as a mans thygh aboue the knee : and weyed
abowte foure fcore and ten pounde weyght a piece. They fay that fum one hath byn feene of a hundreth and.
xxv. [twenty-five] pounde weyght. Other there were which they caule the teeth of calues of one or two or three
yeares, wherof fum were a foote and a halfe, fumme two foote, and fum three or more accordynge to th[e]age
of the beafle. Thefe great teeth or tufkes, growe in the vpper iaw downewarde, and not in the nether iawe
vpwarde, wherein the paynters and arras woorkers are deceaued. At this laRe vyage was browght from Guinea
the headde of an elephante of fuch huge byggenefle, that only the bones or crauewe therof befyde the nether
iawe and greate tufkes, wayed abowte two hundreth weyght, and was as muche as I coulde well lyfte from the
grounde. In fo muche that confiderynge alfo herewith the weyght of. ii. [two] fuch great teeth, the nether iawes with
the leffe teethe, the tounge, the greate hangynge eares, the bygge and longe fnowte or troonke, with all the
fleffhe, braynes, and fkynne, with all other partes belongynge to the hole headde, in my iudgemente it coulde
wey lyttle leffe then fyue hundreth weyght. This headde dyuers haue fene in the houfe of the woorthy mar-
chaunt fyr Andrewe ludde, where alfo I fawe it, and behelde it not onely with my bodely eyes, but much more
with the eyes of my mynde and fpirite confydered by the woorke, the cunnynge and wyfcdome of the woorke
mailer : withowt which confyderation, the fyght of fuch flraunge and woonderfull thynges may rather feeme
curiofities then profitable contemplations.
The elephante (which fum caule an oliphant) is the biggeft of all foure footed beafles. His forelegges are
longer then his hynder. He hath ankles in the lower parte of his hynder legges, and fyue toes on his fiete
vndiuided. His fnowte or troonke is fo longe and in fuch forme that it is to hym in the fleede of a hande.
For he neyther eateth nor drinketh but by bryngynge his troonke to his mouth. Therwith he helpeth vp his
mafler or keeper : therwith he ouerthroweth trees. Byfyde his two greate tufkes, he hath on euery fyde of his
mouth foure teeth wherwith he eateth and gryndeth his meate. Eyther of thefe teeth, are almoll a fpan in
length as they growe alonge in the iawe : and are abowte two inches in height and almoft as much in thicke-
neffe. The tufkes of the male are greater then of the female. His tounge is verye lyttle, and fo farre in his
mouth that it can not bee feene. Of all beafles they are mode gentyll and tractable. For by many fundry
ways they are taught and do vnderfland : In fo much that they leame to do due honour to a king, and are of
quicke fence and fharpenes of \vyt. When the male hath once feafoned the female, he neuer after toucheth
her. The male Elephante lyueth two hundreth yeares, or at the leafle one hundreth and twentie. The female
almod as longe : but the floure of theyr age, is but Ix. [fixty] yeares as fum wryte. They can not fuffer wynter
or coulde. They loue ryuers and wyll often go into them vp to the fnowte wherwith they blowe and fnuffe,
and play in the water : but fwymme they canne not for the weyght of theyr bodyes. Plinie and Soline wryte
that they vfe none adulterie. If they happen to meete with a manne in wyldemeffe beinge owt of the way,
gentylly they wyl go before hym and brynge hym into the playne waye. loyned in battayle, they haue no
fmaule refpecte vnto them that be wounded. For they brynge them that are hurt or wery into the middle of
the army to be defended. They are made tame by drynkynge the iufe of barley. They haue continuall warre
ageynft dragons which defyre theyr bludde bycaufe it is very coulde. And therfore the dragon lyinge awayte
as the Elephant paffeth by, wyndeth his tayle (beinge of exceadynge length) abowt the hynder legges of the
elephant : and fo fleying hym, thruileth his heade into his tronke and exhaufleth his breth, or els byteth hym
in the eare wherunto he can not reach with his troonke. And when the elephant waxeth faynt, he fauleth
downe on the ferpente beinge nowe full of bludde : and with the poyfe of his body breaketh \iym : fo that his
owne bludde with the bludde of the elephant, runneth owt of hym mengelcd togyther : whiche beinge coulde,
is congeled into that fubilaunce which the apothecaries caule Sanguis Draconis, (that is) dragons blud, other-
383
The towne of
Samnuu
354
Golde.
Golde foure
h#ndreth weyght
Graynes.
luery.
Elephantes teetha
The head of
an Elephant
The
contemplations
of gods workei
The description
and properties of
the Elephante.
Debate betwene
the Elephant and
the dragon.
355
Sangitis Dracontt.
384
The feconde vyage to Guinea.
Cinnabaris.
Thre kyndes of
elephantes.
Workesoflueiy.
Ths people of
Africa.
Libia Interior.
Getulia.
Ethiopes.
Nigrite.
The ryucr Ntgritis
or Senegx
356
A strange thynge.
Oaramantes.
People of Lybia.
Prester [ohn.
Regnum Or^sne.
Gambia.
wyfe cauled Cinnabaris, although there be an other kynde of Cinnabaris, commonly cauled cinoper or vermilion
which the paynters vfe in certeyne coloures.
They are alfo of three kyndes, as of the maryffhes, the playnes, and the mountaynes, no lefle differynge in
condicions. Philoftratus wryteth, that as much as the elephant of Lybia in byggeneffe paffeth the horfe of
Nyfea, fo much doth the elephantes of India excede them of Lybia. For of the elephantes of India, fum haue
byn feene of the heyght of. ix. [nine] cubites. The other do fo greatly feare thefe that they dare not abyde the
fyght of them. Of the Indian elephantes, only the males haue tufkes. But of them of Ethiopia and Lybia,
both kyndes are tulked. They are of dyuers heyghtes, as of. xii. [tvvelue] xiii. [thirteen] and. xiiii. [fourteen]
dodrantes, euery dodrant beinge a meafure of. ix. [nine] ynches. Sum wryte that an elephant is bygger then
three wylde oxen or buffes. They of India are blacke or of the colour of a moufe. But they of Eihiope or
Guinea, are browne. The hyde or (kynne of them all, is very harde and withowte heare or bryilels. Theyr
eares are two dodrantes brode, and theyr eyes very lyttle. Owr men fawe one drynkyng at a ryuer in Guinea
as they fayled into the lande.
Of other properties and conditions of the elephant, as of theyr maruelous docilitie, of theyr feight and vfe
in the warres, of theyr generation and chaflitie, when they were fyrfle feene in the theatres and tryumphes of
the Romans, howe they are taken and tamed, and when they cafl theyr tufkes, with th[e]ufe of the fame in
medicine, who fo defyreth to know, let hyni rede Plinie in the. viii. [eighth] booke of his natural hyftorie. He
alfo wryteth in his. xiL [twelfth] booke, that in owlde tyme they made many goodly woorkes of luery or
elephantes teeth : as tables, treffels, pofles of houfes, rayles, latteffes for wyndowes, Images of theyr goddes,
and dyuers other thynges of luery both coloured and vncoloured and intemiyxte with fundry kyndes of precious
wooddes, as at this day are made certeyne chayres, lutes, and virginalles.
They had fuch plentie therof in owlde tyme, that (as farre as I remember) lofephus wryteth that one of
the gates of Hierufalem was cauled Porta Ebumea, (that is) the luery gate. The whytenefle thereof was fo
muche efteemed that it was thought to reprefent the naturall fayreneffe of mans fkynne : In fo much that fuch
as went abowt to fet furth (or rather corrupte) naturall bewtie with colours and payntynge, were reproued by
this prouerbe : Ebur atramento candefacere. That is : To make luery whyte with ynke. The poettes alfo
defcribynge the fayre neckes of bewtifull virgins, caule them Ebumea colla : That is : luery neckes.
And to haue fayde thus much of elephantes and luery, it may fuffice.
Nowe therfore to fpeke fum what of the people and their maners and maner of
lyuynge, with alfo an other briefe defcription of Africa.
It is to vnderflande that the people whiche nowe inhabite the regions of the coaft of Guinea and the
mydde partes of Affrica, as Lybia the inner, and Nubia with dyuers other great and large regions abowt the
fame, were in oulde tyme cauled Ethiopes and Nigrite, which we nowe caule Moores, Moorens, or Negros, a
people of beaflly lyuynge, without a god, lawe, religion, or common welth, and fo fcorched and vexed with the
heatt of the foonne, that in many places they curfe it when it ryfeth. Of the regions and people abowt the
inner Libia (cauled Libia Interior) Gemma Phryfius wryteth thus.
Lybia Interior, is very large and defolate, in the whiche are many horrible wyldemeffes and mountaynes
replenifflied with dyuers kyndes of wylde and monRrous bealles aud ferpentes. Fyrfl from Mauritania or
Barberie toward the fouth is Getulia, a rowgh and faluage region whofe inhabitantes are wylde and wanderynge
people. After thefe folowe the people cauled Melanogetuli and Pharufii whiche wander in the wyldemeffe
caryinge with them greate gourdes of water. The Ethiopians cauled Nigrite, occupie a great parte of Aphrica,
and are extended to the VVefl Ocean. Southwarde alfo they reache to the ryuer Nigritis whofe nature agreeth
with the ryuer of Nilus forafmuch as it is increafed and diminyflhed at the fame tyme, and bryngeth furth the
like beafl.es as the Crocodile. By reafon wherof, I thinke this to be the fame ryuer which the Portugales caule
Senega. For this ryuer is alfo of the fame nature. It is furthermore maruelous and very ftrange that is fayde
of this ryuer. And this is, that on the one fyde therof, th[e]inhabitauntes are of hyghe (lature and blacke : and on
the other fide of browne or tawny colour and lowe ftature, which thynge alfo owre men confirme to be trewe.
There are alfo other people of Lybia cauled Garamantes, whofe women are common. For they contracte
no matrimonie, neyther haue refpect to chaft.itie. After thefe are the nations of the people cauled Pyrei,
Sathiodaphnite, Odrangi, Mimaces, Lynxamate, Dolopes, Agangine, Leuce Ethiopes, Xilicei Ethiopes, Calcei
Ethiopes, and NubL Thefe haue the fame fituation in Ptolomie that they nowe giue to the kyngdome of Nubia.
Here are certeyne Chriflians vnder the dominion of the greate Emperoure of Ethiope cauled Prefler lohn.
From thefe towarde the weft, is a great nation of people cauled Aphricerones : whofe region (as farre as maye
bee gathered by coniecture) is the fame that is nowe cauled Regnum Orguene, confinynge vppon the eaft partes
of Guinea. From henfe weflwarde and fumwhat towarde the north, are the kyngedomes of Gambra and Budomel
not farre from the ryuer of Senega. And from henfe towarde the inlande regions and alonge by the fea coafl,
3S»
The feconde vyage to Guinea.
385
are the regions of Ginoia or Guinea which wee commonly caule Gynne. On the weft fide of thefe regions to-
warde the Ocean, is the cape or poynt cauled Cabouerde or Caput viride (that is) the greene cape, to the whiche
the Portugales fyrft directe theyr courfe when they fayle to America or the lande of Brafile. Then departynge
frome henfe, they tume to the ryght hande towarde the quarter of the wynde cauled Garbino which is betwene
the weft and the fouth. But to fpeake fumwhat more of Ethiopia. Althowgh there are many nations of people
fo named, yet is Ethiopia chiefely diuyded into two partes : wherof the one is cauled Ethiopia vnder Egypte, a
great and ryche region. To this perteyneth the Ilande of Meroe, imbrafed rounde abowte with the ftremes of
the ryuer Nilus. In this Ilande women reygned in oulde tyme. lofephus wryteth that it was fumtyme cauled
Sabea : and that the queene of Saba came from thenfe to Hierufalem to heare the wyfedome of Salomon. From
henfe towarde the Eaft, reigneth the fayde Chrftian Emperoure Prefter lohn whom fum caule Papa lohannes,
and other fay that he is cauled Pean Juan (that is) greate lohn, whofe empyre reacheth farre beyonde Nilus,
and is extended to the coaftes of the redde fea and Indian fea. The myddle of the region is almoft in the. 66.
degrees of longitude, and. xii. [twelue] degrees of latitude. Abowte this region inhabite the people cauled
Clodii, Rifophagi, Babilonii, Axiunite, Mofyli, and Molybe. After thefe is the region cauled Trogloditica,
whofe inhabitauntes dwell in caues and dennes. For thefe are theyr houfes, and the fleffhe of ferpentes theyr
meate, as wryteth Plinie and Diodorus Siculus. They haue no fpeache, but rather a grynnynge and chatterynge.
There are alfo people without heades cauled Blemines, hauynge theyr eyes and mouth in theyr brefte. Lyke-
wyfe Strucophagi and naked Ganphafantes. Satyrs alfo which haue nothynge of men but only fhape. More
ouer Oripei great hunters. Mennones alfo, and the region of Smyrnophora which bryngeth furth myrre. After
thefe is the region of Azania in the whiche manye elephantes are founde. A great parte of the other regions of
Afrike that are beyonde the Equinoctiall line, are nowe afcrybed to the kingedome of Melinde, whofe inhabi-
tauntes are accuftomed to traffike with the nations of Arable, and theyr kynge is ioyned in frendfhip with the
kyng of Portugale, and payeth tribute to Prefter lohn.
The other Ethiope cauled Ethiopia Interior (that is) the inner Ethiope, is not yet knowen for the greatneffe
therof but only by the fea coaftes. Yet is it defcribed in this maner. Fyrfte from the Equinoctiall towarde the
fouth, is a greate region of Ethiopians which bryngeth furth whyte elephantes, tygers, and the beaftes cauled
Rhinocerontes. Alfo a region that bryngeth furth plentie of Cinamome, lyinge betwene the braunches of Nilus.
Alfo the kingdome of Habech or HabalTia, a region of Chriftien men, lying both on this fyde and beyonde
Nilus. Here are alfo the Ethiopians cauled Ichthiophagi (that is) fuch as lyue only by fiffhe : and were fum-
time fubdued by the warres of great Alexander. Furthermore the Ethiopians cauled Rhapfii, and Anthropo-
phagi that are accuftomed to eate mans fleffhe, inhabite the regions nere vnto the mountaynes cauled Monies
Luna, (that is) the mountaynes of the moone. Gazatia, is vnder the tropike of Capricorne. After this, folow-
eth the fronte of affrike, the cape of Buena Speranza or Captit Bonce Spei, (that is) the cape of good hope, by
the which they palfe that fayle from Spayne to Calicut. But by what names the capes and goulfes are cauled,
forafmuche as the fame are in euery globe and carde, it were here fuperfluous to rehearfe them.
Sum wryte that Aphrica was fo named by the Grecians bycaufe it is withowt coulde. For the Greeke
letter Alpha or. A, fignifyeth pryuation, voyde, or withowt : and phrice, fignifieth coulde. For in deede althowgh
in the fteede of wynter they haue a cloudye and tempeftious feafon, yet is it not coulde, but rather fmoothering
hot with alfo hot (houres of raine and fumwhere fuclie fcorchynge wyndes, that what by one meanes and other
they feeme at certeyne tymes to liue as it were in fomaces, and in maner alredy halfe way in Purgatorie or hel.
Gemma Phrifius writeth that in certeyne partes of Aphrica, (as in Atlas the greater) the ayer in the night feafon
is feene fhyninge with many ftraunge fyers and flames ryfinge in maner as high as the moone : And that in the
element are fumtime harde as it were the founde of pipes, trumpettes, and droommes. Whiche noyfes may
perhappes be caufed by the vehemente and fundry motions of fuch fyery exhalations in the ayer, as we fe the
lyke in many experiences wrought by fyre, ayer, and wynd. The holownefie alfo and diuers reflexions and
breaking of the cloudes may be greate caufes hereof, byfyde the vehement cold of the myddle region of the
ayer wherby the fayd fyery exhalations afcending thether are fuddenly ftryken backe with greate force. For
euen common and dayly experience teacheth vs by the whyffmge of a burninge forge what noyfe fyer maketh in
the ayer, and much more where it ftriueth when it is inclofed with ayer as apereth in gonns, and as the lyke is
fene in only ayer inclofed, as in orgen pipes and fuch other inftiiimentes that go by winde. For wynde as fay
the philofophers is none other then ayer vehemently moued, as we fee in a payer of belowes and fuche other.
Sum of owre men of good credit that were in this laft vyage to Guinea, affirme erneftly that in the nyght
feafon they felt a fenfible heate to coomme from the beames of the moone. The which thynge althowghe it be
ftraunge and infenfible to vs that inhabite coulde regions, yet doothe it flande with good reafon that it may fo
be, forafmuch as the nature of the ftarres and planets (as wryteth Plinie) confyfteth of fyre, and conleyneth in it
a fpirite of lyfe, whiche can not be without heate.
And that the moone gyueth heate vpon the earth, the prophete Dauyd feemeth to confirme in his. Cxx.
EuF.N. 2 F 38s
Guinea or Ginoix
Cap. Verde.
The Portugales
n?.uigatiotu tu
Brasile.
Ethiopia.
Ihe Ilande of
Meroe.
The queene of
Saba.
Prester lohn
emperour of
Ethiopia.
People of the e:ist
syde of Africa-
Ophiophagi
People without
heades.
Mytra
Azania.
Regnum Melinde.
Ethiopia Interior
whyte elephantes
Habassia.
Ichihiophagi
Anthropophagu
Montes Luna.
Gazatia.
357
Cap. Bona Spei.
Aphrica withowt
collide.
Tlie winter of
Africa.
Flames of fii-e
and noysc in ih;
ayer.
The myddcll
region of the
alyjcr is couKle.
The strife of
clcniRiltes.
Wynfle.
The heate of
the moone.
The nature ff
the st^in^
386
The feconde vyage to Guinea.
Spoutcs of water
fauling out uf
the ayer.
Cataracts of
hcauen.
Vehement motio »■
of the sea.
A straunge
thyiige.
The poure o(
nature.
358
They rase their
skinnes.
Fine ieweUs
A braslet
ShackellcA.
Kmges.
Dogs chains of
golde.
A muske cat.
Their houses
Their feding
Fleing fishes
A straunge thynj;
[i2oth] Pfalme, where fpeakynge of fuch men as are defended from euyls by goddes protection, he fayth thus:
Per diejii fol non exuret te, nee lima per noetcm. That is to fay. In the day the foonne (hall not burne the nor
the moone by nyght.
They fay furthermore that in certeyne places of the fea, they fawe certeyne flremes of water which they
caule fpoutes faulynge owt of the ayer into the fea : And that fum of thefe are as bygge as the greate pyllers of
churches : In fo muche that fumtymes they faule into fhyppes and put them in greate daungiour of drownynge.
Sum phantafie that thefe fliulde bee the cat[a]ractes of heauen whiche were all opened at Noes fludde. But 1
thynke them rather to be fuche fluxions and eruptions as Ariflotle in his boke de Mundo, faith to chaunfe in
the fea. For fpeakynge of fuche thynges as are feene often tymes in the fea, he wryteth thus : Often tymes
alfo euen in the fea are feene euaporations of fyre, and fuche eruptions and breakyng furth of fprynges, that the
mouthes of ryuers are opened, whyrlepooles, and fluxions are caufed of fuch other vehement motions not only
in the middefl of the fea, but alfo in creekes and flreyghtes. At certeyne tymes alfo, a great quantitie of water
is fuddeynly lyfted vp and caryed abowt with the moone. etc. By which woordes of Aryflotle it dooth appere
that fuch waters maye bee lyfted vp in one place at one tyme, and fuddeynly faule downe in an other place at
an other tyme. And hereunto perhappes perteyneth it that Rycharde Chaunceler toulde me that he harde
Sebaflian Cabot reporte, that (as farre as I remember) eyther abowt the coafl.es of Brafile or Rio de Plata, his
fhyppe or pinnes was fuddeinly lyfted from the fea and cafl. vpon the lande I wotte not howe farre. The which
thynge and fuche other lyke woonderfull and (Iraunge woorkes of nature whyle I confyder and caule to remem-
beraunce the narownes of mans vnderflandynge and knowleage in comparyfon of her mighty poure, I can but
ceafe to maruayle and confefle with Plinie that nothynge is to her impofllble, the leafl.e parte of whofe poure is
not yet knowen to men.
Many thynges more owre men fawe and confydered in this vyage worthy to bee
noted, wherof I haue thought good to put fum in memory that the reader maye afwell
take pleafure in the varietie of thynges as knowleage of the hyflorye.
Amonge other thynges therefore touchynge the maners and nature of the people, this may feeme flraunge
that theyr princes and noble men vfe to pounfe and rafe theyr fkynnes with prety knottes in diuers formes as
it were branched damaflce, thynkynge that to be a decent ornament. And albeit they go in maner all naked,
yet are many of them and efpecially their women in maner laden with collars, braflettes, hoopes, and chaynes
eyther of golde, copper, or luery. I my felfe haue one of thejT brafelettes of luery wayinge tvvoo pounde and
vi. [fix] ounces of Troye weyght, whiche make, xxxviii. [thirty-eight] ounces. This, one of theyr women dyd
weare vppon her arme. It is made of one hole piece of the byggefl parte of the toothe turned and fumwhat
earned, with a hole in the myddefl. wherin they put theyr handes to weare it on theyr arme. Sum haue of euery
arme one and as many on theyr legges, wherewith fum of theym are fo galded that althoughe they are in maner
made lame therby, yet wyll they by no meanes leaue them of Sum weare alfo on theyr legges great fhackels
of bryght copper which they thynke to bee no lefle cumly. They weare alfo collars, braflets, garlandes and
gyrdels of certeyne blewe flones lyke beades. Lykewyfe fum of theyr women weare on theyr bare armes cer-
teyne forefleeues made of the plates of beaten golde. On theyr fyngers alfo they weare rynges made of golden
wyres with a knotte or wrethe lyke vnto that whiche chyldren make in a rynge of a rufflie. Amonge other
thinges of golde that owr men bowght of them for exchaunge of theyr wares, were certeyne dogges chaynes and
coUers.
They are very ware people in theyr bargenynge, and wyl not lofe one fparke of golde of any value. They
vfe weyghtes and meafures, and are very circumfpecte in occupyinge the fame. They that fliall haue to do
with them muft vfe them gentelly ? for they wyl not trafike or brynge in any wares if they be euyll vfed. At
the fyrrt. viage that owr men had into thefe parties, it fo chaunfed that at theyr departure from the fyrfle place
where they dyd trafike, one of them eyther flole a mufke catte or tooke her a way by force, not myflruflynge
that that fliulde haue hyndered theyr bargenynge in an other place whyther they intended to go. But for al
the hafl. they could make with full fayles, the fame of theyr myfufage fo preuented them that the people of that
place alfo ofiended therby, wold bring in no wares : In fo muche that they were inforced eyther to rcft.ore the
catte or pay for her at theyr price before they could trafike there.
Theyr houfes are made of foure pofl-es or trees, and couered with bouwes.
Theyr common feedynge is of rootes and fuch fyffhes as they take, wherof they haue great plentie. There
are alfo fuch flyinge fyfflies as are feene in the fea of the Wefle Indies. Owre men falted of theyr fyfflies hopynge
to prouyde flore therof But they wolde take no falte : And mufte therefore be eaten furthwith as fum fay.
Howe be it, other affirme that if they be falted immediately after they be taken, they wyl lafl. vncorrupted. x.
[ten] or. xii. [twelue] dayes. But this is more (Iraunge, that parte of fuch fleffhe as they caryed with them owte
of Englande and putrifyed there, became fweete ageyne at theyr returne to the clime of temperate regions.
386
The feconde vyage to Guinea.
387
They vfe alfo a flraunge makynge of breade in this maner. They grynde betwene two (lones with theyr
handes as much come as they thynke maye fuffice theyr famelie. And when they haue thus brought it to
floure, they put thereto a certeyne quantitie of water and make therof very thin dowgh which they (lycke vppon
fum pofl of theyr houfes, where it is baked by the heate of the fonne : So that when the maRer of the houfe or
any of his famely wyll eate thereof, they take it downe and eate it.
They haue very fayre whcate, the ere whereof is twoo handfulles in length and as bygge as a great bulruffhe,
and almofl foure ynches abowt where it is byggeft. The fleme or flrawe, femeth to be almoR as bygge as
the lyttle fynger of a mans hande, or lyttle leffe. The graynes of this wheate are as bygge as owr peafon :
rounde alfo, and verye whyte and fumwhat fhynynge lyke perles that haue loft theyr colour. Almoft all the
fubftaunce of theym tumeth into floure, and maketh lyttle branne or none. I toulde in one ere twoo hundreth
and three fcore graynes. The ere is inclofed in thre blades longer then it felfe, and of two inches brode a
piece. And by this frutefulneffe the foonne feemeth pardy to rccompence fuch greefes and moleftations as
they otherwyfe receaue by the feruent heate thereof It is doubtlefle a woorthy contemplation to confider the
contrary effectes of the foonne : or rather the contrary paffions of fuche thynges as receaue th[e]influence of his
beames eyther to theyr hurte or benefite.
Theyr drynke is eyther water or the iufe that droppeth from the cut braunches of the barren date
trees cauled Palmites. For eyther they hange greate gourdes at the fayde branches euery euenynge and
let them fo hange all nyght, or els they fet them on the ground vnder the trees that the droppes may
faule therin. They fay that this kynde of drynke is in taft much lyke vnto whey, but fumwhat fweeter
and more pleafaunt. They cutte the branches euery euenynge bycaufe they are fered vp in the day by
the heate of the foonne. They haue alfo great beanes as bygge as cheflenuttes, and verye harde with a fhell
in the ftede of a hufke.
Many thynges more myght be fayd of the maners of the people and of the woonders
and monflrous thynges that are engendered in Afrike. But it fliall fuffice to haue
fayde thus muche of fuch thynges as owre men partely fawe and panely browght with
them.
And wheras before fpeakynge of the frute of graynes, I defcrybed the fame to haue holes by the fyde (as
in deede it is as it is browght hether) yet was I afterwarde informed that thofe holes were made to put ftryngcs
or twygges throughe the frute therby to hange them vp to drye at the fonne. They growe not pafte a foote and
a halfe or twoo foote frome the grownde : and are as red as bludde when they are gathered. The graynes
them felues, are cauled of the phyfitians, Grana Paradyfi.
At theyr comminge home, the keles of theyr fliyppes were marueloudy ouergrowen with certen fhels of ii.
[two] ynches length and more as thycke as they coulde ftande, and of fuch byggenes that a man may put his
thom in the mouthes of them. They certeynly affirme that in thefe there groweth a certeyne flymy fubftaunce
which at the length flypping owt of the (hel and fauling in the fea, becometh thofe foules which we cal barnacles
The lyke fhelles haue byn feene in fliyppes returning from Iflande. But thefe flielles were not paft halfe an
inch in length. Of the other that came from Guinea, I fawe the Prymrofe lyinge in the docke, and in maner
couered with the fayd flielles, which in my iudgemente fhulde greately hynder her faylynge. Theyr fliyppes
were alfo in many places eaten with the woormes cauled Bromas or Biffas whereof mention is made in the
Decades. Thefe creepe betwene the plankes whiche they eate throwgh in many places.
Amonge other thynges that chaunced to them in this vyage, this is woorthy to be noted, that whereas they
fayled thether in feuen weekes, they coulde retume in no leffe fpace then. xx. [twenty] weekes. The caufe
wherof they fay to be this : That abowt the coaft of Cabo Verde, the wynde is euer at the Eaft by reafon whereof
they were inforced to fayle farre owte of theyr courfe into the mayne Ocean to fynde the wynde at the
weft to brynge them home. There dyed of owre men at this laft vyage abowt. xxiiii. [twenty-four] whereof
many dyed at theyr retume into the clime of the coulde regions, as betwene the Ilandes of Soria and Englande-
They browght with them certeyne blacke flaues, wherof fum were taule and ftronge men, and coulde well agree
with owr meates and drynkes. The coulde and moyft ayer dooth fumwhat offende them. Yet doubtlefle men
that are borne in hotte regions may better abyde coulde, then men that are borne in coulde regions may abyde
heate, forafmuch as vehement heate refolueth the radical! moifture of mens bodies, as could conftreyneth and
preferueth the fame
This is alfo to bee confydered as a fecreate woorke of nature, that throughout all Afryke vnder the Equi-
noctiall line and neare abowt the fame on bothe fydes, the regions are extreme hotte and the people very blacke.
Whereas contraryly fuch regions of the Weft Indies as are vnder the fame line, are very temperate and the
people neyther blacke nor with curlde and fliort woolle on theyr heades as haue they of Afryke, but of the
187
Their bread.
Their wheate.
359
Thes
Their drinke.
Graynes.
Shelles that clcaue
to shyppes.
Barnacles.
The death of
owr men.
Could may be
better abiden
then heate.
The West Indie:
388
The feconde vyage to Guinea.
coloure of an olyue with longe and blacke heare on theyr heades : the caufe of which varietie is declared in
dyuers places in the Decades.
It is alfo woorthy to bee noted that fumme of them that were at this vyage toulde me. That is,
360 that they ouertooke the couife of the foonne, fo that they had it north from them at noone the. xiiii. [four-
teenth] day of Marche.
And to haue fayde thus much of thefe vyages it may fuffice. For (as I haue fayd
before) Wheras the parteners at whofe charges this booke is prynted, wolde longe fence
haue me proceaded no further, I had not thought to haue vvrytten any thynge of thefe
vyages but that the liberahtie of mafler Toy encoraged me to attempt the fame.
Whiche I fpeake not to the reproche of other in whome I thynke there lacked no good
wyll, but that they thought the booke wolde be to chargeable.
389
c THE MANER OF FYNDYNGE THE LONGITVDE OF
REGIONS BY DYVERS WAVES AFTER THE DESCRIPTION OF
Gemma Phrysivs,
Erceauynge what contention is and longe hath byn
not only amonge the pylottes that by trauaylynge
the fea haue obferued the ftarres, but alfo amonge
fum men that are fkylfull in mathematical! fciense,
wherof many affirme that the longitude (that is to
meane, the courfe from the Eaft to the Wefte) can
not be perfectely knowen, I haue thowght good for
the better fatiffying of fuch as defire to haue fum
knowleage hereof, to interprete fuch demonflrations
as I haue redde of the declarynge of the fame in
Gemma Phryfius, who as touchynge this matter
hath added th[e]inuentions of other, a more cer-
teyne way of his own diuife wherby (as he fayth)
he can fynde the longitude of regions although he
were dryuen owt of the way a thoufande myles into places vnto hym vtterlye vnknowen
and of vnknowen diftance. He wryteth therfore as foloweth.
When yow haue founde the place of the mone, yow ought to confyder the houre when (he occupyed that
place. Then eyther by the Ephimerides or by the tables of Alphonfus yowe owght to knowe in what houre the
moone entereth into the fame figne of the Zodiake in an other region or towne whofe longitude is well knowen.
Then reducynge the houres to. xxiiii. [twenty-four] the lefle number of houres is to be deducted out of the
greater number. Then the remanent of the houres and mynutes is to be brought to degrees in this maner.
Multiplie the hours by. xv. [fifteen] and diuide the minutes of the houres by foure : fo fhall appere the degrees
of the Equinoctial conteyned betwene two meridians. And if after this diuifion there remayne any minutes,
multiplie them alfo by. xv. [fifteen] and therby fhalbe knowen the minutes of degrees. Adde this difference of
longitude founde to the longitude of the region knowen if the houres of that place bee more in number : or take
awaye from the fame longitude if they be lefle : So fhall yowe in fine gather the longitude of the place vnknowen
from the llandes of Canarie. But the fame is more eafely and redely found geometrically by the globes by this
meanes. Set directly vnder the meridian, the place whofe longitude is knowen in the globe. Then directe the
poynte or (lyle that moueth abowt the pole, to the houre in the whiche the moone occupyeth the place afligned
in that region. Then tume the globe vntyll the flyle that fheweth the houre, be coomme to the houre in the
whiche yowe fowght the vnknowen place of the moone. And fo (hall the degrees of the Equinoctiall diftaunte
or diuyded frome the moueable meridian, declare the longitude of the region which yow feeke. Neuerthelefle,
the more certeine way wherby the differences of longitudes may bee founde, is by fum one thynge that in one
moment appeareth in all regions, as by the eclypfes of the moone. For the dyuers houres beinge knowen in
the whiche the fayd eclypfes chaunce in dyuers regions, the longitude maye thus afwell be knowen by geometric
and arithmetike, as it is founde by the rule here before. But forafmuch as this doth neyther appere at al tymes
nor to all men, and the other way is fumwhat difficult, neyther at al tymes redy by reafon of the coniunctions
of the mone and furthermore alfo fumtjTnes vncerteyne and varying fumwhat from the truth for the dyuers
2 F 2 389
By the mone.
The llandes of
Canarie.
Howe to fynd
the longitude by
the globe
The Eclipses of
the moone.
390
The maner of fynydnge the longitudes of regions.
361
Litic clockes
By the Astrolabie
and globe.
Horoscopus or
the Asceadent.
The latitude.
afpectes and latitudes of the mone, it fo chaunceth hereby that wee haue eyther no longitudes or the fame very
vncerteyne of many regions, and efpecially of thofe which the Spanyardes haue of late difcouered. For no
certentie doubtleffe can be knowen by fuch commenfurations as are made in the wanderynge tumynges and
wyndynges of fuch vyages, as Ptolome affirmeth in the firfl. booke of his Cofmographie. I wyll therfore adde
herevnto fum thynge of myne owne inuention whereby by an eafy way and at all tymes the longitudes of regions
may bee founde in all vyages and nauigations.
C A newe maner of fyndynge the Longitudes of regions.
Ee fee that in thefe owre dayes certeyne lyttle clockes are very artificially made the whiche for
theyr fmaule quantitie are not comberous to be caryed abowt in all vyages. Thefe often
tymes moue continually for the fpace. of. xxiiii [twenty-four] houres : and may with helpe
continewe theyr mouynge in maner perpetually. By the helpe therfore of thefe the longi-
tude may bee founde after this maner. Before wee enter into any vyage, wee mufte fyrile
forefee that the fayde clocke exactly obferue the houres of the place from whenfe we departe :
And ageyne that in the way it neuer ceafe. Accomplyflhynge therefore, xv. [fifteen] or. xx.
[twenty] myles of the vyage, if wee defyre to knowe howe much in longitude we are dyflant frome the place of
owre departure, we muft, tary vntyll the poynt or flyle of the clocke do exactly come to the poynt of
fum houre : and at the lame moment by owr Aflrolabie or globe, owght wee to feeke the
houre of the place where we bee : The which yf it agree in minute with the houres
which the Horofcopium or afcendent dooth fhewe, then is it certeyne
that wee are yet vnder the fame Meridian or the fame Longi-
tude : and that owre courfe hath byn towarde the
fouth or north. But if it dyfTer one hour or
any mynute, then are the fame
to bee reduced to de-
grees or minutes as we haue tought in the chapiture here before.
And fo (hall the longitude bee founde. And by this arte can
I fynde the longitude of regions althowgh I were a
thoufand myles owt of my attempted courfe
and in an vnknowen diflance, but
the latitude mufl, fyrfte bee
perfectely knowen.
#5N«S.
391
C A bryefe reherfal of the content es of the bookes ofthefyrfi Decade, and fo
folowynge of all the other Decades. Folio, i. [/. 65.]
N the fyrft booke is declared howe Chriftophorus
Colonus otherwyfe cauled Columbus, perfuaded
Fernando and Elizabeth, prynces of Spayne, to
foorther his attempte in fearching newe and vn-
knowen landes in the Weft Ocean. Alio of the.
vii. Ilandes of Canarie, by whom they were founde
and conquered.
Howe Colonus founde the Ilandes of Hifpaniola,
and Cuba : And of the fierce people cauled Cani-
bales or Carilies, which are accuftomed to eate mans fleflhe.
Of the rootes cauled Ages, lucca, and the grayne Maizium, wherof the
people of the Ilandes make theyr breade.
Of the golde found in the fandes of ryuers, and of the ferpentes which
are without hurte. Alfo of turtle doues, duckes, and popyngiayes.
Of Mallix, and Aloe, with dyuers frutes and trees vnknowen to vs : and
of the frutefulnes of the Hand of Hifpaniola which the Spanyardes caule
Spagnuola.
Of the feconde vyage of Colonus into thefe regions, and howe he was
fumyfflied with. xvii. fliyppes and a thoufande and two hundreth fouldyers,
with all kynde of artiliarye, artificers, and grayne to fowe. And of the
tree frome the which water droppeth continually into a trenche made by
mans hande.
The contmtes of ihefeconai booke. Fol. 4. [/. 68.]
C Howe Colonus departynge from the Ilandes of Canarie, fayled . viii.
hundreth and. xx. leaques in. xxi. dayes, and came to Dominica an Hande
of the Canibales: And ot the fragrant fauour of fpices which preceded
from the Ilandes,
Of the Ilandes of Galanta or Galana and Guadalupea, and of the trees
which beare that kynde 01 cotton whiche the Italians caule Bombafine, and
the Spanyardes Algadon.
Of dyuers kyndes of popingiayes : And of the Hand of Matinino or
Madinino, being inhabited only with women : Alfo of dyuers other fnite-
fuU Ilandes : And of a conflicte which the Spanyardes had with the Cani-
bales.
Of certeyne Ilandes in the which are feene the mynes of metals and
precious ftones; and of the frutefull and peopulous Hande cauled Buri-
chena or Boriquen. or Infula S. lohannis,
Howe all the Admirals men whiche at his fyrft vyage he lefte in Hif-
paniola, were flayne in his abfence by the rebellion of Guaccanarillus,
kynge of the Region of Xamana : and of the free kynde of lyfe which they
leade that haue not the vfe of money.
Of the. vii. maydens which fwamme. iii. myles in the fea : And of the
maner of gatheryng of gold in the fands of riuers.
C TTu ContenUs of the thyrde looke. Fol. 10. [/. 73.]
C A particular defcription of the Hande of Hifpaniola, whiche Colonus
thynketh to be Ophir, from whenfe kynge Salomon had his great ryches
of golde.
Of the maruelous frutefulnes of Hifpaniola, ' and of the fuger canes
growynge there.
Of the golden regions of Cipanga or Cibaua, and of the ryuers in whofe
fandes is founde great plentie of golde.
Of certeyne graines of gold of exceadyng great quantitie.
Of wylde vines of pleafaunt tafte, and of graffe which in fonre dayes
groweth as hygh as wheate.
Of the Hande of lohanna or Cuba, beinge the ende of the Eaft and the
Weft : And of the frutefull and peopulous Hande of lamaica.
Howe the Admirall thought that he had fayled abowte the loweft hemi-
fpherie or halfe circle of the earth, and of a fecreate of Aftronomie
touchynge the fame matter,
Howe the Admirall gaue names to. vii. hundreth Ilandes, and paffed by
three thoufande vnnamed.
Of certeyne ferpentes lyke vnto Crocodiles of. viii. foote longe, whofe
fleflhe is delicate to be eaten : and of certeyne trees which beare gourdes.
Of the ryuer whofe water is very hotte : and of the huntynge fyflhe
which taketh other fyffhes.
Of great abundaunce of Tortoyfes as bygge as targets, and of a frutefull
mountayne well inhabited.
Of dogges of deformed (hape and dum : And of whyte and thicke water.
Of wooddes of date trees and pynepaple trees, and of certeyne people
appareled like white friers.
Of certeyne trees whiche beare fpices, and of cranes of exceadynge
bignes.
Of ftocke doues of more pleafaunte tafte then partriches.
An oration of a barbarous gouernoure as touchinge the immortalitie of
the fowle : Alfo of the rewarde of vertue and punyfdimente of vice.
A fimilitude oi the golden worlde, and of prouifion withowte care.
Howe the admirall tell ficke by reafon of to much watchynge : And of
a fedition which rofe among the Spaniardes in the Hande of Hifpaniola.
C Tlie Contentes of the fourth booke. Fol. 18. [/>. 79.]
Howe the Kynges of the Hande of Hifpaniola, were by the Spaniardes
myf behauoure prouoked to Rebellion : And howe the admirall fent for
them.
Howe kinge Caunaboa the Lorde of the houfe of golde, that is, of the
mountaynes of Cibaua, conlpired the Admirals death, and how he with
his familie were taken prifoners.
Of a greate famine that chaunced in the Hand of Hifpaniola : and howe
the Admiral builded certeyne fortreffes.
Of a piece of rude golde waighinge. xx. vnces : and of the myne of the
riche metall cauled Electnim.
Ot the mountayne in the whyche is founde greate plentye of Amber and
orpemente : And of the wooddes of brafile trees.
Howe th[e]inhabitauntes are put to theyre tribute : And howe the
nature of the Region difpofethe the maners of the people.
Howe the brother of kinge Caunaboa came ageynfte the Admiral with
an army of fiue thowfand naked men : and how he was taken and his
army put to flyght.
Of the frutfuU vale Magona, in the fandes of whofe ryuers is founde
great plentie ol golde : and of certeyne whirlewyndes and tempeftes.
Howe the Admirall fente foorthe his brother Bartliolomeus Colonus
with an army of men to fearch the gold mines and of tie foffes which he
found to haue bin digged in old tyme
391
392
The content es of the decades.
C The Contentes of the. v. booke. Fol. 22. [/. 82.]
Howe the Lieuetenaunt builded a fortreffe in the golde mynes : And
prepared inftrumentes for the pourgtnge and fyninge of the golde.
Howe certeyne fliyppes laden with vyttayles, came frome Spayne : And
howe the Lieuetenaunt fent the kynges which rebelled, with three hund-
reth captiues into Spayne.
Howe the Liefetenaunte remoued his habytacion : And buylded a
fortrefle which he cauled faynt Dominickes towre Alfo howe he pafTed
ouer the ryiier Naiba, and entered into the wooddes of brafyle trees.
Howe the great kynge Beuchius Anacauchoa, frendely enterteyned the
Lieuetenaunt, and browght hym to his pallayce, where the kynges wyues
and concubines receaued him honorably with pompes and triumphes.
Of the fortreffes which were erected in Hifpaniola : And howe the
Lieuetenaunt exacted tribute of the kynges whiche rebelled ageyne.
Howe the Lieuetenaunt fette vppon the kynges vnwares in the nyght
feafon, and tooke. xiiii. of them pryfoners.
Howe kynge Guarionexius, capitayne of the confpiracie .was pardoned,
and howe he perfuaded the people to obedience.
Howe kynge Beuchius Anacauchoa, fente raeffingers .to the Lieuetenaunt
to repayre to his pallayce where he founde xxxii. Idnges redy with theyr
tributes : And howe the queene Anacaona entyfed hym io eate of the
ferpentes fleflhe.
Howe the ferpentes fleflhe is prepared to be eaten; And how delicate
meate theyr egges are yf they be fodden.
Howe queene Anacaona, fyfter to kynge Beuchius Anacauchoa, enter-
teyned the Liefetenaunt, and gaue hym muche houfliolde ftuffe and many
veflels of Hebene woodde artificially wrought and carued.
Howe kynge Anacauchoa and the queene his fyfter went aboorde the
Liefetenaunt his (hyppe, and howe greately they were amafed to beholde
the furniture therof
Howe Roldanus Xeminus a Spaniarde, rebelled in the Lieuetenauntes
abfence : by whofe myfdemeanour alfo kinge Guarionexius was prouoked
to a newe confpiracie, and with hym Maiobanexius the kynge ot the
mountaynes.
The contentei of the fyxte boke. Foli. 28. [/. 87.]
C The thyrde vyage of Colonus, and howe he diuerted from his accuf-
tomed rafe by the Ilandes of Canarie to the Il^nde of Madera for feare ol
certayne frenche pirates and rouers.
Of the. xiii. Ilandes which in olde tyme were cauled Hefperides, and are
nowe cauled the Ilandes ot Caput Viride or Cabouerde. Alfo of the
Tortoyfes of the Ilande of Bonauifta, wherwith the leaper is healed.
Howe the Admirall founde contagion;; ayre and extreme heate nere the
Equinoctial where the north pole jvas eleyale onely fyue degrees : And
how failyng from thence weftward, he founde the ftarres placed in other
order, and the fea ryfynge as it were the backe ot a mountayne.
Howe the Admyrall faylynge we/lwarde, and neuer paffyng owte of the
clyme or paraleles of Ethiope, founde a temperate Region and people of
goodly corporature : And what difference is betwene the natures of Regions
beyng vnder one paralele and one eleuation of the pole.
Of the Ilandes of Puta and Margarita : and of the fwift courfe or faule
of the Ocean from the Eaft to the wefte.
Of the goulfes cauled Os Draconis : And of th* fonflicte betjvene the
frefhe water and the falte.
Of a fea of frefhe water : And a mountayne inhabited onely with monkeys
and marmafettes.
Of the fayre, riche, and large region ot Paria : And howe frendly
th[e]inhabitantes entreated the Admyrall and his men. Alfo of pleafaunte
wyne made of dyuerfe fruites : And of greate abundaunce of perles and
golde.
Of the regions ot Cumana, Manacapana, and Curiana, beynge regions
of the large prouynce of Paria : And of the fea of herbes or weedes.
A certeyn fecreate as touchynge the pole flarre and the eleuation of the
fame: Alfo of the roundneflTe of the earthe.
393
Of the mountaynes of Paria in the toppes wherof Colonus emeflly
affirmeth the earthly Paradife to be fituate : And whether Paria be part
of the firme land or continent of India.
C The contmtcs of the. vii. booke. Fol. 33. [/. 90.]
C Howe Roldanus Xeminus with his confetherates, accufed the Admi-
rall to the kynge : And howe he pourged hym felfe and accufed them
Howe kynge Guarionexius rebelled ageyne : And with him kyng Maio-
banexius : Alfo howe they with other kinges came ageynfl the Lieueten-
aunte with an armye of. viii. thoufande naked and paynted Cigttauians.
Alfo twoo rare exemples of frendfhyppe and faythfulnes in barbarous
princes.
Howe Colonus the Admirall and the Lieuetenaunte hys brother, were
fent bounde into Spayne : And newe officers appoynted in theyr places.
The contentes of the. viii. booke. Fol. 37. [/. 94.]
C The nauigation of Petrus Alphonfus frome Spayne to Paria, where in
the region of Curiana, he had in fhorte fpace. xv. vnces of pearles and
greate plenty of vytailes for haukes bellees, pynnes, lokinge glalTes, and
fuche other tryfelles.
Of certeyn coniectures wherby Paria is thought to bee parte of the firme
lande : And of the golden region of Cauchieta, where in the moneth of
Nouember the ayre is temperate and not coulde.
Howe Alphonfus had a conflicte with the Canibals : and howe they
are acuflomed to inuade other contreys.
Of greate abundaunce of falte in the region of Haraia : and howe the
dead bodyes of theyr prynces are dryed, referued, and relygioufly honoured.
Howe Alphonfus at his returne to Spayne frome Curiana, brought with
hym threefcore and. xvi. pounde weight of pearles which he bought for
owre tryfeiis amountinge only to the value of fine (hillyngs.
77^1? contentes of the. ix. booke. Fol. 40. [/. 96.]
G The Nauigation of Vincentius Pinzonus and Aries Pinzonns, and
howe they fayled beyonde the Equinoctiall lyne, lofle the fyght of the
northe ftarre, and founde the flarres in other order.
Howe Vincentius paffynge the equinoctiall towarde the fouthe pole,
founde fierce and warlike people of great flature : And of the fea of frefhe
water.
Howe Vincentius directing his courfe towarde the north wefle from the
equinoctiall, recouered the fyght of the northe pole, and by the regions of
Mariatamball, Camomorus, and Pericora, came to the fayre and ryche
prouince of Paria, and to the regyons of Os Draconis, Cumana, Mana-
capana, Curiana. &c.
A coniecture that Paria (wherby is ment that mayne land now cauled
America) fhulde be parte of the fyrme lande or continent of India, beyonde
the ryuer of Ganges and no ilande : And of the excedynge great riuer
Maragnonus replenifhed with Ilandes.
Of Borioftomea and Spirioftomea, the mouthes of the famous ryuer of
Danubius, cauled in olde tyme Ifler: And of the commodities of the regions
and Ilandes about Paria. Alfo of the woodes of brafile trees.
Of many trutfuU Ilandes wafted and lefte defolate by refon of the Cani-
balles crueltie : And of the trees of CafTia Fiftula. Alfo of other trees of
excedyng bygnefle.
The defcription of a certayne monftruous beafte, And how Vincentius
lofte tiro of his fhyppes by tenjpe'les.
Howe Vincentius at his returne to Sp-iyne, brought with hym cinamome,
gynger, and certayne precious ftoones cauled Topafes. And of the naui-
gatibns of certayne other inhabitantes of the towne ot Palos.
Of the precious medicine cauled Anime Album. And of the diuerfe
fuperftitions of the inhabitauntes of Hifpaniola. Alfo of their Idolatry,
and howe they honour the ymages of deuylles, whiche they caule Zemes.
The content es of the decades.
393
e The ContenUs of the. x. booke. Fol. 48. \p. 103.]
Of great plentie of golde, perles, and frankenfence found in the regions
ot Paria. And of innumerable beafles in (hape dyfferynge from owres.
Howe the Spaniardes profered them felues to conquere the newe founde
landes, beynge in largeneffe thryfe as great as Europe befyde the fouthe
landes parteynynge to the Portugales. And howe the nature of the place
altereth the formes and qualities of thynges.
Of the Ilaude of Cuba, and of the golde mynes of the Hand of Sancti
lohannis, otherwife cauled Burichena, or Buchena. Alfo of the ryche
golde mynes of Hifpaniola, and of the order of workynge in the fame.
Of the two chiefe golde mynes of Hifpaniola. And of a pece of golde
weyinge thre thoufande thre hundreth and tenne pounde weyght.
Howe the golde is fyned and diftrybuted : And howe that only in the
meltynge (hops of the two golden mynes of Hifpaniola, is molten yearely
aboue three hundreth thoufande pounde weyght of golde.
Howe th[e]enterpryfes of the Spanyardes are not inferior to th[e]actes of
Saturnus or Hercules : And howe the Admyrall difcouered the laude ouer
ageynft the weft comer of Cuba and the Ilande of Guanafla.
C The Contentes of the bookes of the feconde Decade.
C The contenhs of the fyrjl booke. Fol. 51. [/. 106.]
C Howe after the death of Colonus the Admirall, the kynge gaue free
lycence to all fuche as wolde attempte any vyages : And of the nauigations
of Diego Nicuefa, and Alphonfus Fogeda
Of the Ilande Codego and the region of Caramairi : And of certeyne
fweete apples whiche tume into woormes when they are eaten, whofe trees
are alfo contagious.
Howe Alfonfus Fogeda, the Lieuetenaunt of Vraba, encounterynge with
the barbarians had the ouerthrowe. And howe in this conflicte, fyftie of
his men were flayne with lohannes de la Coffa theyr capytayne.
Howe Fogeda, and Nicuefa the Lieuetenaunte of Beragua, reuenged the
death of theyr coompanyons : And howe Fogeda came to the Ilande
Fortis and the region of Caribana where he was repulfed from the golde
mynes by the ficrcenefle of the barbarians vfyng arrowes infected with
poyfon.
Howe Fogeda was wounded in the thygh with a venemous arrowe, and
his men almoft confumed with famyn.
Howe a brigantine was drowned with the ftroke of a fyfflie : And of the
nauigation of Ancifus from Hifpaniola to Vraba.
Of the Lamentable (hyppewracke of Ancifus : And of the date trees and
wylde bores which he founde.
Of the frutes or apples of the trees cauled Ceders of Libane which beare
owlde frutes and newe all the yeare.
Howe onely three of the Canibales with theyr bowes and inuenemed
arrowes aflayled Ancifus with a hundreth of his men : In which conflicte
they wounded and flewe many. Alfo of theyr fwyftneffe of foote.
Of the great ryuer of Dariena : And how Ancifus encountered with fyue
hundreth of th[e]inhabitauntes of the goulfe of Vraba and put them to
flyght. Alfo howe he founde greate plentie of wrought golde and houf-
holde ftuffe in a thycket of reedes.
C The contmtes of the feconde booke. Fol. 58. [/. iii.]
C Ilowe Nicuefa lofle his felowes in the darke nyght and went paft the
mouth of the ryuer Beragua which he fought : And howe the capitaynes
of the other (hyppes confulted how to fyndc hym. Alfo of the ryuer
Lagartos in the which great Lyfartes are founde much lyke vnto the
Crocodiles of Nilus.
Howe the capitaynes forfooke theyr (hyppes that the fouldyers myght
bee without hope of departure : And of the miferabls phi^nce of Petrus
de Vmbria and his felowes.
By what chaunce Nicuefa was founde, and of the calamitie; which he
and his coompany fufteyned. Alfo of the regior) pf Graqia p^i or Cera-
baro, and of the ryuer of Sancti Matthej,
Howe Nicuefa caufed them to remoue theyr habitacion from Beragua to
poynte Marmor where he bylded a fortreflfe And howe his men by warre
and famyn, were confumed from feuen hundreth and odde, to fcarfely one
hundreth.
Howe one Vafchus Nunnez vfurped th[e]autoritie of the Lieue-
tenauntelljyppe of Vraba in th[e]abfence of Fogeda: And of the naui-
gation of Rodericus Colmenaris from Hifpaniola to Vraba.
Of the ryuer Gaira defcendynge from the toppe of a hygh mountayne
couered with fnowe : And howe Rodericus Colmenaris in a conflicte
ageynft the barbarians, lofte. xlvii. of his men by reafon of theyr inuenemed
arrowes.
Of the forpe pf the poyfon wherewith the barbarians infecte theyr
arrowes, and a remedie for the fame. Alfo howe Colmenaris by gimnefliot
and kyndelynge fyers on the hyghe toppes of the rockes, came to the
Spanyardes lefte defolate in Dariena.
C Tlie contentes of the thyrde booke. Fol. 61. [/. 114.]
C Howe Nicuefa was fought foorth to ^cquiete the contentions of
Vraba : And howe he was ageyne reiected.
Howe Vafchus Nunnez inuaded, tooke pryfoners, and fpoyled the kynges
bortherynge abowt the region of Vraba : And howe Ancifus Lieuetenaunt
for Fogeda was caft in pryfon, and afterwarde fet at libertie.
Howe Ancifus tooke his vyage from Vraba to Spayne to accufe Vafchus :
who alfo at the fame tyme fent Valdiuia afwell to fpeake in his defence, as
alfo to certifie the kynge of theyr doynges.
Howe kynge Careta confpired with the Spanyardes ageynft kynge
Poncha whom they put to flyght and fpoyled his vyllage.
Howe kynge Comogrus frendely ei)terteyngd the Spanyardes and brought
them to his pallaice where he (hewed them the dryed Carkafes of his
aunceftours referued and fumptuoudy apparelled : And howe the kynges
elder fonne gaue Vafchus and Colmenaris foure thoufand vnces of wrought
gold and fiftie flaues. Alfo a wyttie oration which he made to the Spany-
ardes, wherein he certifyed theym ot a sountr?y exceadynge ryche in
golde, &c.
C The contmtes of the fourth booke. Fol. 66. [/. 118.]
C Of horryble thunder and lyghtnynge in the mooneth of Nouember,
and of grayne which waxeth rype thryfe a yeare Alfo how digeftion is
ftrengthened by owtwarde coulde.
Howe Valdiuia is fent ageyne into Hifpaniola to moue the gouemour
and counfayle there to fende into Spayne to the kynge for a fupplie of a
thpBfand fouldyers to make way to the golden mountaynes : And howe
.193
394
The contenies of the decades.
he caryed with hym the kynges portion, (that is) the fyfte parte of golde
and other thynges.
Howe Vafchus inuaded the kynges inhabytynge the regions about the
goulfe of Vraba, and howe he put kyng Dabaiba to flyght, in whofe
vyllage he founde wrought golde amountynge to the weyght ol feuen
thoufande Caftellans.
Ol battes as bygge as turtle dooues which fumtyme byte men in the
nyght in their (leepe, whofe bytynge is alfo venemous : but is healed with
water of the fea or by cauterization as arc alfo the woundes of venemous
arrowes.
Of the Ilande of Cannafiftula, and a towne of fyue hundreth houfes,
whofe kynge Abenamachei was taken and his arme cutte of in the
fyght.
Of trees of exceadynge bygnefle and heyght : And howe kynge Abibeiba
had his pallaice in the toppe ol a tree frome the which he was inforced to
defcende and entreate of peace.
C The contcntes of the fyfth booke. Fol. 69. [/. 120.]
C Howe kynge Abraiba flewe a capitayne of the Spanyards and
caufed the kynges to rebell. Alfo howe they were put to flyght and many
of theyr men flayne.
Of fyue kinges which attempted a newe confpiracie with a hundreth
great Canoas and fine thoufand men : And howe theyr intent was bewrayed
by a woman, and preuented. Alfo howe Rodericus Colmenaris facked
the vyllage of Tichiri and honge the kynge therof with foure of his chiefe
rulers, and commaunded them to be fhotte through with arrowes.
C The contentes of the fyxte booke. Fol. 72. \p. 122.]
C Howe Vafchus with his confetherates, fente lohannes Quicedus
and Colmenaris from Dariena to Hifpaniola and from thenfe to Spayne to
the kyng for a thoufand men to paffe ouer the mountaynes to the golden
regions : And what miferies they fufteyned in that vyage. Alfo of the
death of Val[di]uia, Zamudius, and Fogeda.
Of the profperous vyage of Ancifus. And howe godde wrought miracles
by the fimple fayth of a mariner. Alfo how god refpecteth th[e]infancie
of fayth for zeles fake : And howe one religion turned into another, holdeth
flyll many thinges of the fyrfte.
Howe many of the barbarians were baptifed by reafon of the miracles :
And howe they rewarded the preftes by whome they were baptifed.
Howe Ancifus Ihortly after his arryuall in Spayne, reforted to the courte
and made his complaynt to the kinge of th[e]infolencie of Vafchus, wher-
uppon the kynge gaue fentence ageynft hym : And howe apte the barbar-
ous nations are to embrafe the Chriftian fayth.
C The contentes of the feuenth booke. Fol. 79. [/. 126.]
C Howe Quicedus and Colmenaris the procuratours of Dariena, were
honorably enterteyned at the courte and brought to the kynges prefence :
And howe theyr complexion was chaunged by alteration of the ayer.
Howe Petrus Arias a noble man, was elected gouemour and Lieuetenaunt
of Dariena : And howe other of the court laboured for the fame office.
Alfo howe the byflhop of Burges fpake to the kynge in his behalfe.
Howe Petrus Arias had a thoufande and two hundrethe fouldyers
appoynted hym at the kynges charges : And of the kynges cuftome houfe
in the citie of Ciuile, cauled the houfe of the contractes of India.
Howe a great number of Spanyardes profered themfelues to go at theyr
owne charges : And of a reflraint made that no ftraunger myght paife
without the kynges licence. Alfo howe the autour reproueth Aloifius
Cadamuftus a wryter of the Portugales vyages.
Howe Petrus Arias fhortely after his departure frome Ciuile, lofl two of
his fliyppes and was dryuen backe ageyne by tempeft : And howe beinge
newly fumyflhed, hee palled the Ocean with more profperous wyndes.
The thyrde vyage of Vincentius Pinzonus, and howe he came to the
394
regions of Paria where encounterynge with th[e]inhabitauntes he put them
fyrft to flyght : but after faulyng to entreatie of peace, they g?ue hym
greate plentie of golde and abundaunce of mafculine frankenfence with
dyuers other princely prefentes.
Of the greate multitude of popingiayes which are in the region of Paria,
and howe th[e]inhabitours are apparelled. Alfo of the fyue kynges that
made a league of frendefliyppe with Vincentius.
Howe Vincentius fayled Eaftwarde by the tracte of the regions of Paria
vntyll he came to the poynte \Cap. S. Augullinf\ of that longe lande which
the autour fuppofeth to be the greate Ilande Atlantike wherof the owlde
wryters make mention.
C 77ie contentes of the. viii. booke. Fol. 80. [/. 129]
C A contention betwene the Caftilians and Portugales as concemynge
the diuifion of the newe founde landes : And howe the controuerfie was
fynyfflied by the byfliop of Rome.
Howe Don Chryflopher the gouemoure of the Ilande of Sancti lohannis,
was flayne by the Canibales and the byflhop put to flyght. Alfo of the
other byffliops of the Ilandes.
Howe the Canibales of the Hand of Sancta Crux, flew and eate a kynge
with certeyne of his men beinge frendes to the Chryftians and made fag-
gottes of theyr bones : And how querelynge with owre men, they put them
to filence.
C The contentes of the. ix. booke. Fol. 81. [/. 130.]
. C Of the maruelous frutefulnes of the regions of Beragua, Vraba, and
Dariena : And of the dyuers kyndes of trees and frutes. Alfo of the plea-
faunt tafte of fwynes flefflie beinge fedde with the frutes of Mirobalane trees.
Of Lions and Tygers and other wylde beafles : And of a beafte of
flraunge forme.
Of the ryuers of the goulfe of Vraba, as the ryuer of Dariena and Rio
Grandis : And howe the great ferpentes cauled Crocodiles, are founde in
other ryuers byfyde Nilus in Egypte. Alfo howe th[e]autour of this booke
wa.s fent Ambaffadour to the Soldane of Alcayr in Egipte.
Of the Portugales nauigations, and of the ryuer Senega founde by them
to bee a chanel of Nilus. Alfo of the multitude of byrdes and foules beinge
in the maryfflies of Dariena.
A phylofophicall difcourfe of th[e]orig!nall and generation of fprynges
and ryuers : And of the breadth of the lande diuydynge the north and
fouth Ocean.
Of the great ryuer Maragnonus and of the earthly Paradyfe : And howe
fprynges are engendered by conuercion of ayer into water.
Of the often faule of rayne vnder the Equinoctiall line, and of the pores
of the fea opened by the South wyndes.
Of the great ryuers of Tanais, Ganges, Danubius, and Eridanus, famous
to the owlde wryters : And howe certeine ryuers runnynge throughe the
caues of the earthe, breake furth into fprynges afarre of.
C The contcntes of the. x. booke. Fol. 86. [/. 134.I
C Howe the newe founde landes difcouered by the Spanyardes in the
Weft Ocean, are eyght tymes bygger then Italie befyde that which the
Portugales poflefle : And of the cardes of the fea drawen by Colonus and
Americus Vefputius.
The order of meafurynge the lande : And howe a league contejmeth
foure myles by fea and but three by lande.
The Nauigation of lohannes Dias, and of the fundrye eleuations of the
pole ftarre.
Of the Ilande of Boiuca or Agnaneo, and of the fpringe whofe water
being dronke, caufeth owld men to loke yonge.
Howe Nicuefa and his fouldiers were fo opprefled with famin, that they
were dryuen to eate mangle dogges, toades, and deade men : And howe a
brotbe made of a dogges flcinne, was foulde for many pieces of golde.
The content es of the decades.
395
C The contentes of the bookes of the thyrde Decade.
C The contentes of the fyrjl booke. Fol. 88. [/. 137.]
C Of the defperate aduenture and good fortune of Vafchus : And how
with a hundreth fourfcore and ten men, he brought that to paffe for the which
Petrus Arias was fente with a thoufande and two hundreth frefthe fouldyers.
Howe iren ferueth for more necelTary vfes then gold, and howe fuper-
fluities hynder libertie.
Howe Vafchus in one conflicte, flewe fyxe hundreth barbaryans with
theyr kynges : And howe he founde the houfe of kyng Quarequa infected
with vnnatural lechery, commaundynge that the kynge and fortie fuche as
he kepte for that purpofe, fhulde be gyuen for a pray to his dogges whiche
he vfed to ferue in the warres ageynft thefe naked people.
Of a region of blacke Moores : And howe Vafchus came to the toppes
of the mountaynes, where geuynge thankes to god, he behelde the newe
fouth Ocean neuer before fene nor knowen to men of owre worlde.
Howe Vafchus put kynge Chiapes to flyght, and after made a league of
frendefhyppe with hym : And howe the king gaue hym. iiii. hundreth
poundes weyght of wrought golde.
Howe kynge Coquera was putte to flyght, who alfo beinge receaued to
frendefhyppe, gaue Vafchus fyxe hundreth and fiftie poundes weyght of
wrought golde.
Of the goulfe cauled Sinus. S. Michaelis beinge full of inhabited Ilandes :
And of the manly corage and godly zeale of Vafchus. Alfo of the ryfynge
and faulyng of the fouth fea.
Howe kynge Tumaccus beinge dryuen to flyght and afterwarde recon-
ciled, gaue Vafchus. vi. hundreth and. xiiii. pefos of golde, and two hun-
dreth and fortie of the greateft and fayreft pearles : And howe the kynge
caufed his men to fyflie for pearles.
Of the Ilande cauled Margaritea Diues : And of the abundaunce of fayre
and great pearles founde therin.
Of habitable regions vnder the Equinoctiall line : And of the Portugales
nauigations to the Antipodes inhabytynge the fyue and fiftie degree of the
fouth pole. Alfo a declaration of Antipodes, and of the ftarres about the
fouth pole.
O The contentes of the feconde booke. Fol. 95. [/. 142]
C Of the maner of fyffliynge for pearles and of the three kyndes therof.
Alfo dyuers other queftions concemynge perles.
Of the multitude of the (hell fyffhes wherin perles are engendered and
founde in maner in all places in the fouth fea : And of abundaunce of
golde founde almofle in euery houfe. Alfo howe the treafurie of nature is
in thofe coafles : And of the golde mynes of Dariena.
Howe kynge Teaocha gaue Vafchus. xx. poundes weight of wrought
golde and two hundreth perles. Alfo of defertes full of wylde beafles, and
howe Vafchus was troubled with gre.ite heate in the moneth of Nouember.
Howe a dogge Tyger was taken, and his whelpes tyed in cheyncs and
tome in pieces : Alfo howe Vafchus gaue. iiii kynges to his dogges to be
deuoured.
Of the vfe of dogges in theyr warres, and of the fiercenefle of the Canibales.
Howe kynge Bononiana fauoured the Chryftians and gaue Vafchus. xx.
pounde weyght of wrought golde. Alfo his oration to Vafchus.
A fimilitude prouynge greate plentie of golde in the regions of the fouth
fea, and of the trauayles which owlde fouldyers are able to fufteyne.
C The contentes of the thyrde booke. Fol. 99. [/. 146.]
C Howe kynge Buchibuea fubmytted hym felfe to Vafchus, and fent
hym certeyne velfelles of golde. Alfo howe kynge Chiorifus fente hym. xxx.
dyfthes of pure golde.
Howe iren ferueth for more necelTary vfes then gold. Alfo an exemple
of the lyfe of owr fyrfte parentes.
Howe kynge Pocchorrofa fubmytted hym felfe, and gaue Vafchus. xv.
pounde weyght of wrought golde. Alfo howe Tumanama the great kynge
of the golden regions towarde the fouth fea, is taken prifoner. Lykewyfe
howe he gaue Vafchus. xxx. pounde weyght of pure and wrought golde,
and his noble men. Ix. poundes weyght of golde.
Of the caufe of vehement wyndes nere vnto the Equinoctiall line, and of
the coloure of the earth of the golden mines.
Of the large and frutefuU playne of Zauana, and of the ryuer Comogrus.
Alfo howe kynge Comogrus baptifed by the name of Charles, gaue Vafchus.
XX. pounde weyght of wrought golde.
Of the good fortune of Vafchus, and howe he was turned from Goliath
to Elifeus, and from Anteus to Hercules : And with what facilitie the
Spanyardes fliall hereafter obteyre greate plentie of golde and pearles.
Of the Spanyardes conqueftes, and fiercenelTe of the Canibales. Alfo an
exhortacion to Chryftian princes to fette forwarde Chryfles religion.
C TJie contentes of the fourth booke. Fol. 104. [/. 150.]
C The fourth vyage of Colonus the Admirall frome Spayne to Hif-
paniola, and to the other Ilandes and coaftes of the firme lande : Alfo of
the floryflhynge Ilande Guanafla.
Of feuen kyndes of date trees, wylde vynes, and Myrobalanes : Alfo of
byrdes and foules.
Of people of goodly flature which vfe to paynt theyr bodyes ; And of the
fwyfte courfe of the fea from the eail to the weft. Alfo of frefflie water in
the fea.
Of the large regions of Paria, Os Draconis, and Quiriquetana : And of
greate Tortoyfes and reedes. Alfo of the foure frutefuU Ilandes cauled
Quatuor Tempora, and. xii. Ilandes cauled Limonares.
Of fweete fauours and holfome ayer : And of the region Quicuri, and the
hauen Cariai or Myrobalanus : Alfo of certeyne ciuyle people.
Of trees groynge in the fea after a ftraunge forte, and of a ftraunge kynde
of Moonkeys which inuade men and feight with wylde bores.
Of the greate goulfe of Cerabaro replenifflied with many frutefuU Ilandes,
and of the people which weare cheynes of golde made of ouches wrought
to tlie fimilitude of dyuers wylde beaftes and foules.
395
39^
The content es of the decades.
Of fyue vyllages whofe inhabitauntes gyue them felues onely to gather-
ynge of golde, and are paynted, vfynge to weare garlandes of Lyons and
Tygers clawes. Alfo of feuen ryuers in all the which is founde greate
plentie of golde : And where the plentie of golde ceafeth.
Of certeyne people which paynt theyr bodyes, and couer theyr priuie
members with (helles, hauynge alfo plates of golde hangynge at theyr nofe-
thrylles.
Of certeyne woormes which beinge engendered in the feas nere abowt
the Equinoctial!, eate holes in fhyppes : And how the Admirals fhyppes
were deftroyde by them.
Howe the kynge of Beragua enterteyned the Lieuetenant and of the
great plentie of gold in the ryuer of Duraba and in al the regions there
aboute : Alfo in rootes of trees and flones and in maner in all the ryuers.
Howe the Lieuetenaunt and his coompany wold haue erected a colonic
befyde the ryuer of Beragua, and was repulfed by th[e]inhabitauntes.
Howe the Admirall fel into the handes of the barbarians of the Ilande
of Jamaica where he lyued miferably the fpace of tenne moonethes : And
by what chaunce he was faued and came to the Ilande of Hifpaniola.
Of holfome regions, temperate ayer, and continual fpring al the hole
yeare : Alfo of certeyne people which honour golde religiouily durynge
theyr golden harueft.
Of the mountaynes of Beragua beinge fiftie myles in heyght and hygher
then the clowdes : Alfo the difcripcion of other mountaynes and regions
there about, comparynge the fame to Italy.
Colonus his opinion as touchynge the fuppofed continente, and ioynynge
of the north and fouth Ocean. Alfo of the breadth of the fayde continente
or firme lande.
Of the regions of Vraba and Beragua and the great ryuer Maragnonus
and the ryuer of Dabaiba or Sancti lohannis Alfo of certeyne maryffhes
and defolate wayes, and of dragons and Crocodiles engendered in the fame.
Of. XX. golden ryuers abowt Dariena and of certeyne precious ftones,
efpecially a diamunde of marueilous byggenefTe bought in the prouince of
Paria.
Of the heroical factes of the Spanyardes and howe they contemne effemi-
nate pleafures. Alfo a fimilitude prouynge greate plentie of golde and
precious flones.
C The contentes of the fyfih looke. Fol. 113. [/. 156.]
C The nauigation of Petrus Arias from Spayne to Hifpaniola and
Dariena, and of the Handes of Canarie. Alfo of the Handes of Madanino,
Guadalupea, and Galanta.
Of the fea of herbes and mountaynes couered with fnow : Alfo of the
fwyfte courfe of the fea towarde the weft.
Of the ryuer Gaira, the region Caramairi, and the porte Carthago
and Sancta Martha : Alfo of Americus Vefputius and his expert cunnynge
in the knowledge of the carde, compafl'e and quadrant.
Howe the Canibales aflayled Petrus Arias with his hole naufe, and (hot
of theyr venemous arrowes euen in the fea. Alfo of theyr houfes and
houlholde ftuffe.
Howe Gonzalus Ouiedus founde a faphire bygger then a goofe egge :
Alfo emerodes, calcidonies, iafpers, and amber of the mountaynes.
Of woddes of brafile trees, plentie of golde, and marchafites of metals
founde in the regions of Caramairi, Gaira, and Saturma. Alfo of a (Iraunge
kynde of marchaundies exercifed amonge the people of Zunu.
That the region of Caramairi is lyke to an earthly Paradife : And of
the frutefuU mountaynes, and pleafaunte gardeynes of the fame.
Of many goodly countreys made defolate by the fiercenes of the Cani-
bales, and of dyuers kyndes of breade made of rootes. Alfo of the maner
of plantynge the roote of lucca, whofe iuife is deadely poyfon in the Handes,
and without hurte in the continent or firme lande.
Of certeyne golden ryuers, hartes, wylde bores, foules, golTampine,
whyte marble, and holfome ayer. Alfo of the greate ryuer Maragnonus
defcendynge from the mountaines couered with fhowe, cauled Serra
Neuata.
39«
Howe Petrus Arias wafted certeyne Handes of the Canibales ; And
howe by the fwyfte courfe of the fea, his fhyppes were caried in one nyght
fortie leagues beyond th[e]eftimation of the befte pylottes.
C The contentes of the fyxte hooke. Fol. 118. [/. 161]
C Of fundry opinions why the fea runneth with fo fwyfl a courfe from
the Eafte to the weft : and of the greate goulfe of the north parte of the
firme lande.
The vyage of Sebaftian Cabote from Englande to the frofen fea, and
howe being repulfed with Ife in the moonethe of luly, he fayled farre weft-
warde.
Of people apparelled with beaftes fkynnes : And howe beares take fyffhes
in the fea and eate them.
Howe Sebaftian Cabote after that he had difcouered the lande of Baccal-
laos or Baccallearum, was cauled out of Englande into Spayne, where he
was made one of th[e]affiftaunce of the counfayle of th[e]affayres of India,
and of his fecond viage
Of the Ilande Fortis : And howe a great foule as bygge as a ftorke
lyghted in the gouemours fliyppe. Alfo howe he artyued at Dariena with
the kynges nauie.
Howe Vafchus receaued the newe gouemour : And of habitable regions
vnder the Equinoctial.
Howe Petrus Aries the newe gouemour diftributed his army to conquere
the fouth regions ryche in golde, and to erecte newe colonies in the fame.
Of the ryche golde mynes of Dabaiba, and of th[e]expedition ageynft the
kynge of that region.
Of the Violent courfe of the fea from the eaft to the weft : And of the
difhculte faylynge ageynft the fame.
Of the pellilerous and vnwholfome ayer of Sancta Maria Antigua in
Dariena : and howe the Spanyardes were of neceCTitie inforced to plant
theyr fyrft colonic and habitation there.
The caufe of the varietie of regions lyinge all vnder one degree or paral-
elle, and by what meanes the fonne beames are caufe of feruent heate.
Of toades and flees engendered of droppes of water, and ot a houfe fet
on fyre with lyghtnynge.
Of a dogge deuoured of a Crocodyle [ Tanquam cants e Nilo], and of the
venemus bytynge of great battes. Alfo of Lions and Tygers and other
wylde beaftes.
Howe in thefe regions all foure footed beaftes growe to a bygger quantitie
then they whiche were of the fy rfte broode. Alfo of certeyne trees of whofe
planckes if fhips be made, they are fafe frome the woormes cauled Broma
or Byffas.
Of a tre whofe wod is prefent poyfon yf it be only borne about : And of
an herbe that is a preferuatiue ageinft the fame.
Of the ryche Handes of the fouth fea, and of certeyne expeditions ageynft
the Canibales.
C TJie contentes of the. vii. booke. Fol. 124. [/. 165.]
C The particular defcription of the Ilande of Hifpaniola. and of the
ryche Ilande cauled Margaritea Diues lyinge in the South fea. Alfo of
the greate abundaunce of bigge pearles founde in the fame.
Howe the autoure compareth Hifpaniola to the earthely Paradyfe : And
howe it farre excelleth Italy in fertilitie and temperate ayre.
Of the fyrfte inhabitours of Hifpaniola and of the Handes of Canarie.
Howe the inhabitauntes of Hifpaniola in theyr fonges and rhymes had
certeyne prophefies that appareled men fhulde coome to theyr contrey and
brynge them into feruitude : And of theyr familiaritie with fpirites. Alfo
howe thofe fpirites haue no more appered to them fence they were
baptifed.
Of theyr expertencffe in fwymmynge : And of tneyr delycate ferpentes,
byrdes, foules, and popingiais.
The content es of the decades.
397
Of the forme and fituation of Hifpaniola nere the Equinoctiall : And
howe coulde is in fum place thereof accidental! and not by the fituation of
tlie region.
Of oxen and fwyne of exceadinge bygne(Te : And of eares of wheate as
bygge as a mans arme in the braun. Alfo howe the fwyne are fcdde with
myrobalanes. &c.
Of plenty of golde, brafyle, maftix, goflampyne, Electrum &c. : And of
th[e]incommodities of intemperate regions.
Ofdyuers languages in the Ilande: And howe the prouynces are de-
uided into regions.
Howe Andreas Moralis fayled into a daungerous and darke caue within
the rocke of a mountayne : And of hole ryuers deuoured of fuch caues.
Alfo of the conflycte of the waters.
Of a ftandynge pole in the tope of an hygh mountayne : And howe
feme and bramble buflhes growe only in coulde regyons.
C TTie coiitenks of the. viii. booke. P'ol. 130. [/. 170.]
C Of a greate lake or ftandyng poole of fowre and falte water, and of the
fea fyfflies in the fame in the rayddelande of the Ilande. Alfo of deuour-
ynge fyffhes cauled Tiburoni.
Of the ryuers fauling into the lakes, and of. CC. [200] fpringes in the fpace
of a furlonge.
A meruelous hyftory of a kynge (Iryken dumme and lame by a miracle :
And of the Indian language.
Howe fuche as are drowned in the lake, are neuer cafte vp ageyne :
And of the Ilande Guarizacca in the myddefte of the flandynge lake. Alfo
of a lake of freflhe vater, and an other of falte and freflhe water.
Of a large pln,-ne of two hundreth myles in length : And .in other of a
hundrethe and twentie.
Of the meruelous fyffhe or monfter of the fea, cauled Mamti or Matum,
fedde with mans hande : and howe fhe caryeth men ouer the lake.
Of the mountaynes, vales, hylles, playnes, and ryuers of Hifpaniola :
And howe golde is founde in all mountaines and golde and fyflhes in all
ryuers.
Of falte bayes, and howe the ryuers haue theyr increafe from the caues
of the mountaynes. Alfo howe there is no hurtefuUe beafte in the Ilande.
Of the pleafures of Hilpaniola : And of the region of Cotohi well
inhabyted and fituate in a playne in the toppes of mountaynes reachynge
to the clowdes.
Of moderate coulde in the mountaynes, and of feme of meraeylous
bygnefle.
Howe pure and maflie golde is founde in the region of Cotoy or Cotohy :
And that the veyne of golde is a lyuynge tree. Alfo of the rootes,
braunches, and floures of the fame, and howe certeyne caues are fufteyned
with pyllers of golde.
What golde is broughte yearely from Hifpaniola into Spayne : And of
the falte of the mountaynes, beinge as hard as ftones and cleare as cryftalL
Alfo fprynges of falte, frefh and fower water.
Of certeyne wylde men lyuynge in caues and dennes without any certeyne
language : And of iheyr meruylous fwiftneffe a foote.
Of pytche of the rocke and twoo kyndes of trees ; And of the leafe of a
tree vfed in the (leede of paper. Alfo howe th[e]inhabitantes tliinke
that the Chriftians can make thofe leaues fpeake and difclofe all fecreates.
Of a ftronge coloure made of the iufe of a certeyn apple : And of the
herbe whofe fmoke is poyfon.
The contmtes of the. ix. booke. Fol. 136. [/. 175.]
Of the kyndes of frutes wherwith th[e]inhabitauntes of Hifpaniola lyued
fyrfle, and ho-ve thty came to the knowelege of lucca. Alfo howe Ceres
fyi'ft found wheate and barley in Egypte.
Wl y tl.eyr kinges are cauled by dyuers names, and by what names they
falute the kynges chyldren when they are bome.
Howe they make theyr teflamentef, and howe certeyne of the kynges
wyues and concubines are buryed with them.
Of the variable motions of the elementes in Hifpaniola: And where it
rayneth but lyttle, and where much.
Of the colonies and vyllages that the Spanyardes haue buylded in
Hifpaniola : and of the other Hands about the fame
Of a fprynge which runnyng vnder the fea from Hifpaniola, breaketh
furth in the Hand of Arcthufa : Alfo of habitable regions vnder the Equi-
noctial, and of the ryche golde mynes of the Ilande of Cuba.
Of the gumme cauled Anima Album : And of the Canibale[s]. Alfo
whereby it was thought that there were Ilandes of women.
Of hony founde in trees and rockes : And of the generation of greate
Tortoyfes and of theyr egges.
C The contenies of the. x. booke. Fol. 140. [/. 178.]
C Of the expedition ageynfte the kynge of the Ilande Dites in the fouth
fea : And howe after foure conllictes, fubmyttynge hym felfe, he gaue our
men a hundreth and ten pounde weyght of greate pearles. Alfo howe
he agreed to pay yearely a hundreth pounde weyght of pearles for a
tribute.
Howe axes and hatchettes are more efleemed tlicn golde, or perles:
And of greate plentie of hartes and cunnyes. Alfo howe the kynge of
Dites and his famelie were baptifed.
Of perles of great pryce : And howe Paule the byffhop of Rome bowght
a perle for four and fortie thoufand ducades.
Dyuers opinions of the generation of perles : And of a hundreth pearles
founde in one fhel fyfflie. Alfo of the byrth of pearles.
Of the regions of the Eafte fyde of the goulfe of Vraba : And of the
originall of the Canibales.
Of certeyne circumcifed people which haue the knowledge of letters and
vfe bookes: And what chaunced of the capitaynes which Petrus Arias
fente furth dyuers w,iyes. Alfo howe lohn Solyfius was ilayne of the
Canibales, and of theyr fierceneffe.
Howe lohn Pontius was repulfcd of the Canibales, and of the lewde
behauour of lohn Aiora.
Of the variable fortune of Gonfalus Badaiocius : And howe after he
hadde gathered greate ryches of golde, he had the ouerthrowe, and was
fpoyled of all. Of the golden region of Coiba Dites : And howe theyr
flaues are marked in the face.
Of the Ilandes of the fouth fea : And of the regions frome whenfe the
Portugales fetche their fpices.
Of a ftraunge kynde of fowlynge : and of the trees that beare gourdes.
Of the later opinions as touchynge the fwyfte courfe of the Ocean
towarde the wefte : and of the continente or firme lande. Alfo of the
vyage from the newe landes to Spayne.
Of the golde mynes of Dariena : and the maner of gatherynge of golde in
the fame: Alfo of the dropfie of couetoulhes which is not fatiffyed with ryches.
C For the content es of the booke of the Hands lately found reade the mar genie
notes of the fame.
dffiXfi^.
398 [ The End of the Oyiginal Edition?)^
G T H [e] I N T E R P R E T O V R S E X C V S H.
I haue not in wrytynge byn very curious
To auoyde the fcornes of Rhinoceros nofe,
Or the fyled iudgement of feuere Ariflarchus
Not fearynge thereby any thynge to lofe,
But haue thought it fufficient to be open and playne
Not lookynge for other commoditie or gayne.
I am not eloquent I knowe it ryght well.
If I be not barbarous I defyre no more,
I haue not for euery woorde afked counfell
Of eloquent Eliot or fyr Thomas Moore.
Take it therfore as I haue intended,
The fautes with fauour may foone be amended.
The poet Homere for all his eloquence,
Lacked not Zoilus to be his fo[e] :
Wherfore I conclude this for a trewe fentence.
That no man lacketh fuo bargello :
For as no beafle lyueth without woorme or flye.
So no man lackelh his priuie enemie.
Rumpatur Zoilus.
€1 Faults efcaped in the pryniyiige. F. the leafe. L. the line. B. the backe fyde of the Icafe,
[Thefe corrections have all been embodied in the Text.]
C ifinpii)ntcU nt HoiiUon in panics €[y\\xi\y
UniUc nt tfjc sigiic of Uje JiijUIc
J)j) aai)rl)artjc l^ug;.
[In other copies.]
I)niti5 at llje oignc of Wyt 3$cU I)j»
laoljcite Co».
Anno. Domini. M. D. LV.
39>
Abarien
Index.
Atiei
399
Ind
e X
of
Persona/ na.mes, and names of places, chiefly outside Europe.
V The Contents Pages at vii.-x., 12, 45, and 391-398 have not been indexed.
Abarien island, 255
Abdua river, 315
Abenamachie, King, 119, 120, 121
Abibeiba, King, 120, 121
Abila inountaynes, 236
Abraham, 51, 52
Abraiba, 120, 121
Abrayme Prouince, 226
Aburema river, 135, 152
Acatan, 34
Acateba, 153
Achaia, 176
Achas town, 325
Achemenides, 135, 154
Achilles, 5
Achor, Vale of, 50
Ada village, 231
Acuna, The Licentate, 272
Adam, 229, 338, 3^0
Adams, Clement, xxxviii., 289
Adda river, 363, 364
Aden, 13, 24, 267, 269
Aden, King of, 13
Adialbenicus, Emperor, 176
Adipson, 285
Adriane, Pope, 309
Adriatike sea, 133, 155, 318
TEneas Siluius, 8, 41, 50, 347
Africa, xix., xxi., xxix , 9, 13, 35,
52, 56, 126, 129, 139, 236, 24s,
248, 250, 261, 262, 273, 285,
29s. 298. 337. 338. 343, 346,
373. 384. 385. 387-
Africa, Gulf of, 270, 374.
Afrijken, xxxi.
Agathyrsi, 91
Agermannia, Dukedome of, 305
Agisimba, Region of, 41
Agnaneo island, 135
Agnes, Vincentius, 105, 128, 129
Agricola, Georgius, xli., xliv., 7,
366
Agrippa, Cornelius, xliv.
Agus, Antipater, 3t9
Ahumada, Peler de, 346
Aiaguitin river, 153
Ajora, Gonsalus, 181
Ajora, Johannes, 162, 181
Alamino Antonie, 187, 188
Alaminus, 192, 193, 194, 195
Alba Russia, 291
Albertus, Magnus, 7, 9, 10, 41, 364
Alcala, 63
Alcantara, 165
Alcaraz, Antonie of, 272
Alcayr [Cairo], City of, 13, 14. 63,
«3l. '53. 172. 186, 267, 2S5, 3J7,
315- 374 .
Alcazaua, Simon of, 272
Alday, James, xix., xx.
Alexander, xxix., xxxiii., xliv., 5,
32, so, 74, 129, 176, 201, 241,
248, 273, 274, 2S5, 310, 315, 325,
339. 38s
Alexandria, City of, no, 153, 217,
267, 283, 351
Alexandryne, Patriarch of, xxx.
Alfonsus de Ponte, 157
Alia, 359, 368
AUago, xxviii.
Allen, Richard, xiii.
.Mmanzor, 271, 272
Alinayne [Germa/tj'], Emperour of
xxx.
Almaynes, 56, 97, 1 16, 292, 320,
328
Alonso, 341
Alonso, Uon, 273, 341
Alonsus, Petrus, 36
Alpha, Poynt, 75, 76
Alpheus river, 134, 176
.\lphonsus, 40, 389
.\lphonsus, Petrus, 94, 9S
Alvarado, Peter, 1S7
.\lverado, Spatense, 192
Amacaiz, City of, 374
Amaiauna, Cave of, 99
Amaltheum sea, 2S9
Amaquei, Region of, 169
Amari, Lake of, 284
Amaxobii, 301
Ambalao island, 260
Ambon island, 260
America, xi., xiii., xviii., xxi.,
xxiii., XXV., xxvi., xxviii., xxx.,
xxxii., xxxiv., xl., 3, 8, 32, 35,
43, 61, 205, 243, 281, 335, 343,
353. 371. 3.85
Americus, xxi.
Amerigo Vespucci, xxv., 37, 3S, 39,
127. 134. 157. 275. 277. 279
Anacaona, Queen, 85, 175
Anacauchoa, Beuchius, 83, 84, 85,
86, 176
Anata, King, 182, 183
Anbon island, 344
Ancisus, loS, log, no, It3, 114,
115, 116, nS, ng, 123, 124,
125, 126, 137
Ancyra, 311
Andalusia, xiii., 130, 220, 223,
339
Andalusia, Noua, 130
Andreas, Moralis, 131.
Andrewe, Lawrence, x.^vi.
Andronicus, xlviii.
Anes, John, 377, 37S
Angleria, 43, 63, 65, i8j, 2D7,
246, 299
Anghiera, xxxvii.
Annez, Vincentius, 125, 128, 129,
130
Anniuici, Region of, 169
Antei, 285
Anteus, 149
Anthiochyen, xxxi.
.\nthiocus, 8
Anthropophagi, 23, 29, 41, 65,
38s
Antiglia island, 38
Antilia island, 66
Antiqua, Island of, 177
Antonie, Master, 28S
Antony di Mendoza, 2S7
Anunctus, 191
Apianus, 10
Apollo, 10, 102, 172, 293, 2_)S
Apnu, Region of, 322
Apsa, 363
Aprutium, Bishop of, 309
Aquanil, Province of, 187
Aquillaris, Hieronimus, 192, 193
Arabia, xxviii., xxxi., 8, 9, 13, 14,
20, 56, 129, 153, 156, 16 >, iSo,
■ 23s, 284, 285, 286, 359, 385
Arabia, Gulf of, 284, 286, 339, 347
Arabia, .Sea of, 309
Arabo, 168
Aragon, King of, xxx. 51
Aragonie, Cardinal of, 64, 73, 79,
82, 87, 90, 94, 96, 103, 133
Aramana, Region of, 168
Arambec, xiv.
Arbolantius, 141
Archimedes, xlvii., xlviii.
Arcimboldus, 127
Ardagni, Kingdom of, 3 H
Arethusa, 134, 176
Arenalis, 88
Areuado, 232
Argilla, City of, 374
Ariane, 245
Arias, Helizabetha Boadilla, 127
.\rias, Petrus, 61, 126, 127, i ',5,
137. «42. 156. 157. 158. i53,
165, 178, 179, 181, 198, 199,
214
Arimathia, Joseph of, 56
Arion, 171
Aristarchus, 398
Aristocleon, 41
Aristotle, xliii., xliv., 9, 10, 67,
142, 179, 278, 293, 313, 333,
339. 340, 386
Arkey, Laurence, xii.
Armenes, xxx.
.\rmeneten, xxxi.
.-V.'menia, xxvii., xxviii., xxx., xxxii-,
xxxiv., 176, 311, 314, 329
Armenicus, Emperour, 176
.Armennyten, xxxi.
Arnold, R., xxv., xxvi.
Arnheim, xxv.
Arottinbergh, 368
Arra, Castle, 381
Arsina, xxix.
Arsinoe, City of, 2S4, 285
Artawischa river, 323
Artawische, 323
Artemisia, 49, 128
Arucetto island, 260
Arzina Ford, xxxix.
Asasi, XX.
Ascanius, 63, 64
As:anius Sphorcia [/.<r., Sforza], 65,
68, 103, 127
Ascham, Rogi r, xl.
Ascon City, 37 v
Asia, the less, 7
Asoph, 324, 325
Asopus, 142
Asseuedo, .Antonie de, 272
Assyryen, xxxi.
Astesia, 363
Astrachan, 308, 314, 325, 326, 32J
Astur, Oaetenses, 135
Asturi.a, 54, I16
.\syen, xxx.
Atahahba, King, 345
Atamea village, 152
Ath, xliii.
Atiei, Regioa of, 1 69
400
Atlantike
Index.
Campechium
Atlantike island, 129, 337, 338, 340
Barack, .Soltan, 329
Biscaine, 274
Butts, Thomas, xviii., xix.
Atlas mountains, 129
Barbai island, 256
Bisinagar, City of, 15
Byzantium, xi.
Atlas, the greater, 385
Barbaregaf, City of, 374
Bisineghe, 277
Attabeira, 99
Barbarossa, Emperour, 347
Bithynia, 290, 311
Cabedus, Johannes, 130, 157
Attibuni, Region of, 169
Barbata island, 177
Bitsagitsch, xxviii.
Cabot, Loaisa, 274
Attibunicus river, 73, 16S, 171
Barbary, xix., xx , xxviii., xxxviii.,
Bizantium, 307
Cabot, Sebastian, xiii., xv., xix.,
Attila, 326
237. 374. 380, 384
Bizantium, Emperour of, 314
xxxviii., xxxix, xl., xlvi., xlvii..
Auanzo mountains, 368
Barbessa, Adoardo, 258
Bizerta port, 374
6, 55, 61, 161, 162, 19s, 272,
Augusta, City of, 286
Barcha, 374
Blasius, 331
274, 283, 288, 289, 299, 335,
Augustinus de Ceratta, 54
Barnarde of Mesa, 130
Blemines, The, 385
343. 345, 348, 350, 386
Augustus, Emperour, 8, 283, 306,369
Barramedabas, 87
Blesconia, City of, 289
Cabouerde {i.e., Ca/ie- Verde], 74,
Auila Alphons[o], 187, 192
Barrientos, 272
Blondus, 348
87, 97, 129, 134, 272, 277, 385
Auis, 273
Barthema \i.e., Varthema\ Ludi-
Boadilla, Governour of, 105, 127
Cacacubana, Region of, 169
Auleta, King, 283
vico, xlviii.
Boadilla, Helisabetha, 127
Cacausu, City of, 24
Aurea Anus, 323, 324
Bartholomeus Colonus, 31, 82, 134,
Bodenham, Roger, xviii.
Cacedus, John, 198
Aurea Chersonesus, 32, 40, 75, 247,
153. 154, 340
Hoheme, King of, xxx., 312
Caccicus, 72, 89, 128. 223
313.. 344
Barthus castle, 331
Bohol island, 256, 258
Caccicus Caunaboa," 72, 79, 80, 81,
Ausonia, 167
Barutti, xii.
Boilus, 79
85
Austria, Archduke of, 289
Basilides, 41
Boiuca island, 135
Cacique Chiman, 225
Auxendia, xxviii.
Basilius, 289, 308, 309, 311, 314,
Boium, gatti river, 109, 132
Cadamustus, Aloisius, 127, 270, 280
Auxerre, xliv.
316. 3"7. 319. 32'. 324. 328, 329
Bolgaria, 309
Cades, 86
Ay Ay islands, 69, 130
Basilius, Andreas, 316
Bolschega mountains, 323
Cadissen, 329
Ayqueroa, Region of, 169
Basilius, Demetrius, 316
Bombassa, xxviii.
Cadona, Duke of, 173
Azamor, City of, 374
Basilius, George, 316
Bonauentura, 105
Caghaian island, 258
Azania, Region of, 3S5
Basilius, John, 316, 319
Bonauista island, 87, 272
Cahaymi, Region of, 169
Azafi, 374
Basilius, Magnus, 290, 291
Bonanum, City of, 84
Cahini island, 168
Azeuedo, 274
Basilius, Symeon, 316
Boneface, 56
Cahonas island, 166, 172
Azgar, 374
Basing, xxxix.
Bonham, W., xxxvii.
Caiabi, Province of, 16S, 172, 173,
Azion Gaber, 7
Baskird, 293
Bononiama, King, 14S
176
Azores, Islands of, 203, 204, 219,
Basle, xxxvii.
Bononie, Aristotles of, 313
Caiacoa, Province of, 168, 173
339. 347. 348
Bastard, Count L. de, xliv.
Bononie, Galeatius Butrigarius of,
Caiguam mountain, 171
Azotus, 57
Bastarne, 311
106, 127, 283, 285
Caigui, City of, 26, 171
Azoum river, 314
Bastimento island, 235
Boriostomea river, 98
Caihabo, Province of, 168, 169, 170
Azuam village, 176
Bath, Earl of, xix.
Boriquena island, 45, 345, 346
Cailon island, 344
Azzuei, Region of, 169
Bauruco, Region of, 169
Boristhene river, 289, 309, 31 1,
Caiouana, Valley of, 170
Bazantium, Emperours of, 314
312, 314, 316, 319
Cairo, 374
Babbareo lake. 170
Beata port, 107, 113, 177, 213
Bornei islands, 22, 23
Cairus, 307
Babel, Tower of, xxxii.
Beaton, Cardinal, xxxviii.
Bosphorus, The, 59
Caizcimu, Province of, 168, 169,
Babell, 290
Bebeid, Chan. 329
Boua port, 374
170, 173
Babilon, 14, 56, 57, 63, 172, 187,
Beda island, 35
Boubige, xlv.
Cakeado, 381
241, 266, 284, 285, 297, 307, 315
Beit island, 374
Bourne, Mr H. R. Fox, xvi.
Calaghan island, 255, 256, 259
Babilon, Soltane of, 153, 172
Belchia, 309
Bo\vyer, Sir William, xiii.
Calantan, 260
Babilonii, The, 385
Belozeria, 309
Boyuca island, 345
Calauera, Barnardino de, 108
Babilonyon, xxxii.
Benaia island, 260
Braalin island, 260
Cales, 86, 87, 93, 94, 97, 181
Bacanor, 265
Beneu island, 260
Brabant, xliii.
Calese island, 286
Baccallaos, Land of, xix., 55, 161,
Bengala, Province of, 261, 264, 267,
Brasil, xv., xvi., xvii., 250, 251,
Calicium, 38
162, 195, 242, 287, 288, 299, 344,
268, 344
253, 273, 285, 288, 375, 385,
Calicut, 7, 8, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
345. 347
Benin, 270. 376
^^ . . ...
21, 24, 32, 39, 256, 261, 263,
Bacchian island, 259, 260
Beragua, Region of, 107, 108, III,
Brewer, Rev. J. S., M.A., xuu
264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 344,
Baccia, 126
112, 113. 114, 115,128, 130,132,
Bridger, Mr C, xlviii.
374, 385
Bachau sea, 291
134. 135.136. 149. 150. 151.15.^.
Brocardus, xlvi.
Cahcut, King of, 14, 17, 18, 19, 21
Bacon, Lord, xxii.
154, 155, 163, 165, 211, 214, 218,
Brooke, John, xviii.
Calidonia, 143, 177
Bacon, Roger, xliv., xlvii., xlviii.
219, 233, 234
Bryaces, 49
Caliz, 346, 347
Bactria, 308
Berenice, City of, 284
Buchebuea, King, 146
Callienten, xxix.
Badaiocius, Gasper, 165
Beres river, 323
Buchema island, 30
Calligula, 59
Badaiocius, Gonzalus, 181, 1S2, 183
Berges, City of. 331
Buda, 326
Calpe mountains, 236
Badaioz, 272, 273
Beringocius, Vannucius, xlvL
Budia island, 260
Cals, 68, 73
Badajos, xiii.
Berma, 344
Budomel, 384
Caluacam, Region of, 188, jSq
Bafrida, 291
Bermeio, Sea of, 338, 339, 346, 347
Buen Abrigo Point, 273
Calunezfcho, Region of, 322
Baguanimaho, Region of, 168
Bermuda island, 233
Buena Vista, 272
Calzadilka, 341
B.-ihaboni, 166
BerosHS, xlviii., 346
Bugia, Region of, 374
Camaie, Region of, 169
Bahuan river, 172
Beryn, John, 383
Buiaici, Region of, 169
Cambaia, 8, 13, 14, 20, 261, 267,
Baian, 171
Beselchel, 49
Bullen, 9
269
Baia Natiuitatis, 129
Besermani, The, 327
Buona Speranza, 261, 262, 338,
Cambaia, King of, 40
Bainoa, 168, 169, 170, 172, 173, 176
Besson, xlvii.
374, 385
Cambalu {i.e., Pekiii], City of, 24,
Baiohaigua, Region of, 169
Betanchor, 65, 166
Bur island, 344
25, 287, 307, 326
Bajasetes, Ottomanus, 6, 311
Betis river, 127, 157
Burges, Bishop of, 126, 127, 134
Cambie, 259
Balassia, Region of, 264
Beucliius Anacauchoa, King, 83, 84,
Burgonie, Duke of, 208
Camemorus, Region of, 183
Balboa, Vaschus, 149, 162, 178,
85, 86, 176
Burichena island, 45, 70, 104, 130,
Camen mountains, 323
338
Beyrout, xii.
159. 173. 176
Camen Bolschoi mountains, 322,
Baleares islands, 301
Bezerra, Franciscus, 165, 181, 183
Burleigh, Lord, xxxvii.
323
Ballard, William, xiii.
Bian, Sancti, Johannis gulf, 194
Bumei island, 258
Camenckh, 322
Baltheum sc.i, 299, 312, 331
Biddle, Mr, xv.
Burney island, 272
Cameni, 323
Baluastro, 346
Bieloiefero, 321
Burrough, Stephen, xxxviii.
Camenipoias mountains, 323
Banda island, 22
Bimini, 345
Buru island, 260
Camigna, Don Christopher of, 133
liandan, xxix., 260, 269
Binthaitel, 100
Buthuan island, 255, 259
Camomorus, Region of, 98, 132
Banderana, xxix.
Bion, 41
Buthuan, King, 255
Camoteia island, 166
Bangalla, King, 21
Biraen, 344
Butler, John, xlv.
Campaa, Region of, 260
Bangella, City of, 21
Biringuccio Vann.iccio, xxxv:^ 353,
Butricarius Galeatius, 106, 127,
Campbell, Dr M. F. A. G., xxv..
Baptiste, Elisius, 85, 99
.356
283, 285
xxvi.
Baptiste, Master, xliii.
Biion, Master, xviii.
Buts, .Sir William, xv'.ii., xix.
Campechium, Province of, 1S7, 188
Campegius
Index.
Corus
401
Campegius, Cardinal, 310
Campion, Gasper, xvii., xviii.
Camul, Province of, 27
Canabocoa, Region of, 169, 172
Canada, 287
Canary islands, xiii., xxviii., 28,
30, 32, 36, 38, 40, 41, 65, 66,
68, 87, 97, 150, 157, 166, 177,
181, 199, 210, 245, 250, 277,
339, 374, 37S, 380, 389
Cananor, xxviii.
Cananor, King of, 15
Cancell, Luys, 346
Canchietans, The, 95
Canchietes, Region of, 36, 95
Cane, 271
Canghu island, 256
Canglu, City of, 24
Canibals, Islands of the, 30, 66, 68,
78, 160, 162, 177, 180
Cannafistula island, 119
Cano, 272
Canonor, Kingdom of, 14, 15, 20,
261, 268
Canthan, City of, 260
Cape Blanke, 380
Cape Bona Speranza, 129, 279, 285,
286, 348, 350
Cape Breton, xiv., xviii.
Cape Cattigara, 253
Cape Corea, 382
Cape de Has, xiv.
Cape de Buona Speranzo, 374
Cape de Monte, 381
Cape de las Palmas, 381, 382
Cape de tres Puntas, 381
Cape de Sper, xiv.
Cape Trepoyntes, 381, 382, 383
Cape of Good Hope, 129, 385
Capelan, City of, 21, 344
Capha, 324
Caphi island, 260
Capira, Region of, 234
Capling, William, xii.
Capo Uesiderato, 252
Capo Verde Islands, 32, 35, 36, 65,
74, 87, 129, 203, 204, 250, 261,
262, 272, 273, 274, 277, 280,
338, 373, 382, 38s. 387
Capronus, 86, 91, 92
Capucar, 265
Caput Bona; Sperantia?, 129, 385
Caput Sancti Augustini, 129, 134,
181, 183
Caput Veride islands, 32, 35, 36,
74, 87, 129, 38s
Caracaracoles, 100
Caramairi, Region of, 106, 107,
109, 134, 144, 157, 158, IS9,
160, 162
Caramatexius, King, 171
Carandra, Gulf of, 285
Caraqueira island, 177
Carcham, Province of, 26
Cardano, Girolamo, xxxviii., 158,
161,207, 217, 250, 294, 307
Carenas, 191,
Careta, 108, 115, Ii6, 117, 121,
«37. 164, 182
Caria, King of, 49, 128
Caria, Queen of, 49, 128
Cariai, Region of, 151, 152, 15*5
Caribana, 107, 119, 180, 183
Caribdis, 304
Caribes islands, 68
Carles, Captain, xlviii.
C arnica, 314, 368
Caromoram, 25
Carter, Master, xviii.
Carthage, 176, 340, 374
Carthage, Ilanniball of, 139
Carthagena, 134, 157, 160, 214,
215, 226
Carthaginis Portus, 106
Carthago, 106, 107, 108, 109, 113,
134, 157, 162, 165
Cartier, Jaques, 2S7, 345
Carucueria, 69, 157, 159
Casa Francisus, xlvii.
Casan,King of, 326, 328
Caspia, 8, 169, 170, 173
Caspian sea, 170, 287, 291, 308,
309, 3", 314, 321, 326, 329,
346
Cassam, City of, 291, 311, 314, 319,
325, 326, 327, 328, 329
Cassima river, 323
Cassius mountain, 285
Castaglione, Baltassar, 9
Castaneda, 272
Castella, Aurea, 130
Castella de Mina. 382
Castella Vetus, 68
Castile, King of, xxx., 37, 201, 203,
340
Castile, Queen of, 201
Castile, Isabel of, 273, 274, 341
Castile, Ferdinando of, 51, 52, 65,
73, 127, 131, 201, 208, 209, 211,
229, 236, 273, 341, 342, 343,
345
Castlen, Edward, xli.
Castor, 250
Castoreum sea, 303
Castromow, 33 1
Catalonia, 173
Catarapa, 237
Catena Mundi mountains, 286, 324
Cathay \i.e., China], xiii., xxxviii.,
xxxix., xl., xli., 8, 22, 24, 25, 26,
59, 98, 261, 283, 284, 285, 286,
287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292,
293, 294, 308, 310, 312, 313,
321, 322, 324, 325, 326, 327,
328, 329, 330, 331, 333, 339,
344, 345, 363
Cathay Cham [i.e., Khav\ of, xxi.,
21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 60, 286, 287,
289, 322, 324, 326, 329, 330
Cathay, Emperour of, 25, 60
Catighan island, 256
Catherine, Queen, 51, 71, 274
Catherine, Saint, 84
Cato, 122
Cattigara, 262
Cattigara, Cape, 253
Caucasus mountains, 18
Cauchieta, 95, 98
Caunaboa, Cacicus, 72, 79, 80, 81,
85
Caunana, 99
Caunoa, Region of, 169
Cauta, 99
Cautan, City of, 344
Caya river, 272, 273, 274
Caya bridge, 273, 274
Cayrus [«'.«. , Cairo\, City of, 14, 186
Cazacubuna mountains, 172
Cazibaxagua, 99
Cecil, Sir W., xxii., xxxviii., xliii.
Ceden, xxx.
Ceilam island. 344
Celaruri island, 260
Celer, Quintus Metellus, 347
Cemaccus, King, no, 119, 121,
122, 198
Cemobal, 196
Cenalo island, 255.
Cenegales, 155
Central America, xi.
Centurione, Paulo, 287, 308, 309,
310
2 G
Cerabaro, Region of, 112, 135,152,
>S4, 15s. 156, 163, 182
Ceratta [i.e., Zaratte\ Augustinus
de, 54
Cerda, 341
Ceres, 175
Cernigonia, 309
Cesar, 59, 305
Cesariensis, 374
Chabot, C, xiv.
Chacouam island, 260
Chagre river, 234, 235
Cham, 346
Chamailaba, Prince, 129
Chan Cublai, 330
Charles V., xiii., xiv.
Charles, King, 63
Charles IX., xiv., xlvii.
Charylxlis, 163, 330
Chaucer, xxxvii.
Chaunceler, Richard, xvii., xxxviii.,
xxxix., xl., 59, 285, 289, 326,
333, 386
Chedsey, Dr, xxxix.
Cheke, Sir John, xliii., xliv.
Cheregatus, Francis, 191, 309
Chethai lake, 287
Cheru, King, 182
Chiacones, King, 128
Chiapes, King, 139, 140, 141, 142,
143, 145. 178
Chiauaccha, Prince, 129
Chiman, Cacique, 225
China, 20, 260, 261, 267, 269, 272,
339, 344, 347
China, Gulf of, 260
Chionsus, King, 146
Chiouia mountain, 319
Chirara, 152
Chippit island, 258
Chitaza, 152
Chorogoski Nosz, 322
Chrisostomus, 290, 291
Christiernus, 304, 309
ChrLstophori Sancti, 105
Ciamba, 130, 150
Cibana, Region of, 73, 74, 79, 80,
81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 105. 168, 171,
172
Cicero, Marcus Tullus, xliv., 49,
132, 283, 284
Ciclopes, 154
Cicylian, King, xxx.
Ciguaios, 86, 91
Ciguana, 91
Cilapulapu, Prince, 285
Cilicia, 7, 8
Cimbrica Chersonesus, 311, 314
Cimbulon, King, 258
Cinchital, 27
Cingaporla, 260
Cinguius Mundi mountain, 324
Ciniana, Region of, 36
Cipanga, Region of, 73, 80, 81, 82,
167, 253, 339, 340, 343
Citrachan, 308, 314
Ciuola, 287
Claudius, 54
Clement VI., Pope, 308, 309,
347
Cleodii, The, 385
Cleopatra, 141. 142, 166, 283. 315
Cleopatrida, City of, 284
Clesma river, 314
Cloelia, 71
Cochin, King of, xxix,
Cochinus, 183
Cockeram, Martin, xvii.
Codego island, 106, 215
Coi Cathay island, 343
Coiba Dites, 182
195,
114,
Coiba, Gulf of, 108, 115, 116, 164,
182
Coiba, King of, 108, 115, 116, 117,
121, 137, 164. 182
Colchis, Region of, 51, 135, 262,
310
Cole, Master, xix.
Colen, xxix.
Coligny, Admiral, xiv.
Collao, City of, 343
Collocutea, Region of, 183
Colluacana island, 189, 191,
196
Colmenaris, Rodericus, 113,
IIS, "6, 119, 120, 122, 123, 126,
157, 183
Colmogora, Region of, 291, 293. 312
Colmogor, City of, 286, 322.
Colmum, City of, 290
Cologna, 291
Colonia Agrippina, City of, 289
Colum, xxix
Columbus (or Colonus), Bartholo-
meus, 31, 82, 134, 153. 154, 340
Columbus (or Colonus), Christo-
phorus, 28, 29, 35, 38, 41, 65, 66,
67, 69. 79, 80, 87, 94, 96, 98, 99,
103, 105, 106, 108, III, 112, 113,
115, 118, 127, 128, 129,132, 134,
135, 150, 151, '53, 154,155, 157,
163, 177, 184, 191, 192, 202,209,
236, 272, 288, 337, 339, 340, 341,
342, 346
Columbus (or Colonus), Diegus,
115, 118, 122, 127, 177, 184, 240
Columbus (or Colonus), Fernando,
272
Columna, 313
Coramendator, King, 123, 124, 125
Comi, 187
Comogra, 116, 162, 179
Comogrus, King, 116, 117, 118,
120, 122, 137, 146, 147, 148, 162
Cojnmodus, Emperour, 284
Comoiayxa, 172
Compostele, 100
Conception, Tower of, 80, 82, 84,
86, 92, 93, 105, 130
Conde, Prince de, xliv., xiv.
Condiuia, 310
Conigangui, 26
Connulaha, City of, 260
Constantina, 374
Constantine, 290, 316
Constantinople, Bishop of, xxxi.
Constantinople, Emperour of, 316
Constantinople, Patriarche of, xxx.,
290, 291
Conte Rimondo, 270
Cooper, xxxvii.
Coperdalia, 305
Copto, 284
Coquera, King, 140
Corala, 271
Corales, 180
Corduba, 162, 181, 186, 192
Corea, 382
Corelia, 292, 321
Corichotum, 102
Corimucol, 20
Corinthus, City of, 80, 100,
Coro island, 215
Coronado, 287
Coronati, 238
Cortes, xiii., xl., xiv., xlvi., 274
Cortesreales, Gasper, 344
Cortesreales islands, 344
Cortesius Fernando, 191, 192, 195,
198, 238, 342
Corsali, Andreas de, 275, 279
Corus, 382
402
Corytho
Index.
Frobisher
Corytho, i66
Cossa, Johannes De la, 126, 134,
156
Cossa, 107
Cossin river, 323
Cossuni, 329
Cotam, 26
Cotochus, King, 146.
Cotohi, 172, 173
Cotoy, 169
Cozumella island, 40, 187, 188, l8g,
191, 192, 193
Cozumellaus, King, 188
Cracouia, 314
Crayford, 7
Creta, 166, 172, 316
Cretenses, xlviii., 172
Cresus, 42, 146
Croke, 381
Crystente, xxxiv.
Cuadalchiber, 210.
Cuba island, 6, 31, 40, 66, 73, 74,
75. 76, 77; 79. 90, '04. 105, 123.
125, 128, 130, 150, 154, 161, 163,
167. 173. >76, 177. 184, 186, 188,
189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 195, 198,
210, 231, 233. 239, 241, 262, 299,
338, 344. 346
Cuba, Governour of, 191
Cubagua island, 213, 214
Cubana, 169
Cubigar river, 153
Cuchibachoa, Region of, 98, lc8,
113, 128, 134
Cuella de Segovia, xv.
Cueua, 219, 237
Cuguibacoa, 165
Cugureo, 340
Cuhabo, 168, 169
Cuiriza, 146
Culchas, 141
Culata point, 119, 121, 122
Cumana, 89, 94, 96, 98, 128, 156,
165, 213, 214
Cupoton King, 187
Curiana, 89, 94, 95, 96, 98, 128
Cursius Quintus, 241
Curtana, 36, 95
Cuti river, 226
Cuzibet island, 23
Cybaho, 169
Cyrenaua, 374
Cyrrha, 100
Czar Kythaiski, 324
Czilma river, 322
Czircho river, 322
Czriremissa, 293
Dabaiba, King, II9, 121, 122,
163
Dabaiba river, 132, 155, 183, 199
Dabiague, 169
Dacicus, 176
Dahabon, 169
Uahabonici, Region of, 169
Dahatio, 168
Daiaguo mountains, 173
Daiguani mountains, 171
Dalekarle river, 305
Dalion, 41
Dalmacyen King, xxx.
Dalmatia, 290, 364
Damascus, 56, 311
Damian, 310
Damianus a Goes, 5 ' . 5^
Damiata, City of, 284
Danadim river, 323
Danowe river, 131
Danaus, xlviii.
Daneo port, 284
Dardanus, 166
Dariena, 114, 115, 116, 118, iig,
121, 123, 125, 126, 130, 131, 134,
135. 136, 137, '43. 145. 148, 149.
156, 157. 158, 162, 163, 164, 165,
178, 179, 180, 182, 183, 184, 185,
186, 192, 198, 199, 207, 218,220,
226, 236, 238, 262
Darien river, no, 132, 191
Darius, King, 59, 284
Darnasseri, 20
Darthmouth, 379
Daubeny, Oliver, xviii.
Dauid, xlvii., 51, 349, 385
Dauid, Master, 330
Dausian, 344
Davis, xlvi.
Decan, 264
Dechan, 14
Dedalus, 55
Deerfeorth, Cornelius, xxxviii.
De las Peilas island, 54
De la Sal island, 272
De la Flore island, 382
Delagartos river, 132
Delapuente, Franciscus, 1 83
Deli mountains, 268
De los Azores, 203, 204, 339
Delphis, 296, 298
Demahus river, 168
Demetriowe, City of, 321
Demetrius, 59, 292, 308, 309, 310,
3". 3'3. 325. 329. 33'
Demogorgon, xlvi., i6l
Denham, Henry, xiii
Denmark, King of, xxx., 299, 304,
308, 309, 319, 331) 332
Deptford, xxxviii.
Desborch, John ofj xxv., xxvi.
Desiderata island, 177, 210
Desideratus, Portus, 188.
Destam island, 192
Desseosa, Francis, 377
Deza, 130
Diaguo, Region of, 169
Diaz, JohaniiaSj 105, 135, 165
Didacus, 75, 77, 78, 79
Dido, 166
Diego, Hetiriques, 378
Diego, Nicuesa, 106, 107, 108, 109,
III, 112, ti3, 114, 115, 116, 126,
128, 135, 137, 145, ISO, 151, 153, 156
Dieguan sea, 266
Diegus Marques, 157
Diegus Mendez, 154
Diegus Ordassus, 192
Diegus Valasquen, 186
Dikilappones, Region of, 331
Diodorus, xlviii., 351
Diodorus Siaiius^ 55. 3^9
Dites, 165, 178, 183
Dium, City of, 13
Doesborch or Doesburg, xxv.
Doesburgh, Jan Van, xxv., xxvi.
Dolateranus, 10
Dominica island, 30, 68, 70, 105,
130, 150, 157, 163, 174, 210
Dominikes, Tower, Seynt, 82, 84
Domitian, 284
Don Alonso, 341
Don Enrique, 341
Don, John Captain, 382
Don, John, of Austria, xii.
Don Lewes, 378
Don Luys, 341
Don Pascval de Gayangos, xiv.
Don Phylippe, 346
Donco, 324, 325
Donetz Scwerski, 325
Doria, Juanette, xvii.
Doria, Pedro, xvii.
Dorpc, Roeland van der, xxv., xxvi.
Doner, 379
Dragonis, Os, 88, 95 96, 98, 108
Dranus river, 318
Drauer, Master, xviii.
Dromon, Achillis, 310
Dront, 331
Dryades, 83, loi
Duas Arlwres, 176
Dubna River, 321
Duchala, 374
Dudley, John, xxxix.
Duna River, 312
Dunenburg, 312
Duraba, 135, 153
Duran, Thomas, 272
Durriba, 153
Dyonisius, King, xliv.
East India, xii., 8, 9, 32, 79, 103,
133. 234. 23S, 247, 262, 279, 283,
285, 339. 344
East Indian Sea, 8
Easte Sea, 8, 9, 24, 161
Ebro river, 363
Ebetere, 153
Eccampi island, 186
Edel river, 292, 314
Eden, Alban, xlviii.
Eden, Richard, xii., xiii., xiv., xv.,
XX., xxii., xxxvii., xxxviii., xxxix.,
xl., xii., xiii., xliii., xliv., xiv.,
xlvi., xlvii., xlviii., I, 3, 6, 7, 13,
43. 49, 270
Edward VI.,xii.,xix., xxxviii, 1,333
Egypt, xi., XXX., xlviii., 8, 41, 51,
75. i'°. 131. 132, 141. 153. 155.
172, 175. '93. 217. 283, 284, 293,
296. 307. 308, 315, 351, 369, 374
Egypt, King of, 284
Egypt, Pyramides of, 49
Egypt, Soltane of, 311, 369
Egyptian sea, 199
Elabath, 374
Elbes, 272
Elcauz, 374
Elder. John, xxxix.
Elgazaet, Region of, 374
Elias, xlvii.
Elide, City of, 176
Eliot, 398
Eliot, Hugh, xvi. , xxi.
Eliot, Master, xiv.
Elis, City of, 134
Elizabeth, Queen, xii., xvii., xl.,
xliv., xiv., xlvi., 65, 201, 209, 288,
342
Elzaba, 8
Emanuel, King, xxiii., xxVi., xxvii.,
37. 39, 40
Enibigar, 153
Eneas, 135, 166
England, King of, xxx., xxxvi.
Engronlande, Region of, 312, 324,
332
Eningia, 298, 306
Ephesyn, xxxi.
Epileguanita, 102
Erancanqui, 344
Erasmus, 57, 58
Eratosthenes, 41, 349
Eridanus, 133
Errifi, 374
Erythra, King, xlviii.
Esaras, 49
Eson, Colchis of, 135
Esope, 377
Esquegua, 23c, 234
Estremadura, 274
Ethiopia, xxx., 8, 13, 14, 39, 41, 51,
88, 132, 139, 169, 175, 248, 250,
284, 339, 35'. 369, 374, 384, 385
Ethiopia, King of, 374
Euangelista island, 77
Eude island, 260
Eudoxus, 286, 346
Eue, 229, 338
Euergetes, Tomoleus, 346
Eugenius, Pope, 290
Euphrates river, 41, 51, 30S
Eurique, Don, 341
Euripus sea, 304
Eusebius, xlviii.
Euxinus sea, 155, 292, 29S, 310,
314
Exer, 266
Ezzab, 374
Faber, Jacobus, 246
Faber, John, 289
Facies, Combusta King, 135
Faial island, 347
Faro, Strait of, 208
Fartalio, xlvi.
Faubourg, xiv.
Feminie the Great, xxxiii.
I'erdinando Cortese, 238, 342
Ferdinando de Soto, 346
Femandina islands, 186, 187, 190,
'9', 195
Fernando de Vega, 96
Fernandes Francicus, 186, 187, 192
Fernandus, Gonzalus, 50, 158, 160,
184, 185, 207, 208, 241
Fernelius, Johannes, xlvii.
Ferraria, xlvi.
Ferrea island, 65, 66, 68, 157, 181
Ferrieres, Francois de, xliv.
Ferrieres, Jean de, xliv.
Ferrum island, 41
Fes, 374
Fessa, City of, 374
Feti, 180
Ficinus, Marcilius, xiii., 338
Fin, Jean de la, xiv.
Finland, 229, 306, 312, 319
Finlappia, 330
Finmarchia, 8, 347
Fiorauanti, Leonardo, xlviii.
Fladimer, City of, 289
Flauius, 348
Flaunders, Earl of, 208
Fletcher, John, xix.
Florida, 32, 55, 191, 2S8, 342, 34S,
346
Floures [i.e., Flores\ island, 214
Flumen Amazonum, 160
Flumen, S. Johannis, 155
Fogeda, Alphonsus, 106, 107, 108,
109, no, III, 113, 114, 115, 123,
126, 128, 134, 145, 165, 180, 183
P'onseca, Johannes, 126
Forrest, George, xvii.
Forlis island, 107, 108, 109, 134, 162
Fortisuentura, xx., 65, 157, 3S0
Fortunate islands, 28, 37, 40, 166,
374
Forum Julii, 318
Foxe, John, xxxix.
Fracta laucea island, 41
France, King of, xxx., xxxii., xxxvL
France, Lieutenaunt of, 347
Francis, St., 130
Francisco, 376
Francisco de Siquera, 378
Francisco, Lopez de Gomara, xxxviii
271, 337
Frederike, King, 73, 102, 103
Fretum Herculeum sea, 161
Fretum trium fratrum, 9
Friseland, 303
Friole, 368
Frobisher, Sir Martin, xiii.
Fronowo
Index.
Ipsicratea
403
Fronowo, 312
Gothland, Bishop of, 302
Guzman, Peter Nunez de, 345
Hircanian sea, 169, 170, 287, 291,
Fryer, P'erdinando, 341
Gothus Olanus, 347
Guzula, 374
308, 310, 314
Fugui, 26
Graesse, xliii.
Hispana island, 6, 28, 29, 30, 31,
Fiiluia, 122
Grafton, xii.
Habacoa, 169
35. 36. 40
Furatado, Captain, 121
Grafton, Richard, xiii.
Habacucke, 57
Hispaniola island, xv., 6, 35, 40,
Futeraca, 180
Granada, 36, 52, 63, 67, 73, 103,
Habissia, Region of, 385
45, 54, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 73, 74,
no, 133, 191,201,202,273,274,
Habech, Region of, 385
75, 78, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 87, 89,
Cades islands, 28, 30, 34, 65, 68, 73,
340. 34«
Hafnia, City of, 33 1
90, 96, 98, 99, 100, 104, 105,
75.94,97. 150. 181,316
Grancanaria islands \the Canaries'],
Hagueigalwn sea, 170
106, 107, 108, 113, 114, 115, 116,
Gaira river, 113, 132, 157, 158, 159
41, 65, 157, 210, 380
Haiba river, 168
118, 119, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127,
Galana island, 68, 157
Grandis river, 131, 132, 199
Haina, 223
128, 130, 131, 135, 137, 138, 140,
Galanta island, 68, 157, 177, 210
Gratia Dei, M2, 182
Haitho, 24,. 60
144. 145. 149. 150. 153. >54, 159.
Galeatius, Butrigarius, 106, 127,285
Gray, Richard, xvii.
Haiti island, 166, 167, 168, 338
163, 164, 165, 106, 167, 172, 173,
Galian island, 260
Great John, 385
Hakluyt, Richard, xii., xiii., xiv.,
176, 177, 178, 184, 186, 191, 192,
Galitia, 10, 96, 311
Great Khan, xv.
XV., xvi., xvii., xviii., xix., xx.,
193, I99i 209, 210, 215, 219, 228,
Gamlira, 280, 374, 384
Great Sophie, 326
xxxviii., xl., xlviii.
230, 233, 235, 238, 239, 241, 262,
Gamelaro island, 374
Grecia, 54, 5fi, 155, 262, 296, 302,
Ilalicarnassea, 128
299. 346
Ganges river, 9, 32, 75, 98, I33. ^SS^
3J9
Halle, R., xii , xiii.
Hojedus, 72, 79, Si
Greenland, 299
Ham, Kingdom of, 344
Holstrocke, William, xvii.
Gangeticus, Gulf of, 39
Gregorie, 1 1 2
Ilamadriades, 74, loi
Holtrop, Mr, xxv.
Ganphasantes, 385
Gregorye I., 56
Hamburg, 300
Holy Nose, 330
Garcia Nunnio, 272
Gresham, John, xiii.
Hannibal, 139
Homer, 5, 41, 346, 398
Gardiner, Bishop, xl., xlv.
Gresham, William, xii.
Hanon, 338
Honorucco, 169
Garet, 374
Gretzium, 318
Haraia, Region of, 96
Horace, 58
Garsia de Padilla, 130
Grisalva, John, 187, 188, 189, 190,
Hardie, Master, xviii.
Hore, Master, xviii.
Gasper, Cortesreales, 344
192, 194
Harsol, City of, 300
Hossuen island, 304
Gastaldus, Jacobus, 291, 345
Gronland, 299, 300, 303
Hathathiei, 171
llozama, 168, 170
Gates, Sir T., xxxix.
Grosapha, King of, 40
Hawkins, Sir John, xvi., xvii.
Huban island, 344
Gaza, 57
Groueland, 8
xlviii.
Hungary, King of, 208, 312
Gazatia, 385
Grounzwyk, xxxii.
Hawkins, William, \vi., xvii.
Huhabo, 168, 169, 172
Gedion, 51
Gruljes, Master, xiv.
Hayhay island, 159
Huinaghan island, 255
Gelders, Land of, xxvi.
Grustina, Castle of, 323
Hazchora, 374
Huitsarch, 299
Geminus, Thomas, xxxvii., xxxviii..
Grustintzi, 323
Hazlitt, W. C, xxvi.
Humos point, 273
xl.
Grutland, 245, 300, 317
Hazoa, Region of, 168
Humphrey, Laurence, xl.
Gemma Phrj-sius, 55, 384, 385, 389
Guacana island, 345
Hazua mountains, 169, 176
Hyperborean sea, 288
Geneen, xxviii.
Guacarapita, 99
Ilea, Kingdom of, 374
Hyperboreos mountains, xli., 293,
Genua, City of, 28, 65, 155, 206,
Guaccaa lake, 170
Ileben, 284
313, 314, 324
310. 340
Guaccaiarima, 168, 169, 173, 176
Hebrewes, Captain of the, 316
Hyperbories, 142, 155, 350
Genoa, xvii., xxx.
GuaccanariUus, King, 66, 70, 71,72,
Helga mountain, 300
Hyram, 49
Georgianes, xxx., xxxi.
168
Helisabeth, 73, 127, 129, 167
Germanicus, Emperour, 176
Guadalupea island, 68, 69, 157, 159,
Ilelisabeth a Boadilla, 127
Iberia, 53, 54
Ger[r]ard, Sir William, xix., xl., xli.
177, 181, 210, 345
Heliseus, 149
Icthiophagi, 301, 385
Gesnerus, 326
Guadalqueuir river, 127, 157, 210,
Hellespontus sea, xlviii., 59, 155
Ida mountains, 172
Getulia, 384
220, 238, 250
Hely, John, xii.
Iguamu, 171
Giaua island, 23, 260, 269, 286
Guadiana river, 273
Henrique, Don, 273
1 guanama, 173
Giauntes island, 38
CJuahabba, 169
Henriques, Diego, 378
IlUrium, 306
Gibeth island, 34
Guahague, Region of, 169
Henry, King, 127, 162, 340, 345
Ilmer Lake, 319
Gibilterra, 233, 236, 262
Guaiagua, Region of, 168
Henry IV., xxxix.
Inacus, Jopez Mendocius, 103
Gilolo island, 259, 272, 344
Guamaonocon, 99
Henry V., xxxix.
India, xxi., xxix., x.xx., xxxii., 9,
Gilona island, 34
Guamaretus, King, 102
Henry Vn, xxi., 28S
10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 24, 25,
Ginera island, 41
Guanabba island, 85
Henry VIII., xii., xiii , xiv., xvi ,
26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 40, 50, 52, 65,
Gines Navarro, xv.
Guanahaini island, 75
xvii., xviii., xix.,xx., xxi., xxxvii..
67, 75, 79, 90, 98, 103, 120, 127,
Gioghi island, 260
Guanahatlabenechina, 176
xlv., 6
155, 180, 198, 303, 204, 209, 216,
Giouan Dulsaraz, 250
Guanama, Region of, 16S
Henry, King of France, xlvii.
219, 227, 233, 239, 261, 263, 264,
Girardus Mapheus, 348
Guanapan island, 190
Herbert, W., xxxvii., xxxix.
266, 269, 272, 2S3, 284, 285, 286,
Giunti, L. A., xiv.
Guanassa island, 105, 150, 163
Hercinia, 313
287, 288, 308, 309, 313, 329, 339,
Goa, City of, 40, 261
Guanguan island, 190
Hercules, 50, 105, 138, 149, 156,
346, 347, 363, 384
Godfrey, John, xvii.
Guaniba, Region of, 170
236, 285
India, Governour of, 274
Golden Castile, 211, 214, 218, 219,
Guaninicabo river, 170
Hercules Pillars, 86, 135, 236, 316,
India major, xxi., xxviii., xxxi.,
233. 236
Guannabo, Region of, 1 70
374
xxxii., 261
Golelta, Port, 374
Guariagua, Region of, 173
Hercyiua, 310
India tiiinor, xxi.
Goliath, xlvii., 149
Guaricco, Region of, 169
Herodotus, 248, 339, 346, 350
Indian sea, 9, 39, 308, 347, 385
Gomera, Francisco Lopez de, xxxvii.
Guarioncxius, King, 79, 80, 82, 84,
Heroum, City of, 284
Indies, 52, 53, 54, 162, 213, 220,
xxxix., 271,' 335, 337, 342, 350
86, 87, 91, 92, 93, 102, 168,
Hesiod, xxxviii., xli.
221, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230,
Gomera island, xiii., 65, 66, 157,
171
Hesperides islands, 32, 74, 87, 97,
232, 235, 238, 246, 271, 272, 273,
210, 3S0
Guarionexius, Vale of, 171
167, 338
274. 337. 338, 340. 341. 345. 348.
Gomes, Steuen, 242, 272
Guarizacca island, 170
Heua river, 319
350, 355
Gonsalues, Peter, 378
Guaturo, 216, 226
Hibusson island, 255
Indus river, 13. 308, 309
Gonson, Richard, xvii.
Guaturo, King, 226
Hiebra, 135, 153, 154
Infortunate islands, 28, 33, 37, 41,
Gonson, William, xvii.
Guaurabo, Lake, 171
Hieron, King, xlvii.
253
Gonzales, Don Pero, 341
Guinea, xii., xvi., xix., xxviii,, xxxix.
Hieronimus Aquillaris, 192, 193
Innocientus, Pope, xxxi.
Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Vol-
xl., 250, 270, 273, 297, 348,371,
Hieronimus Cardanus, 307
Inspruck, 359, 368
des, xiv., XV., 158, 205, 241, 242
373. 374. 375. 376, 377, 378, 379,
Hieronimus Fracastor, 285
Insula crusis, 30, 69
Gonzalus Badaiocius, 181, 182, 183
380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386,
Hierusalem, 7, 8, 49, 51, 56, 57, 82,
Insula, .S. Johannis, 70
Gorecius, Leonhardus, xxxix.
387. 388
100, 384, 385
Insula: Latronum, 254
Gorgodes, Meducias island, 97
Guise, Duke of, xliii., xlv.
Hierusalem, King of, 82, 208
Insul.-e verides, 39
Gorgonas island, 338
Gunson, William, xii.
Hierusalem, Temple of, xlvii.
Insulas Sancti Bamardi, 162
Gorualanus, 72
Guserath, 266
Higinius, 346
Inuagana island, 34
Gothia, 298, 306
Gutschyn, King of, xxix.
Higuei, 168
lonicum sea, 191
Gothicus, Emperour, 176
Guzerat, Gulf of, 14
Higuel, 346
Ionium, 163
Gothland, 9, 286, 295, 299, 306, 347
Guzman, Enrique of, 341
Hircania .Sylua, 292
Ipsicratea, 128
404
Irtische
Index.
Margarita
Irtische river, 323
Irus, 42
Isabella, City of, 74, 79, 80, 82, 84,
85.86
Isabella island, 73, 167
Isabella, Lady, 341
Isaias, 52, 56, 57
Ismael the Sophi, 3 1 1
Isocrates, 346
Isodorus, Bishop, 290
Isopes, 53
Israeli, 51, 52, 56
Israeli, King of, xxxiv.
Isseria, 309
Ister river, 98, 131
Istoma Georgius, 330, 331
Ity island, 38
Jaccha, 168
Jacchi, Region of, 169
Jache river, 168
Jachem river, 73
Jaciga river, 168
Jacob, XXX.
Jacobi, Sancti, 97
Jacobus Gastaldus, 345
Jafet, 346
Jagohaiucho, Region of, 16 j
Jaia, 100, 163
Jaick river, 326, 329
Jainagiia, Lake, 170
Jaioso, Region of, 374
Jamaica island, 31, 75, 78, 150, 154,
177., 193. 210. 241
Jamaizi, Region of, 169
James, St., Island of, 97
James, .St. , Tower of, 84
James the elder, 10
Jamgoma, Region of, 260
Janiia, 155
Janus, 15s
Japhet, 15s
Jaques Cartier, 345
Jaroslavia, 309
Jaroslaw, Castle of, 324
Jason, 51, 262
Jausa river, 313
Java island, 23, 269, 344
Jaxartes river, 311
Jean de Ferrieres, xliv.
Jemptia, 305
Jenkenson, Anthony, xviii.
Jenkynson, Master, xliii.
Jenuen, xxx.
Jericho, Priests of, xlvii.
Jerom, Castle of, 323
Jerusalem, xxi., xxxi., 7, 8, 49. 51,
56-7, 82, 100, 166, 374, 384-5
Jerusalem, Patriarche of, xxxv.
Job, II, 349
Joga, 14
Johan, Duke, 289, 293
Johanna island, 28, 29, 66, 70, 74,
75, 104, 241
Johannes, Cursius, 106
Johannes, Diaz, 105
John, King, 65, 129, 273, 274
John, Lake of, 325
John of Desborough, xxv., xxxvi.
John, Pope, xxiii., xxvi., xxvii.,
xxx., xxxii., xxxvi.
John, Queen, 273
John the Evangelist, 10
Jonas, XXV., 338
Joppa, 181
Joseph of Arimalhea, 56
Josephus, xlviii , 8, 384, 385
Josuah. 316
Jouanaboina, 100
Joubirt, Francoise, xlv.
Joviui, Paulus, 292, 331
Joy, Master, xviii.
Juan, 182
Juanaga, Region of, 234
Juba, King, 347
Jucatana island \i.e., the peninsula of
Vucafan], 40, i86, 188, 189, 191,
192, 193, 238
Juda, Princes of, 56
Judde, Sir Andrew, 383
Judea, 7, 18, 57
Jug river, 286, 312. 322
Juga river, 293, 312
Jug.aria, 322, 326
Jugge, John, xlvi.
Jugge, Richard, xxxix., xlvi., 398
Jugoria, 309
Juharici, 326
Juhgary, The, 326
Juhra, 293, 322, 326
Julius, Pope, 309
Julyan Samano, 346
Junna river, 73, 168, 172
Jura, 116
Jureche, 152
Jurham, 292
Jwanowosero, Lake of, 325
Kaienska Semla, Region of, 330
Kama, Region of, 326
Kaman river, 325, 329
Katharine, Queen, 65
Kele river, xxxvii.
Kerry, John, xix.
Khan, Great, xv.
Kingsley, Rev. Canon, xvi.
Kitai, Lake, 323
Kitaisko, Lake, 323
Kithay, Lake, 324
Kohl, Mr J. G., xv.
Kuliuo river, 322
Kurbski, Simeon Pheodorowice, 324
Kyui, 20
La Desseada island, 210
La Ferte, xlv.
La Mina, 382
La Spagnuola, 210
Labrador, xiii., xv., 287, 344, 345,
347
Lachroma river, 321
Lacossa, Johannes de, 107
Lactantius, 10, II, 142
Lacus, Albus, 291
Lacus, Cronicus, 289
Ladoga, Lake, 319
Lagartos river, 1 1 1
Lagoma island, 260
Laletania, 173
Lamas, 155
Lambert, Francis, xviii., xix.
Lambert, Nicolas, 376, 377
Lamer, xlv.
Lampaloda island, 374
Lancelotus island, 65, 157
Lancerota, xx.
Landinus, 279
Landman, Dau d, xix.
Langanas, 304
Lantchidol sea, 261
Laon, xliv.
I^pponia, Region of, 8, 291, 299,
301, 302, 305, 347
Lares, 176
Lasiesia, 363
fjaterane, 309
Latium, 66, 166, 167
Lathyro King, 286
Laurence, xlvii., xlviii.
Lazaro, Archipelago di San, 25 j
Lazarus, King, 187, i88
L,ech, King of the Polons, 318
Ledisma, Johannes, 144
Ledyl river, 291
Legion, 201
Legion, King of, 203
Leigh, Doctor, xvi.
Lemures, 85
Leo, Bishop of Rome, 64, 106, 137,
287, 308, 309
Leochares, 49
Leon, 342
f,eon, John Ponce of, 345, 346
Leonhardus Gorecius, xxxix.
Lepanto, xii.
Lepin Castle, 323
Lesbos, 69
Levante, The, xii., xiii., xvii., xviii.,
xix., 233
Leviathan sea, 50
(ewes, Don, 378
Libane, 1 10
Liberus, Sigismundus, 29S, 312,
318
Libia, 8, 54, 56, 70, 81, 166, 177,
374, 384
Libicum, 163
Libra, xiii.
[Jgurian sea, 297
Lima, 338
Limonares island, 151
Limoso isUand, 374
Lincoln, Bishop of, xl., xlv.
Lisbon, City of, 16, 39, 267, 277,
279. 341
Lithunia, Duke of, 318
Lituania, Realme of, 286, 291, 292,
311, 314, 318, 326
Liuie, 132
Liuonia, 287, 291, 306, 308, 311,
312, 319. 331
Lock, Sir William, xiii.
Locke, Michael, xix.
Lodge, Thomas, xl.
Lodovike, 73, 79, 82, 90, 94, 96,
103. 133
Longon, 260
Lop, City of, 26
Lopes, Diego, 272, 273
Lopez Francisco, 288, 335, 342,
35°
Lordo, 287
Losoth island, 304
Louat river, 319
Lozon island, 260
Lucane, 310
Lucomorya mountains, 323, 324
Ludovico Barthema (i. e., Vartkima],
xlviii.
Luft, Hans, xxv.
Lugo, Alphonsus, 66
Luigo, 252
Lumatola island, 260
Lumbardie, 306, 340
Lupus .Sosa, 199
Lusheburne [i.e., Lis/>on], xxvii.,
xxviii., xxix., 277, 309
Luther, xxvi.
Luttrel, Sir John, xix.
Luxanus, 74
Luys of S. Angell, 341
Luys, Cancell, 346
Luys, Don, 341
Luztu, 271
Lybicn, xxxi.
Lyese Nicolas, 378
Lyuon sea, 314
Maccazina, Region of, 169
Macchian island, 259, 260
Macedonia, xxxiii , 14
Machiam sea, 344
Machinnech, King, 100
Machmetgirei, King, 328
Machochael, 99
Macorix, Region of, 168
Macrobius, 41, 298, 347
.Madagascar, 7, 23, 285, 286
Madanino, 69, 157
Madera islands, 35, 40, 41, 87, 260,
270, 339. 340. 375. 380
MagcUanus Ferdinando [i.e., /''er-
uarn de Magelhaens\ 9, 32, 33,
34. 35. 243. 249. 250, 252, 25S,
272, 274
Magellanus, Straits of, 8, 33, 35,
161, 183, 252, 285, 350
Magna Canaria, 157
Magna fors island, 41
Magnete island, 348
Magnus, Albertus, 7, 9, 10, 41,
364
Magona, 81
Magna, Region of, 169
Maguacochios, 167
Maguana, Region of, 169, 171, 172,
176
Mahaitin mountam, 169
Mahumet, 14, 23, 25, 27, 40, 57,
326, 374
Maia, Region of, 1 50, 163
Maiagiiariti, Region of, 169
Maiam, 1 87
Maiobanexius, King, 86, 91, 92,
93
Maiolica, 270
Malabar, 263, 266, 267, 268, 269
Malacca, 21, 32, 34, 40, 75, 247,
255, 256, 260, 261, 267, 269,
271. 274. 313. 344
Malea, 155, 304
Maligny, Seigneur de, xliv.
Mallua island, 260
Malpha, Flauius of, 348
Manibrone, xxx.
.\Lanabaho, Region of, 169
Manabaxao, Region of, 169
Manacapana, Region of, 89, 94,
96, 98, 128
Manache, Sibill, xx.
Manati, Lake, 171
Mandeuell, 329
Mangalor, 265
Mangdando, City of, 259
Mangi, 25, 26
Manicautixius, King, 82
Manicheus, 10
Manicongo, 270, 374
Manillas, Marcus, xliv.
Mans, xliv.
Mansus, Alfonsus, 130
Manuel, Petro, 272
Maragnonum river, 9S, 132, 134,
155. 160
Marburg, xxv.
Marchauntes island, 329
Marchena, 340, 341
Marcilius Ficinus, 338
Marco da Niza, 287
Marcus Antonius, 315
Marcus, Emperout, 284
Marcus Paulus, 55, 286
Marcus Paulus Venetus, 25, 27,
326, 330. 339. 340
Mare island, 35, 259, 260
Mare Congelatum, 8
Mare de .Sabione, 374
Mare del Sur {i.e., iJie Pacific Ocean],
54, 211, 214, 223, 225; 230, 233,
234. 235, 252, 262, 338, 344,
345. 347
Mare Pacilicum, 252, 253
Margarita island, 54, 88, 96, 141,
165, 178, 214, 2J3
Margarita
Index.
Oxford
405
Margarita, Peter, 79
Mariatambal, Region of, 98,
132
Marien, Region of, 169, 172
Mary, Virgin, xxvi., 69, 124, 192,
198
Marmarica, 8
Mamior, H2, 114, 135
Marobu, 100
Marocco, xix., xx.
Marques, Diegus, 157
Marris, 122
Marrocko, 374
Marrok, 161
Martabani, 268
Martine, 383
Martinus Gratias islanrl, 343
Martire, Pietro, or Martyr, Peter,
xiii., xxxvii., 43, 61, 63, 64, 65,
102, 186, 207, 241, 246, 299
Mary, Queen, xii., xxxviii., xxxix.,
xlv., 1.
Mary of Nemegen, xxvi.
Massana island, 34
Massaquiber port, 374
Mathan island, 258
Mathien island, 35
Mathinino island, \<x>
Matinino island, 30, 69, 157) '66,
210
Matritis, 123, 184
Matthkur, 303
Mauicarao, 169
Maurevcrt, xlv.
Mauritania, 8, 374, 384
Mauritania Cesariensis, 374
Mauritania Tingitania, 374
Mausoliis, King, 49, 128
Maximilian, Emperour, 290, 308,
309, 312. 368
Mecca, 166, 267
Medecis, Catherine de, xlv.
Media, 314
Medina Celi, Duke of, 341
Medina Sidonia, Duke of, 250,
34'
Medina de Campo, xxxix., 232
Medon, xxxi.
Meersch, P. C. van der, xxv.
Megha, xxviii.
Mela, Pomponius, 346, 347
Melaqua, City of, xxix., 21
Melcha island, 39
Melchoir, 71, 72
Meier, Lake, 305
Melinda, xxviii., 132, 385
Melo, Frances de, 273
Meluza, 20
Memi, City of, 241
Memphis, City of, 307, 315
Mendala, 344
Mendez, Diegus, 154
Mendocius, Inacus Jopez, 103
Mendoza, Anthony di, 287
Mendoza, Cardinall Pero Gonzales
of, 341
Mendoza, Lnigo of, 252
Mendoza, Mentia of, 214
Mennones, 385
Mense, 56
Mensurado, Cape, 381
Meotis, 155, 292, 298, 306, 311,
314- 325. 326, 351
Mercado, Lodouicus, 165, 182
Mercedis, Saynte Mary of, 77
Mericke, William, xli.
Meroe island, 8, 385
Merose, 41
Mesa, Barnarde of, 130
Messana island, xvii., 256
Messana, King of, 256, 257, 258
Mesopotania, 297
Meta Incognita, xiii.
Metellus Celer, 9
Methymna Campi, City of, 68, 70,
72, 80
Methyna, Duke of, 96
Mexico, Viceroy of, 287
Mexico, City of, xiii., 55, 61, 287,
288, 338, 342
Mezen river, 322
Mezentium, 66
Michael Passamonte, 213
Midnall, Thomas, xiii.
Mien, 24, 261
Milan, City of, 63, 67, 103, 131,
141
Milenoes, 65
Mina, 339, 375, 382
Mina, Castle of, 382
Mina river, 376
Minera, xlviii.
Minos, xlviii.
Mioformo, City of, 2S4
Mirobalanus, Region of, 151
Mitaini, 167
Mithridates, 128, 129
Moguer, 341
Mogunce, Bishop of, 56
Molucca islands, 8, 9, 20, 32, 33,
34, 35. 54. '83, 234, 235, 247,
249, 256, 258, 259, 260, 271, 272,
273, 274, 286, 287, 344
Molybe, 385
Momsahith, xxviii.
Moncellese, Master Bernardino, 356
Monoch island, 22
Mons Crucis, 300
Mons Farratus island, 30
Mons Serratus island, 69, 177
Monte Rodondo, 382
Montegio Francis, 187, 190, 191,
192, 195
Montes Luna, 41, 132, 217, 385
Montes Niuales, 157, i6o
Monyuye, 240
Moore, Sir Thomas, 398
Morales, Andreas, 134, 156, 165,
167, 169, 184, 185
Morales, Gasper, 178, 179, 214
Morajites, Christophorus, 186
Morauia, Region of, 326
Morea, The, 316
Moren, xxxi.
Morgan, Sylvanus, xlvi.
Morley, Professor H., xxxviii.
Moronites, xxx., xxxi.
Morrorabes, xxx., xxxi.
Mos, Lake, 304
Moscow, 187, 286, 289, 290, 291,
292, 293, 308, 312, 313, 314, 317,
321
Moscovia, xxxix., 285, 286, 287,
289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 298,
308, 309. 310. 3". 312. 313. 3'4>
3'5. 3"6, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322,
323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329,
330. 33'. 332
Moscovia, Andreas of, 316
Moscovia, George of, 316
Moscovia, Helena of, 289
Moscovia, John of, 289, 316, 319,
32'. 324. 325. 326
Moscovia, .Sophia of, 326
Moscovia, Simeon of, 316
Moscovia, Demetrius Ambassadour
of, 292, 308, 309, 310, 311, 313,
316, 325, 329, 331
Moscovia, Dukes of, 283, 286, 287.
289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 314, 318,
322, 323. 324. 325. 326, 328, 329,
330. 331. 332
Moscoviles, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293,
306, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 315,
316, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323,
324. 32s. 326, 327. 328, 329. 331.
332
Moses, xxi., xlvii., II, 49, 50, 51,
57. "o
Mosyli, The, 385
Motka, Cape, 331
Mouy, Count de, xlv.
Moxica, Michael of, 65
Moxus river, 313, 314
Mozambique, 261
Muera, 318
Midler, Mr Frederick, xxv., xxvi.
Multoxuman, King, 195
Mumu, 112
Miinster, Sebastian, 3, 13, 42, 249,
291, 293
Murcien, 176
Muscostrom sea, 304
Muthil island, 34
Mutir island, 259, 260
Mysians, xlviii., 318
Naeldwyck, Jan van, xxvi.
Nagai, 329
Nagaria, xxix.
Naiba, 83
Naiba river, 73, 83, 168, 172
Nansao, Earl of, 214
Naples, King of, xxx.
Narmaria, xxix.
Narsinga, 14, 15, 20, 263, 264, 265
Narsinga, King of, 14, 40, 264
Nativitatis, liaia, 129
Nauaryen, King of, xxx., xlviii.
Nauchin, City of, 260
Navarre, King of, xxx., xlviii.
Nebrissa, 135, 165
Neglina river, 313
Negro river, 374
Nehemiah, 56
Neibaymao, Region of, 169
Neib,aymas mountain, 169
Nemea, 143
Nemroth, 53, 290
Neper river, 314
Nepos, Cornelius, 9, 286, 347
Neptunus, xlviii., 55, 163, 165, 176
Nereiades, 74, loi, 127, 165, 176
Nero, 41
Nerui, 340
Nestorius, xxx., 27
New Andalusia, 130
New Fraunce, 287, 288
New India, 3, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,
28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 11, 34, 35, 36,
37. 38, 39. 40. 41
New Spayne, 236, 238, 24 1 , 287, 342
New World, 68, 127, 137, 156, 174,
245. 247. 272, 273, 337, 338, 339,
342
Newfoundland, xiii., xiv., xv., xviii,
xxi.
Nicaragua, 338
Nicene, 290
Nicolai, 322
Nicuesa, Diego, 106, 107, 108, 109,
III, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 126,
'28, 135, 137. 145. '5°. '51. 153.
'56
Nidrosia, 299, 303
Nidrosia, Archbishop of, 299
Nignus, 94, 126
Nigritis, 132, 384
Nile river, 8, 41, no, in, 131, 132,
'53, '55, 169. 175. 193. 199.217.
283, 284,285,293, 309, 311, 312,
339. 346, 351. 374. 384. 385
Nimaca, 169
Nizaus, 169
Noah, xlviii., 51, 155. 340,346, 386
Noceuamor island, 260
Nogais, 3". 329
Nomen Dei, 113, 234, 235
Norduegia, 331
Noricum, 314
Northumberland, Duke of, xxxviii.,
xxxix., 5
Nortpoden, 330
Norumbega, xiv.
Norway, Governours'of, 332
Norway, King of, 331
Norwegia, King of, xxx.
Nova Castilia, 343
Nova Hispania, 55, 213, 238, 241,
287, 342
Novogradiap.e., Nmgvrotl], Cityof,
289,290, 291, 309, '312, 313, 314,
318, 319, 321, 326, 328, 329, 330
Nova Scotia, xv.
Nubia, 384
Nuceria, I'aulus Jouius, Biihop of,
308, 312, 331
Numidia, 374
Nunnez, Alphonsus, 123
Nunnez de Gusman, I'eler, 345
Nycolas, Saynt, 75, 78
Nysa, 100
Nysea, 384
O ['.e.. Omega] point, 75, 76
Obdoria, 287, 310, 323
Obea, Castle of, 323
Obi river, xli., 287, 322, 323, 332
Obiowa, 323.
Occoa river, 170, 292
Ocha river, 292, 308, 313, 314, 319,
324, 325
Ochelaga, 287
Ocho Lupus, 186
Odia, 260
Odoardo Barbessa, 258
Ogni Sancti Marigalante island, 210
Olanus, Gothus, 300, 347, 348
Olanus, Lupus, 111, 112
Olha, 319
Olmutium, 314
Oloan, 188, 191
Ooliab, 49
Gone, 305
Ophir 7, 51,66, 73,82,338,343
Oplandia. 305
Oram, City of, 374
Ordassus, Diegus, 192
Oripei, The, 385
Ormuz island, 13, 20, 261, 266
Oro river, 380
Orsa, 316
Oryenten, xxx., xxxi.
Os Dragonis, Straits of, 88, 95, 96,
98, 108, 128, 132, 134, 15, ,78
180
Ostrich, Henry, xix.
Ostrobothnia, 305, 306
Osep, Gregorevitch Napea, xl.
Otho, 9
Otifer, 289, 290
Otogeria, City of, 291
Otoque island, 233
Otto Brumfelsius, xliii.
Ottomanus, B.ijasetes, 60, 311
Ottoseria, City of, 314.
Otwer, City of, 314
Ouandus, King, 190
Ouandus, Nicolaus, 165
Ouetenses, Astur, 135
Ouiedus, Gonzalus Fernandus, 50,
158, 160, 184, 185, 207, 20S,'24l'
Oxford, Earl of, xxxvii.
4o6
Oxus
Index.
Oxus river, 308
Ozama, 240
Pacra, King, 143, 144, 14S, 146,
147
Padilla, Garsia de, 130
Padus, 133
Pahan, 260
Paleacate, 263
Paleologus, Sophia, 316
Paleologus. Thomas, 316
Palitzki, Lieuetenaunte, 328
Palma island, 41, 66, 157, 177, 380
Palmaria, Region of, i8g
Pal mas, Cape de las, 381, 382
Palmer. Sir T., xxxix.
Palos, 96, 97, 99, 341
Pan, 166
Panama, City of, 214, 223, 233,
234. 235, 338
Panchi, City of, 26
Panes, loi
Pannonie, 133, 155, 290, 306, 310,
3>4
Panonome, King, 182
Pantalarea island, 374
Panuco, 241
Papa, Johannes, 385
Papin, City of, 324
Papinowgorod, City of, 324
Paracelsus, xlvi.
Paraue river, 343
Paria, 36, 38, 89, 90, 94, 95, 96,
98, 99, 103, 105, 113, 128, 129,
130, 132, 13s, 151, 156, 165, 178,
180, 181, 184, 338. 363
Paria, Gulf of, 130
Paricora, 98, 132
Pariza, 1 83
Paropanisus mountain, 308
Parthenopea, Queen, 103
Parthia, 284
Parthicus, Emperour, 176
Paruaim, 7
Paruus, Georgius, 326
Passamonte, Mychel, 213, 240
Patani, 260
Patagoni, 252
Patalo river, 363
Pauiloghon islan.l, 258
Paul, 51, 58
Paulus, 179, 309
Paulus, Jovius, 60, 287, 308, 312
Pazer, 344
I'ean, John, 385
Pecerra, Region of, 315
Pedernales mountains, 219
Pedir, 344
Pedrarias da Villa, 229
Pedro Doria, xvii.
Pegu, 20, 21, 261, 263, 264, 344
Peim, 26
Pellegrine de Maricourt, xliii,
Peloponeso, 134, 316, 319
Pclusio river, 284, 285
Pelusius, 285
Penguin island, xviii.
Peralfonso of Melo, 272
Peraria, F., 65
Percaslavia, City of, 291, 331
Perecow, 382
Perez, John, 340, 341
Perillus, 49
Periquete, King, 182
Perm, 293
Permia, 286, 309, 325, 326
Permska, 293
Persia, xxviii., 15, 26, 267, 309, 314
Persia, Gulf of, 82, 308
Persia, King of, ?S4, 3". 319. 326
Pcrsides, 75
Pert, Sir Thomas, xiii., 6
Peru, xiii., xxxix., 6, 54, I30> 285,
338, 343. 346. 363
Pescora River, 286
Peter, 125
Petit, F., xxxviii.
Petrus Alphonsus, 94, 96
Petnis Arias, 126, 127, 142, 214, 229
Pettislego, xl.
Petzora River, 322, 323, 324, 330,
332
Phaeton, 73
Pharis River, 262, 310
Phenicen, xxxi.
Phidias, 74
Philadelphus, King, 284, 285
Philip, King, xvii., xxxviii., xxxix.,
xlv., 52.
Philistines, xlvii., JI
Philo, xliv.
Philostratus, 384
Phoenicia, xi.
Phrysius, Gemma, 384
Phylippe. the Apostle, 57
Pichet, John, xvii.
Piedmont, xliv.
Pienega, 312, 322
Piescoya River, 322
Pieza River, 322
Pigafetta, Antonio, 243, 246, 247,
249, 255, 258
Pignonem, 153
Pinnigt, 300
Pinsteado, Antoniades, 375, 376,
377
Pinsteado, Antonie Anes, 378
Pinsteado, John Anes, 377, 378
Pintiguanus, Chiaconus, 129
Pinzon, Martin Alonso, 341
Pinzonus, Aries, 96, 98
Pinzonus, Vincentius Anner, 36, 96,
98, 105, 126, 128, 129, 130
Pircho, City of, 305
Pisa, John Rodriguez of, 272
Pius Secundus, 8, 9, 41
Pizarro, Francisco, xiii., 108, no
Placentia, 340
Plata river, 338, 343
Plato, xl., xiii., xliii., xliv., 10, 337
338, 340
Plaiper, 368
Plescouia, 291, 309, 312, 314
Pliny, xliii., xlviii., 8, 9, lo, 14, 16,
18, 41, 53. 67, 75, 120, 133, 142,
152, 175, 179, 208,221,225,227,
231, 236, 245, 248, 278, 284, 285,
286, 289, 292, 294, 297, 298, 306,
310. 315. 340, 342. 347. 349. 363.
364, 383. 384, 385. 386
Plunimer, Thomas, xvii.
Pluto, xlvi., 149, 355
Po river, 133, 314, 363, 364
Pocchorrosa, King, 147, 148, 162,
163, 178
Pocchorosa, Region of, 162, 163
Pogosa, 323
Poiassa river, 323
Polagua island, 344
Polen, King of, xxx., 318
Politianus, Angelus, xliv,, xlvii.,
xlviii,
Polo island, 256
Polomus Chiacomus, 129
Polonie, 314, 318, 326
Polonie, King, 286, 290, 318, 319
Polonie, Russus of, 318
Polonie, Sigismunde of, 309, 319
Polotzko, 312
Polybius, 41
Pomponius Mela, 346, 347, 349
Ponce, John, 165, 181, 345, 34$
Poncha, King, 115, 116, 121, 1 37,
138, 139, 140, 149, 178
Poncius Johannes, 165, 181, 345,
346
Ponet, John, xxxvn.
Ponte, Alfonsus de, 157
Pontike sea, 131, 262, 296
Pontus, 297, 308, 318
Porcena, 71
Pome, King of, 34
Pome island, 22, 34, 258
Porte Joppa, 181
Portolarnia, 374
Porto Rigo, XV.
Portucarerius Alsons, 191, 192, 195
Portugal, Alonzo of, 273, 341
Portugal, Emanuel of, 16, 37, 39,
40
Portugal, Henrique of, 273
Portugal, Johan of, 1 29, 271, 273,
274
Portugal, Lewes of, 378
Portugal, Kings of, xvi., xxiii., xxv.,
xxvi , xxvii., xxix., xxx., 13, 40,
41, 54, 74. 129. 256, 261, 267,
270, 271, 273, 274, 340, 341, 363,
374, 375. 376, 377. 378, 381. 382,
38s
Portus Bellus, 112, 135, 153. '77
Portus Cathaginis, 106
Portus Desideratus, 188
Portus Platae, 176
Portus Regalis, 71, 105, 176
Potanchanus, King, 189, 194
Potassa, 323
Potlwlo, 330
Pothorst, 300
T'otto, Chiaconus, 129
Potzcheriema river, 323
Powell, William, xxxix., 43
Poyas .Semnoi mountains, 322, 323
Poynings, .Sir Adrian, xlv.
Pozon island, 256
Praga, City of, 291
Pralo, Albertus de, xiv.
Preciosus, Johannis, 51
Precop, 325
Prester, John, xxi., xxxii., xxxiii.,
XXXV., 51, 339, 374, 384. 1%
Proclus, 338
Prometheus, 57
Propertius, 285
Prussia, Master of, 308, 319
Psammilicus, King, 284
Ptolomeus, 8, 41, 210, 236, 262,
284, 285, 289, 308, 313, 349. 384.
390
Pulaoan island, 258
Pulisachnites river, 25
Purchas, Samuel, xil., xiv.
Puren, 152
Pustoofero, 322, 323
Puta, 88
Pyconye river, xxxiii.
Pyne, H., xv.
Pynson, Richard, xxv.
Pyrinei mountain, 53
Pythagoras, xlvii., 215
Pythis, 49
Quadrado Gulf, 344
Quando, Nicolas de, 345, 346
Quareba, 153
Quarequa, King, 138, 178
Quarequa, Region of, 138, 139, 338
Quatour Tempora island, 151
Quauhlema, 338
Quaxaca, 342
Quenquinasu, City of, 24, 25
Queraquiera island, 69, 157, 159
Quicedus, John, 123, 126
Rome
Quicuri Region of, 151
Quinsai, 26, 55, 307
Quiola, xxviii.
Quintanilia, 34 1
Quintilian, xlviii.
Quiriquetana, 150, 151
Quililla island, 190
Quito, 338
Quizqueia island, 166, 167
Rabida, 340, 341
Ragusa, City of, 330
Raja, Calauar, King, 258
Raja, Capitayne, 120
Raja Colambu, King, 255
Raja Humabuon, King, 257
Raja Samoa, King, 260
Raja Siagu, Prince, 255
Raja Siripada, King, 258
Raja Sultan Manzor, 259
Ramonus, 99
Ramusio, J. B., xiv., xv., xxxxiii
Rase, John, 382
Rastall, John, xx.
Rastall, Master, xviii., xix.
Rastall Sarieant, xviii.
RatclifiT, xxxviii.
Ravenna, 314
Razauia, 309
Red sea, xxix., xlviii., 7, 13, 51
143, 180, 284, 285, 339, 346, 374
385
Regio Baccalearum, 32, 55
Regnum Orgnene, 384
Resan, City of, 290
Reyre, Region of, 168
Rezan, 324
Rezense, 292, 309
Rha river, 291, 292, 313, 329
Rhapsii, 385
Rhene river, 56, 314, 363
Rhodes, xii.
Ribera, Doctor, 272
Richard I., King, xxvi.
Richard II., King, xxxix.
Rico Porto, XV.
Ridley, Master, xviii.
Riga river, 287, 308, 312, 314
Rio Dulce river, 381
Rio Grande river, 380
Rio de Chicora river, xv.
Rio de los Perdidos river, 151, 156
Rio de la Plata river, xxxix., 54,
288, 338, 343, 386
Rio de los Potos river, 382
Riphea, 155
Ripheos mountains, 293, 324
Risophagi, The, 385
Riuo Nigro, 120, 121
Riuum Nigrum, 191
Rivero Diego, 272
Robbyn Hood, 53
Rocumdulfe, Earl of, xlvii.
Rodanum, 314
Rodericus Colmenaris, 113, 114,
115, 116, 119, 120, 122, 123
Rodes, 351
Rodes, Grgnd Master of the, 374
Rod rigo, 341
Rodriguez, John, 272
Rogers, John, xxxix.
Roldanus, Ximenus, 86, 87, 90
Rome, Adrian, I'ope of, 309
Rome, Pope Alexander VI. of, 37,
74, J29, 201, 273, 274, 315
Rome, Pope Clement Vll., 30S,
309. 347
Rome, Cloelia of, 71
Rome, Consul of, xliv.
Rome, Emperour of, xxxii.
Rome, Gregory, Bishop of, 56
Rome
Index.
Taquenazabo
407
Rome, Julius of, 309
St Lazaro, Archepelago di, 254
Schavo, 381
Solinus Julius, 16, 56, 338, 346, 347,
Rome, Leo X. of, 64, 106, 109, III,
St Lazarus, 187
Schichmamai, 329
383
113, 114, 123, 125, 126, 127, 130,
St Laurence {i.e., Madagascar^, Is-
Schidack, 329
Solo island, 34
131, 133. 134. 135. 136, 137.
land of, 28s
Schio, 366, 368
Solowki island, 321
145. 149. «5o. 154. 156, 157. i£9,
St Leger, xlv.
Schondania, Region of, 298
.Solysius, Johannes, 181
162, 163, 164, 166, 167, 170, 172,
St Luca, or Lucar. de Barrameda,
Schondenraarchia, Region, 298
-Sorachi vill.age, 180
174, 175, 178, 181, 184, 185, 287,
157, 210, 262
Sclavonia, 290, 306
Soria islands, 347, 348, 387
308, 309
St Lucas Guild at Antwerp, xxv.
Sclavons, 290, 306, 315. 31 8, 3^9
Sossa river, 323
Rome, Paul III. of, 51, 58, 179
St Maria Antigua, Island of, 30,
Scolus, John, 345
Soto, Ferdinando de, 346
Rome, Pius II. of, 8, 9, 41
69, no, 134, 163, 198, 207, 218,
Scombria Islands, 106, 107
Spacheford, Thomas, xiii.
Rosciuia, City of, 290, 291, 309
226, 229, 236, 238
Scondia, Region of, 29J, 298, 299,
-Spaengian, 39
Rosolanos, 289
St Maria Rotund, Island of, 30, 69
302, 305, 313
Spagnuola island, 199, 210
Rostowe, 331
St Maria de Gratia, Island of, 238
.Scopa, 51
Spain, Emperor Charles V., 32, 47,
Rotunda, Sancta Maria, 69
St Marina, 190
Scoria, King, 183
63, 208-14, 216, 223, 225, 225, 229,
Rubicho river, 322
St Martha, 156, 157
Scutum Cateba island, 135
233-6, 238, 240, 246-8, 255, 257,
Ruiz, Barthalome, 272
St Martinus, Island of, 30, 69
Scwerski, 325
259, 271-4, 278, 287, 343, 34S,
Ruiz, Peter, 272, 274
St Marye of Mercedis, 77, 240
Scythia, 155, 289, 291, 292, 297,
35°, 363
Rumnie, James, xvii.
St Matthei, Region of, 112, 132,
306, 310, 312, 313, 316, 347, 363
Spain, Emperor Phillip, 54. 59.
Russia, Basilius of, 289, 290, 308,
135
Sea, Admiral of the great Ocean, 29,
346
309, 311, 314,316,317.319.321.
St Michael's Gulf, 54, 140, 162,
35. 67, 79, 94
Spartaria, 176
324, 328, 329
165, 182, 183, 214
Sebastian, John, 271, 272
Spatense Alverado, 192
Russia, Emperour of, 290
St Nicolas {electrical fire on masts\.
Segovia, 126, 127
Sperantia castle, 84
Russus, Town of, 318
250
Seina, Capreansis de, 137
Spiriostomea, 98
Rut, John, xiv., xv., xvi.
St Nicolas island, 375, 376
Selani Island, 34
Spice islands, 235, 247, 27 1, 273,
Ruthens ; Constantine, Captain of
St Nicolas, Port of, 75, 78
Seleucus Nicanor, 8, 61
274, 286, 344
the, 316
St Paul, 7, II, 55, 56, 204, 293
Selle, xiv.
Spinosa, Gasper, 183
Ruthens, Czar of the, 319
St Peter, 130, 203, 204, 250, 290
Selymus, Prince, 3 \ 1
Stanmoische, Region of, 322
St Romayne, Tower of, 226
.Sem, 346
.Steven, Bysshop, 293, 325
Saba, 8, 385
St Sergius, 291
Semnoi Poyas mountains, 324
Stoidum, 143
.Saba, Queen of, 8, 374, 385
St Sophia, 314
Seneca, 48, 67, 337, 339
Stora, 374
Sabea, 129, 385
St Steven, 148
Senega river, 280
Strabo, 10, 56, 283, 284, 285, 289,
Sachion, City of, 27
St Thomas, xxix, xxx., xxxiv.-vi.,
Senegal river, 132, 374, 384
296, 308, 346, 349
Sacrificios; Sacrifice, Island of, 189,
74, 79, 80, 250
Sequeryra, Dieogo Lopez of, 272,
Strava, 308
192
St Thomas, Island of, 250, 270
273
Strelze, 322
.Safale, xxviii., 36
St Thomas Tower, 31, 74, 79, 80
Serrannus, Johannes, 34, 157, 160
Strub island, 324
St Ambrose, lo, 315
St Vincent, Cape, 250
-Serena, 274
Strucophagi, 385
St Andrew, 290, 319
St Vincent, Harbour of, 381
Seres, 67
.Stzuchogora river, 323
St Angell, Luys of, 341
Salaye, Dr Sancho, 272
Serponowtzi, 323
Subuth, King of, 34
St Antonie islands, 272, 273
.Saleno, Monsieur de, xlvii.
Serra Nevata mountains, 108, 160
Succana river, 286, 312, 322, 331
St Aubin, Sieurde, xliv.
Salla, Port, 374
Serranus, Johannes, 34. 157, 160,258
Suchana river, 322
St Augustine, 10, 142, 165, 218, 238,
Salsburg, Cardinal of, 24, 247, 248
Serrationa {Sierra Leone], 39, 250
Suchur, Province, 27
315, 318, 338
Salvaterra, 176
Sesostris, 284
Suetia, 299, 301, 304-6, 311, 312,
St Augustine, Cape of, 129, 155, 165,
Samano, Julyan, 346
Sesostris, King, 284
319. 330. 331
l8i, 183, 218, 250, 273, 338
Samarcandia. 311
Sesponow castle, 323
Suevia, King of, 9, 286, 301. 306,
St Benedict, 306
Samson, xlvii.
Sest river, 321
308, 347
St Bernardi islands, 161
Samma, Town of, 381, 383
Sestau island, 192
Suez, 13, 284, 285
St Catharine, Castle of, 84
Sammaterra, Town of, 383
Sesto river, xvi., 376, 381
Sulacho island, 260
St Christopher, Gold mine of, 105
Samogeds, The, 323
Setebos, 252
Sumatra, 7, 12, 20, 21, 22, 32, 261,
St Christoval, Island of, 210
Samotor, 20
Sette Citta, Kingdom, 287
267, 272-4, 344
St Clare \electrical fire on masts\,
Samotra {i.e., Sumalra\ 7, 21, 22,
Seville, xiv., xvi., xL, 50, 62, 210,
Sumatra, Kings of, 22
251
32, 344
246, 250, 262, 288, 338, 342, 345,
Sumbit island, 253
St Cosmus, 310
Samua, Town of, 381, 383
348
Sumideros, 155
St Cruz islands, 30, 130, 159, 188
Sananton island, 272
Sforza Ascanius, 65, 68, 103, 127
.Sura river, 314
St Cyrillus, 315
Sancta Cruce, xiii., xx., 30, 40, 130,
Shava, 381
Surcium river, 314
St Domingo, xv., 45, 82, 84, 130,
188
Shawgro, 381
Sus, 374
154, 168, 169. 170, 176; 209, 210,
Sancta Fee, 341
Shyawe, 381
Sussex, Earl of, xxxix.
213, 240, 338, 346
Sanders, Blaise, xli.
Sian, Zacabedera King of, 260
Sustali, 290
St Dunstan's parish, xlviii.
Sanguenai, 257
Sianfu, City of, 26
Sutton, Edward, 42
St Francis, 130, 176, 198, 240, 341
.San Juan island, xv.
Sibier, Prouince of, 326, 329
St George, xxxi., 39, 323
Saragossa, xxxviii.-ix., 247
Sibut river, 323
Taboga island, 233
St Germain, Town of, xlv.
.Sardinia, 56
Sibylla Erythyrea, 135
Tabor, King, 182
St Germain, Bay of, xv.
Sardonica, 284
Siccensis, Nicolaus, 309
Tacarequi Margarita island, 56, 233
St Gregory, 315
Sardus, 163
Sico island, 260
Tachola, 344
St Helen \eUctrual fire on masts\
Sarmatia, 170, 284, 291, 295, 298,
Siech, Ismael, 266
Tachola, City of, 344
.^5"
308, 3' I. 314, 326,347
Sigismundus Liberius, 298, 312, 318
Tachnin ryver, 323
St Hericus, 305
Sarmatians, 155, 301, 310
Siguera, Francisco de, 378
Tadinsu, City of, 24
St James, xxviii., 10, 186
Saturma, Region of, 157, 158, 160,
Siloli island, 34
Taghima island, 259
St James island, xxviii., 97, 186,
163
Silver of Rever, 288, 343
Taia, Region of, 150
261, 262
Saunders, Laurence, xxxix.
Silvius Pandonus, 133
Tainsu, Kingdom of, 25
St James, Castle of, 36, 84
Sava, City of, 374
Simonides, 41
Taismer, John, xliii. -vi.
St Jerome, 195, 338
Savoy, The Master of the, xliii.
Sina, Kindgom of, 32, 313, 344
Talvera, Ferdinand of, 341
St John, Gull of, 194
Sawolhenses, The, 327, 329
Sinum Perditorum, Point, 155
Tamburlane, 311
St John, Port, 192
Saxogrammaticus, 300
Sinus Arabicus, 13
Tanagora, xxix.
St John's island, xv., 45, 104, 130,
Saxony, Duke of, 366
Sinus Finnonicus, 306
Tanais, 133, 155, 291-3, 297, 306,
•55. 159. 173. 176. 210, 213,
Sbozzo, 368
Sinus Magnus, 248
310, 311,314,319.321.324,325.
241
Scandia, 298
Sinus Persicus, 20, 32, 41, 82
327, 346
St John's harbour, xiii., xiv., xv.,
Scandinavia, 298, 347
.Smith, Sir T., xxxvii., xiii., xlv.
Tangut, Region of, 12, 26, 27
192
Scarense, Bishop of, 313
.Smolense, 290, 291
Tapia, Francisco de, xv.
St John of Jerusalem, Knights of,
Scharutzick, City of, 329
Smyrnophora, 385
Tapobana {Ceylon], 12, 21, 22, 32,
xii.
Scharaitz, 329
Soborovius, George, 316
41, 143, 180, 261, 286, 344
St Julian, Port, 252
Schat river, 325
Sofa, Lupus, 199
Taquenazabo, Region of, l69j
4o8
Taracuru
Index.
Zulan
Taracuru, King, 182
Tripoli, 374
Valasquen, John, 192
Whally, Thomas, xliv.
Tararequi, 214, 233
Trolhetta river, 304, 306
Vendome, Francois de, xliv.
Whitcome, Roger, xii.
Tarchontan, King, 66
Trutham village, 304
Venetus, Marcus Paulus, 25, 27,
White Russia, 301, 302, 311
Tarenate island, 259, 260
Tucke, Master, xviii.
326, 330, 339, 340
Wickes, Master, xviii.
Tarnasserie, 12, 20, 21, 22
Tuckfield, Master, xviii.
Vera, Petrus de, 65
Willes, Richard, xii., xlviii.
Tartary, 12, 24, 26, 39, 286, 287,
Tulla, City of, 324
Verazzano, xv.
Williamson, John, xvii.
289, 290, 292, 306, 344, 387
TumaccuS, King of, 140-2, 178
Vere, Edward, xxxvii.
Willoughby, Sir Hugh, xxxviii.,
Tartary, Machmetgirei, King of.
Tumaccus, Region of, 140
Vesalius, A., xxxvii.
xxxix., 59, 333, 334
328
Tumanama, King of, 117, 147,
Vespasian, Emperour, 208, 342
Winchester, Bishop of, xxxvii., xl..
Taurisium, City of, 311, 314
148, 162, 163
Vespucci, Amerigo, xxv., 37, 38, 39,
f xiv.
Tartars, 286, 287, 289, 290 2, 301,
Tumanama, Region of, 162, 163
127, 134, 157, 158, 275, 277
.<<n.er. Sir W., xlvi., xlviii.
310-14, 316, 319, 320, 3249,
Tumen, Castle of, 323, 324, 326
Vespucius, Johannes, 127, 157 '
Volsey, Cardinal, xiv.
332
Tumenski, King of Tumen, 324
Vetcha, 309
Wright, Master, xviii.
Tauira, Johannes de, 157
Tumum, King, 66
Viatra, City of, 291
Wroth, Sir Thomas, xix.
Tauira, Simon de, 272
Turni, King, 119
Vibba, 153
Wyndam, Captain, xix., xxxviii..
Taxmarus, King, 193
Turufy village, 183
Vicenza, 247
375, 376. 377
Teaocha, King, 143, 146
Tuver, City of; 314
Victoria, Town of, 194
Wynterton Ness, xii.
Telde, 374
Tyrma, 166
Vidame de Chartres, xliv., xiv., xlvi.
Temesne, 374
xlviii.
Xaccoei river, 170
Tenadu island, 344
Udall, Nicholas, xxxviii.
Vigentina, 368
Xagua, Region of, 168
Tendilla, Count of, 103
Udoria, 310
Vilna, City of, 314
Xaguaguara, Region of, 1 53
Teneriffe islands, 41, 66, 157, 250,
Uhabo, 170, 173
Villanoua, 176
Xamana, Region of, 70, 169, 170
280
Ulna, 292
Villa Ricca, 196
Xar.-igita, Region of, 83, 84, 85, 86,
Tenerissa, xiii., 41, 380
Ulysses, 135, 348
Villegas, Peter Ruiz of, 272, 274
Vincentina river, 306, 388
169, 176
Tenetum island, 260
Umbria, Petrus de, III, 112
Xericium, City of, 65
Tenez, 374
Unefride, 56
Vincentius, 36, 96, 98, 105, 126, 128,
Xerses, 59
Tenixtetan, City of, 57, 287, 342
Ungerien, King of, xxx.
129, 130
Ximenus Roldanus, 86, 87, 90
Temulos, 273
United States, xv.
Vincentius, Agnes, 105, 128, 129
Xuarez, Petrus, 130
Tequinas, 215
Uppa river, 325
Vincentius, Annez, 126, 128, 129,
Terasequi island, 214
Upsala, Archbishop of, 300, 347
130
Yaguana, Region of, 169
Tercel ra, 344, 348
Upsoliensis, 295
Vincenza, City of, 246
Yaguino, Region of, 176
Terra Baccalearum, 242. 287
Uraba, 107, 108, 109, 110, lir, 113,
Virgil, II, 50, 91, 135, 279, 298
Yiamiroa river, 176
Terra Britonum, 287, 288
114, 118, 119, 123, 128, 130, 131,
Visba, City of, 306
\ mizui Hibahaino mountain, 169
Terra de Laborador, 287
132, 134, 143, 150, 155, 162, 163,
Vischora river, 325
Yorke, Sir John, xix., 382
Terra Viridis, 299
180, 192, 198, 199, 218, 229
Visco, Bishop of, 341
Yucatan, 61, 338
Terra Florida, 32, 55, 57
Uracha, 230, 234
Vitry, xiv.
Yucatos, 238
Terra de Papagalli, 253
Urse, M. de, xliv.
Vitzechda river, 325
Tesino river, 363, 364
Uschatio, Peter Knes, 324
Volaterane, 289, 290
Zacabedera, 260
Tharant island, 35
Ussa river, 322
Volga river, 291, 292, 293, 308,
Zagathei, 311
Themiscuthlu, 311
Usting, City of, 286, 312, 322, 325
311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 321,
Zahondaderos, 155
Theodori island, 35
Ustiuga, Town of, 293, 312
32s, 326, 32S, 329, 331
Zamal island, 254, 260.
Theodosia, Colony of, 311
Ustyug, 312
Volham river, 293
Zamara island, 32
Theophrastus, 8, 338, 340
Utterson, Mr, xxvi.
Volochda river, 286
Zamatra, 274
Thomas, J., xix.
Volodemaria, City of, 291, 309,
Zamotra island, 273
Thome, iv., xiii., xiv., xxi.
Vadianus, 56
314
Zamudius, 115, 116, 122, 126
1 home, R., xvi.
Vagoniona, 99, 100
Volotchia, 309
Zanzibar island, 23
Thorns, Mr, xxvi.
Vagus river, 318
Volut, City of, 290
Zanzibar, King of, 23
Thyle, Land of, 300, 337
Valdes, Gonzalo Fernandez de
Vrida river, 135, 153
Zarate, Augustin de, xxxix.
Tialleslund sea, 304
Oviedo, xxxvii.
Vua river, 323
Zasia, xx.
Tiba, King, 149, 151
Valdiuia, 115, 116, 118, 119, 122,
Vuaga river, 322
Zauana, Region of, 148, 169, 173,
Tichin village, 122
123, 192, 193
Vuarectzkoai sea, 319
176, 212
Ticobon island, 256
Valentia, 199
Vuareczkote Morie sea, 312
Zaylon island, 20
Tidore islands, 259, 260, 262, 272-4,
Vallacum, 314
Vuiathka, 326, 328
Zebedus, 10
348
Valladoleto, xiv., 125, 127, 133, 274
Vuilna, 312
Zeilam island, 264, 265, 266, 267
Tierra frome, xv.
Valleius, 165, 181, 183
Vuinlandia, 319
Zeilon island, 256
Tighe, xlvi.
Vannuccio, Biringuccio, xxxvii., xlvi.
Vuitepsko, 312
Zelande island, 214
Timor island, 260, 261, 269
353. 356
Vuolochda, 312, 322, 325, 326,
Zenete, Marquesse of, 2 14
Tingin, City of, 24
Varro, Marcus, 349
331
Zenu, Region of, 1 58
Tirecotus river, 172
Vascho Nunnez de Balboa, 61, 113,
Vuolocon river, 319
Zerbi island, 374
Tiiusi village, 107
114, 115, 119, 120, 121, 122, 125,
Vuolodimaria, 319
Zerema, 180
Tison, Thomas, xiii.
«3'. 137. 138, J39. 140, 141. 142,
Vuolok, Lake, 319
Ziglerus, 294, 295, 299
Todos Sanctos islands, 177
143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 14S, 149,
Zobroba river, 135
Tolstickh, 322
155, 156, 162, 165, 178, 198, 199,
Wade, Armigil, xviii.
Zobraba, 153
Toro, 273
338
Wade, William, xviii.
Zohoran river, 153
Totonogo, King, 182
Vasilivich, John Duke of, 326
Waranger fiord, 299
Zolo island, 259
Totilas, King, 313
Vasques, Captain Francesco, 287
Wardhus, Castle of, 299, 302, 303,
Zolot island, 260
Toy, R., xii., xxxvii., xxxix., 388,
Vassy, xliii.
304. 305. 33 »
Zorobua island, 260
398
Vastral, 304
Wardoe, 299
Zubut island, 256, 257, 258, 272
Transylvanus, Maximilian, 247, 249,
Vaticane, The, loo, 309
Wardoehuus, 299
Zubut, King of, 256, 257
262
Vecchiadoro, 287
Warwick, Earl of, xxxviii.
Zula, Prince, 258
Trelensin, City of, 374
Vega, Fernando de, 96
Watson, Thomas, xl., xiv.
Zulan island, 254
Tremisen, 374
Velasquen, Diegus, 1S6, 187, 1 90,
Weyszarch mountain, 300
Trepojentes Cape, 381-3
•95
Whalley, Richard, xliv.
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